6 March 2026
Sheila Allen
Email: [FYI request #33661 email]
Dear Sheila,
Local Government Official Information Request
Thank you for your request for information from Council. All requests to the Council for information
are required to be considered in accordance with the Local Government Official Information and
Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA). More information about how the Council handles LGOIMA requests
can be found in the Council’s LGOIMA Request Policy which is available on the Council’s website
LGOIMA Request Policy: Rangitikei District Council
Your request for information was received on 9 February 2026 and requested information about the
36 major projects personally overseen by Mayor Andy Watson. Your questions and our response can
be found below:
Question 1:
“On the 25th of January 2026 the Whanganui Chronicle published an article titled "Decision-
making power slipping away from councils, Rangitīkei Mayor Andy Watson tells Rātana" In
this article Mayor Andy Watson claims mayors were being loaded
with additional governance responsibilities without adequate support, while already juggling
dozens of projects.
He said he was personally overseeing 36 major projects."
Please provide a list, itemising each of these 36 major projects which must include a brief
description/scope, cost and estimated completion date for each project”.
Response:
Please find a list outlining the 36 projects that Mayor Andy Watson has provided which
includes work programmes he is involved in, as at 9 February 2026 and as referred to in the
article identified above. For each project we have provided a brief description/scope, cost
(where known) and estimated completion date (where known).
1.
2027-2037 Long Term Plan for Council:
Ten-year plan for Council. See Mayoral role in S41A(2) of the LGA.
• Cost: Budget of $205,000 (includes the cost of audit).
• Estimated Completion Date:
30 June 2027.
2.
2026/27 Annual Plan
One year plan for Council.
• Cost: Cost is primarily staff time and limited printing costs.
• Estimated Completion Date:
30 June 2026.
3.
Central Districts Water - Shareholder Committee
Formation of Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) for the delivery of water membership
on the Shareholder Committee
. Meetings - Joint Shareholder Committee - Central
Districts Water - Page 1: Rangitikei District Council
• Cost: Yet to be finalised.
• Estimated Completion Date: Established February 2026, work ongoing.
4.
Central Districts Water appointment of Directors
Process for appointing directors of new water entity Central Districts Water.
• Cost: Mayoral and staff time.
• Estimated Completion Date: Recruitment is still being worked on but expected to
be finalised by end of March 2026.
5.
Employment of Independent Chair Risk/Assurance Committee
This involves interviewing and appointment of the Chair for the Risk/Assurance
Committee.
• Cost: Staff and governance time to run the process.
• Estimated Completion Date: March 2026.
6.
Marton Swimming Pool
Reopening of the Marton Swim Centre.
• Cost: $6M.
• Estimated Completion Date: End of 2026.
7.
Taihape Town Hall
Rebuild/Strengthening of the Taihape Town Hall.
• Cost: Total budget for this project is $14m, with $4m planned for the
25/26 financial year, noting this is subject to final costing.
• Estimated Completion Date: Construction to be completed in 2028.
8.
Marton Civic Building/Library Complex
New build that replaces and combines the Marton administration building and the Marton
library.
• Cost: Total budget for this project is $19m, with $3m planned for the
25/26 financial year, noting this is subject to final costing.
• Estimated Completion Date: Project mid-2028.
9.
Horizons Climate Action Joint Committee
Rangitīkei District Council member on the Joint Committee.
• Cost: Mayoral time.
• Estimated Completion Date: Ongoing.
10.
Rural Water Schemes in Rangitīkei
i.
Erewhon
}
as council ‘owned’ they are
ii.
Hunterville
}
under sign-off process
iii.
Omatane
}
but community run
• Cost: The schemes are funded by way of a charge direct to the consumers. There
will need to be some process around incorporation into and out of the new water
entity.
• Estimated Completion Date: Ongoing. To be re-reviewed in conjunction with the
position of Taumata Arowai as regulator.
11.
Ratana Wastewater Process
• Cost: Total budget for this project is currently estimated at $6.4m with $1.1m
planned for 2025/26. To be re-reviewed in conjunction with the position
of Taumata Arowai as regulator.
• Estimated Completion Date: Still to be determined. To be re-reviewed in
conjunction with the newly released discharge standards. Will ultimately
be passed to the new water entity.
12.
Mayors Taskforce for Jobs National Programme
At the time of Ratana speech I was co-Chair of the National Programme.
• Cost: Significant budgets across the country.
• Estimated Completion Date: Ongoing
13.
Mayors Taskforce for Jobs Local Governance
Governance of MTFJ programme being run locally within the Rangitīkei District.
• Cost: Membership costs approximately $3,000 per annum but as a
consequence we
receive
Ministry
of
Social
Development
funding
for programmes to the value of $280,000.
• Estimated Completion Date: Programme continuing for years – no completion
date.
14.
Marton/Bulls Wastewater Centralisation
Upgrade and centralisation of the waste water discharges for Marton and Bulls.
• Cost: $79.7m (including $69m to be spent between 2033 and 2035). $1.9m is
budgeted for 2025/26.
• Estimated Completion Date: To be re-reviewed in conjunction with the newly
released wastewater discharge standards. Will ultimately be passed to the new
water entity.
15.
Rail/Road Transport
Driving conversations between Rail/Road transport costings – contract renewal.
• Cost: Mayoral time only.
• Estimated Completion Date: New contract verified late January 2026.
