Government budget and revenue in Otago, New Zealand: official figures
Otago Regional Council had total operating income of NZ$135 million in the year ended June 2025 and total operating expenditure of NZ$133 million, an operating surplus of NZ$2.8 million. As a regional council it does not run local roads, water or rubbish services, which belong to the district and city councils in the region.
How much does Otago Regional Council collect in rates?
Otago Regional Council collected NZ$65.1 million in rates in the year ended June 2025, 48% of its operating income. That is NZ$256 for each resident of Otago (using the June 2025 population estimate), 3rd lowest of 16 councils.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyIs the budget of Otago Regional Council growing?
Operating income of Otago Regional Council rose 5.6% from NZ$128 million in the year to June 2024 to NZ$135 million in the year to June 2025. Employee costs were NZ$40.2 million, 30% of operating expenditure.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow much debt does Otago Regional Council have?
Otago Regional Council had term debt of NZ$108 million at June 2025, or NZ$425 per resident of Otago (7th lowest of 16 councils). Its total assets were NZ$1,126 million and its equity NZ$925 million.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat does Otago Regional Council spend money on?
The activities on which Otago Regional Council spent most in the year ended June 2025 (operating expenditure) were transportation (NZ$45.5 million), environmental protection (NZ$28.5 million), planning and regulation (NZ$16.6 million). Stats NZ allocates spending by activity, so costs that cannot be assigned to one activity sit under other categories.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow much does Otago Regional Council receive per resident?
Otago Regional Council had operating income of NZ$533 per resident of Otago in the year ended June 2025, 7th lowest of 16 councils. Current grants and subsidies were NZ$26.3 million.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow Otago compares with other regions
Council operating income, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) (2025)
Otago ranks 11 of 16, highest first. The regional council, or the unitary council where one council covers the whole region.
| Rank | Region | Council operating income, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Nelson | NZ$180m |
| 9 | Gisborne | NZ$173m |
| 10 | Hawke's Bay | NZ$147m |
| 11 | Otago | NZ$135m |
| 12 | Manawatū-Whanganui | NZ$107m |
| 13 | Northland | NZ$91m |
| 14 | Southland | NZ$52m |
Council rates per resident, year ended June 2025 (NZ$) (2025)
Otago ranks 14 of 16, highest first. Regional councils collect rates for regional functions only; unitary councils (Auckland, Gisborne, Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough) also do district functions.
| Rank | Region | Council rates per resident, year ended June 2025 (NZ$) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Northland | NZ$275 |
| 11 | Bay of Plenty | NZ$269 |
| 12 | Hawke's Bay | NZ$268 |
| 13 | Waikato | NZ$266 |
| 14 | Otago | NZ$256 |
| 15 | Manawatū-Whanganui | NZ$248 |
| 16 | Taranaki | NZ$169 |
Council term debt per resident, June 2025 (NZ$) (2025)
Otago ranks 10 of 16, highest first. Regional councils collect rates for regional functions only; unitary councils also do district functions.
| Rank | Region | Council term debt per resident, June 2025 (NZ$) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Hawke's Bay | NZ$629 |
| 8 | Bay of Plenty | NZ$476 |
| 9 | West Coast | NZ$442 |
| 10 | Otago | NZ$425 |
| 11 | Taranaki | NZ$357 |
| 12 | Northland | NZ$294 |
| 13 | Manawatū-Whanganui | NZ$205 |
Council operating surplus or deficit, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) (2025)
Otago ranks 6 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Council operating surplus or deficit, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Hawke's Bay | NZ$12.9m |
| 4 | Canterbury | NZ$12.0m |
| 5 | Northland | NZ$6.5m |
| 6 | Otago | NZ$2.8m |
| 7 | Wellington | NZ$1.8m |
| 8 | Southland | NZ$0.6m |
| 9 | Nelson | NZ$-1.1m |
More on Otago: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · New Zealand
Sources
- Stats NZ: Local authority financial statistics: Year ended June 2025 (income and expenditure, by activity, financial position; nalafs-jun2025-tables-csv.csv), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b12af625c966…)
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