Government budget and revenue in Waikato, New Zealand: official figures
Waikato Regional Council had total operating income of NZ$209 million in the year ended June 2025 and total operating expenditure of NZ$213 million, an operating deficit of NZ$4.0 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 Waikato Regional Council collect in rates?
Waikato Regional Council collected NZ$142 million in rates in the year ended June 2025, 68% of its operating income. That is NZ$266 for each resident of Waikato (using the June 2025 population estimate), 4th lowest of 16 councils.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyIs the budget of Waikato Regional Council growing?
Operating income of Waikato Regional Council rose 4.2% from NZ$200 million in the year to June 2024 to NZ$209 million in the year to June 2025. Employee costs were NZ$67.0 million, 32% of operating expenditure.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow much debt does Waikato Regional Council have?
Waikato Regional Council had term debt of NZ$35.3 million at June 2025, or NZ$66 per resident of Waikato (2nd lowest of 16 councils). Its total assets were NZ$1,208 million and its equity NZ$1,122 million.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat does Waikato Regional Council spend money on?
The activities on which Waikato Regional Council spent most in the year ended June 2025 (operating expenditure) were environmental protection (NZ$62.2 million), transportation (NZ$58.9 million), planning and regulation (NZ$31.1 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 Waikato Regional Council receive per resident?
Waikato Regional Council had operating income of NZ$392 per resident of Waikato in the year ended June 2025, the lowest of 16 councils. Current grants and subsidies were NZ$33.4 million.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow Waikato compares with other regions
Council operating income, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) (2025)
Waikato ranks 5 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Wellington | NZ$647m |
| 3 | Canterbury | NZ$324m |
| 4 | Bay of Plenty | NZ$215m |
| 5 | Waikato | NZ$209m |
| 6 | Marlborough | NZ$187m |
| 7 | Tasman | NZ$182m |
| 8 | Nelson | NZ$180m |
Council rates per resident, year ended June 2025 (NZ$) (2025)
Waikato ranks 13 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)
Waikato ranks 15 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$) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Otago | NZ$425 |
| 11 | Taranaki | NZ$357 |
| 12 | Northland | NZ$294 |
| 13 | Manawatū-Whanganui | NZ$205 |
| 14 | Canterbury | NZ$116 |
| 15 | Waikato | NZ$66 |
| 16 | Southland | NZ$0 |
Council operating surplus or deficit, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) (2025)
Waikato ranks 11 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Council operating surplus or deficit, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Southland | NZ$0.6m |
| 9 | Nelson | NZ$-1.1m |
| 10 | Taranaki | NZ$-3.9m |
| 11 | Waikato | NZ$-4.0m |
| 12 | West Coast | NZ$-7.0m |
| 13 | Manawatū-Whanganui | NZ$-7.1m |
| 14 | Marlborough | NZ$-11.0m |
More on Waikato: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.