16.
Emergency Operations Centre
Construction of Emergency Operations Centre
• Cost: $2m.
• Estimated Completion Date: 2027.
17.
Civil Defence Review
As Mayor of Council review of CDEM capability.
• Cost: $38,157.52 to date.
• Estimated Completion Date: July 2026.
18.
Zone 3 – Local Government New Zealand
Co-Chair of Zone 3 as a region. This covers councils spread between Gisborne/Wairoa
to Tararua and those spread between New Plymouth and Horowhenua.
• Cost: Mayoral time.
• Estimated Completion Date: Ongoing.
19.
Ngā Wai Tōtā – the governance group for Te Waiū o Te Ika - Whangaehu Catchment
Governor along with Ruapehu District Council and Whanganui District Council and
respective Iwi.
• Cost: Mayoral time and staff time.
• Estimated Completion Date: Multi-year commitment.
20.
Mokai Patea Projects
Similarly under Mokai Patea settlement project covering awa catchments and landlocked
lands.
• Cost: Unknown at this stage.
• Estimated Completion Date: Multi-year commitment.
21.
Accelerate 35 (Regional Economic Development Body)
Governorship role to support this regional work.
• Cost: Operational costs met by Horizons. Mayoral time.
• Estimated Completion Date: No completion date – this is an ongoing programme
of work.
22.
Mayoral Forums
Governance representation from RDC in regional matters.
Meetings concerning –
i.
Regional Roading – such as national roading/local roading issues.
ii.
For our district – FAR rates funding of 66%, balance rate-funded.
Focus on applications to Government for funding.
• Cost: Mayoral time.
• Estimated Completion Date: Multi-year commitment.
23.
Community Volunteer
Numerous projects, Marton B&C dams is the most significant.
• Cost: Mayoral time.
• Estimated Completion Date: Ongoing
24.
National TUIA programme for New Zealand
Long term nationwide mentoring initiative to develop leadership among young Māori run
by Mayors Taskforce for Jobs. At the time of this request I am co-Chair of the programme.
• Cost: Financially supported by Local Government New Zealand. Minimal cost for
local rangatahi.
• Estimated Completion Date: Ongoing yearly programme.
25.
Local Policing in Hunterville
Lead project driving retention of local policing.
• Cost: My time spent on relationship building between local and regional police.
RDC budget not needed.
• Estimated Completion Date: Decision date should be by July 2026.
26.
Gentle Annie Road Case Study
Regional lead with Hastings District Council to have the Gentle Annie Road passed to NZTA
as a national road and road of significance.
• Cost: If possible, effect on our budgets would be a significant financial gain in the
future.
• Estimated Completion Date: Ongoing.
27.
JBS Dudding Trust
Advisory Trustee. Recently distributed $1.1m to the Rangitīkei district.
• Cost: No cost to council other than Mayoral and staff time.
• Estimated Completion Date: Ongoing
28.
Regional Tripartite Defence Group
Member along with Mayors of Whanganui and Palmerston North. For our district there
are several projects including housing.
• Cost: Mayoral time.
• Estimated Completion Date: Multi-year discussions to engage Defence and
Government and how they support our towns associated with Defence.
29.
Taihape Grandstand
Council owned but community lead. My role project is the fundraising contribution by the
community. Project involves heritage, museum people, rugby clubs etc.
• Cost: As Council we committed $1m towards this project with a current balance
available of circa $700,000.
• Estimated Completion Date: Optimistically 2026.
30.
Taihape Playground
Similar to 29. I spend time on this project trying to raise community funds.
• Cost: Council has committed $50,000 to help rebuild.
• Estimated Completion Date: Best case scenario 2026/27.
31.
Regional Transport Committee
RDC representative on the Regional Transport Committee. Approve the regional transport
plan.
• Cost: Mayoral time
• Estimated Completion Date: Ongoing
32.
Community Committees
At the beginning of each triennium the Mayor sets up the community committees, and
provides representation on many groups.
• Cost: Mayoral and staff time.
• Estimated Completion Date: February 2026.
33.
Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill submissions
Working with regional parties, Elected Members and staff to provide submissions to
Central Government on key reforms, many of the Acts of Government are up to hundreds
of pages long.
• Cost: Mayoral and staff time.
• Estimated Completion Date: Lodged 13 February 2026.
34.
Simplifying Local Government (including governorship of Regional Councils being
passed to Mayors with a view to possible aggregation) Submission Process Working with regional parties, Elected Members and staff to provide submissions to
Central Government on key reforms, many of the Acts of Government are up to hundreds
of pages long.
• Cost: Mayoral and staff time.
• Estimated Completion Date: Lodged 20 February 2026.
35.
Rates Target Model proposal – multi-council discussions
Working with regional parties, Elected Members and staff to provide submissions to
Central Government on key reforms, many of the Acts of Government are up to hundreds
of pages long.
• Cost: Mayoral and staff time.
• Estimated Completion Date: Lodged 3 February 2026.
36.
Proposed Plan Change 3
Urban Growth Plan Change, focused on future-proofing residential land supply.
• Cost: Whole of project cost to date of $290,385.30 (mostly funded by grant
funding to the value of $216,746.25), plus Mayoral and staff time.
• Estimated Completion Date: 2027.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800
802 602.
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to email [email address].
Yours sincerely,
LGOIMA Officer
Rangitikei District Council
