Weaving our priorities into the Far North’s future

What matters most to our communities? And how should the council spend money over the next 10 years?

The Far North District Council is asking communities to help shape its next Long Term Plan, starting with a short survey launched today (Friday 30 October).

The Long Term Plan sets out in detail the services, projects and infrastructure the council plans to deliver over the next decade, how much they will cost and how they will be funded.

The council is taking a three-staged approach to engaging with communities on its next Long Term Plan with each stage building on the last. This initial stage – a survey – will help elected members understand what matters to communities before the draft plan goes out for more in-depth, formal consultation early next year.

Stage one: What should council focus on?

This survey asks communities what services and facilities they think the council should provide, and what matters most to them over the next 10 years.

The feedback will help build a picture of what matters most across the Far North and guide the next stage, where people can explore the budget and test their spending priorities.

Stage two: Where would you spend council’s money?

In the second round of feedback, Far North communities will get to explore the Long Term Plan budget. This engagement stage will introduce a new online budgeting tool that allows you to show where you think more money should go and where the council could spend less. The tool gives people the chance to test how funding choices will impact rates, as well as public perception of spending decisions.

This exercise, which opens in November 2026, will provide elected members with much more detailed data on which services and projects people value most and the trade-offs they are prepared to make.

Together, feedback from the first two stages will help inform the draft Long Term Plan and the consultation document.

Stage three: Explore the draft Long Term Plan

This is the opportunity for communities to consider the council’s proposals in the draft Long Term Plan 2027–37 and provide feedback before decisions are made.

This is where people will get to explore the draft budget information, see how spending is allocated and learn more about individual projects.

This third and final consultation stage is expected to begin from February 2027. The council must adopt the Long Term Plan by 1 July 2027.

Kōrerotia mai ōu whakaaro | Have your say

With costs rising and pressure on rates, it’s important to understand what matters most to the people who live here.

Start by completing the Far North Community Core Services Survey by Friday 13 November 2026.

Your feedback will help inform the next stages, so the council can better understand the priorities of our communities before asking for feedback on the draft plan.