Policy and Planning Documents
The purpose of Council is to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities, and to promote the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of communities now and for the future. An important role of Council in carrying out its functions, responsibilities and activities, is developing and reviewing key strategies, plans and policies.
Long Term Plan
Every three years, councils are required to develop, in consultation with its community, a Long Term Plan (LTP) with a ten year outlook. It sets out the projects and services the Council intends to deliver for the community, the cost of undertaking that work, how it will be paid for, how finances will be managed and how performance will be monitored.
Council must also prepare a financial strategy and infrastructure strategy alongside the LTP. The financial strategy provides a framework which guides the Council to make decisions in a financially responsible and transparent. The current 10-year plan, 2024-34 LTP, was adopted by Council on 26 June 2024. The next LTP is due to be adopted by 30 June 2027.
Annual Plan
The year in which a Long Term Plan is adopted this document becomes the Annual Budget for that year. In between producing LTPs, Council must produce an Annual Plan that reviews its work programme and considers whether any changes are needed. These changes could be budget revisions, new priorities that arise, or new projects to help deal with issues that face the district.
The Annual Plan focuses on the budgets for the current financial year and the setting of rates. Any significant or material changes proposed must be consulted on with the community. This document will not be able to significantly deviate from the LTP, unless a special consultative procedure and audit are undertaken.
The next Annual Plan is to be adopted by 30 June 2025.
Annual Report
Each year Council prepares an Annual Report. This report is an accountability document that compares actual performance against intended levels of performance described in the Annual Plan. It also explains how rates are spent and the value received in return.
Council’s financial year ends on 30 June and the Annual Report must generally be produced within three months of that date. The report is published on the Council website within one month of its adoption.
The report for 2022/23 was adopted by Council on 25 October 2023. The report for 2023/24 is currently being audited by Council’s auditor Audit New Zealand and is scheduled to be adopted by Council in November 2024.
Ruapehu District Plan
The first Ruapehu District Plan was made operative on 8 May 2000. The District Plan sets out the rules that Council will apply to control the way land is used, subdivided and developed in the District. It identifies where activities can take place (e.g. zones), what land can be developed and what features (such as landscapes) should be protected.
District Plans are living documents that must be reviewed every ten years. Changes to the Plan can be made within this period through the Plan change process outlined in the RMA.
Council reviewed its District Plan and released the Proposed Plan Change in 2010 for consultation.
Following the consultation and appeals process, on 10 September 2014 Council voted to partially adopt the Ruapehu District Plan, with two issues outstanding.
The two outstanding issues were resolved and the Ruapehu District Plan became fully operative on 24 December 2014.
Policies
All external policies adopted by the Ruapehu District Council are available on the Council website
