Our Reference: 231101174690
8 November 2023
Andrew Mitchell
E-mail: [FYI request #24066 email]
Dear Andrew
I refer to your official request of 7 October 2023 for additional information about the Waimakariri
District Council's loans with the New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency Limited.
Accordingly, we can advise as follows:
Section 14 (1) of the Local Government Act 2002
The Council meets the requirements of Section 14 (1)(a)(i) and (1)(a)(ii) through its Long Term
and Annual Plans. The Council's Long Term and Annual Plans outline the planned costs and
revenues for the Council, planned capital expenditure and funding of the planned capital
expenditure, including any loans to be raised to fund the Capital Expenditure Program. The
process of preparing and adopting Long Term and Annual Plans includes public consultation and
hearings. All decisions regarding the content of the plans are made at Council meetings, which
are open to the public. The agendas and minutes of these meetings, as well as Long Term and
Annual
Plans,
are
available
to
the
public
via
the
Council's
website
at
https://www.waimakariri.govt.nz/home.
The Council annually accounts for its actual Capital Expenditure and loans through its Annual
Report, which Audit New Zealand audits to ensure compliance with accounting standards.
Section 14 1(f) of the Local Government Act 2002 refers to the Council undertaking commercial
activities, i.e., similar to a business. An example of this may be establishing a tourism venture.
Section 14 1(f) does not apply to the usual activities of a Council, and the Waimakariri District
Council is not involved in any commercial activities.
Section 10(1) of the Local Government Borrowing Act 2011
The Council’s statement is included in its Financial Strategy, which is incorporated on page 233
of its 2021/31 Long Term as follows:
“Security on Borrowing
The Council generally does not offer its assets as collateral on borrowing. Rather it secures its
borrowing from the Local Government Funding Agency or its creditors with a charge over the
Council’s rates and rates revenue which means rates can be set to repay outstanding loans.”
(Attached as
Attachment A)
I trust this answers your current query.
Yours sincerely
Sarah Nichols
Governance Manager
230607083366
2
Waimakariri District Council