Agenda of Ordinary Council Meeting - Thursday, 30 October 2025

· compare its actual activities and the actual performance in the year with the intended activities and intended level of performance as set out in the Long-Term plan and the Annual Plan; and

· promote the Council’s accountability to the community for the decisions made throughout the year.

The audited Annual Report must be adopted by 31 October 2025, and together with a Summary Report, be made publicly available within one month of the adoption.

4. Discussion

This year consideration and adoption have been affected by the Local Body Election held on 11 October 2025. The previous Council’s final meeting was held on 24 September, prior to the completion of the Annual Report, therefore it is incumbent on the new Council to consider adoption at this first Ordinary Meeting.

A draft of the Annual Report was endorsed for adoption by the previous Risk and Assurance Committee at an Extra-ordinary Meeting on 1 October 2025. Feedback from the Committee has been incorporated into the final Annual Report document.

Other changes have been made as a result of audit feedback and finalising other work. Key changes to the version reviewed by the Risk and Assurance Committee are:

· ‘Your rates at work page’ reformatted to reflect Council’s $100 spend rather than ratepayers $100 spend to reflect external funding inclusion

· Additional non-financial performance measures footnotes

· Additional explanations for Key Performance Measures not achieved or, if achieved there was significantly lower performance

· Note 9 Intangible Assets has been updated to include the prior year comparatives table

· Note 10a has been created to separate non-current assets held for sale from normal property plant and equipment

· Internal borrowings schedule included in Note 13 Borrowings has been removed as it is not required under our PBE Standards Reduced Disclosure Regime

· Further updates have been furnished in Note 18 Events after balance date as information has come to hand

· The Sensitivity Analysis 2025/2024 schedules reflected in Other Legislative Disclosures have been relocated below Note 20

Prior Year Qualifications

Officers have worked closely with Audit NZ and PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) to address the three audit qualifications made in the 2024 Annual Report:

1. Annual residents survey

2. Road smoothness performance data

3. Castlerock investment valuation.

At the time of writing, clearance of these qualifications for the 2025 Annual Report are still undergoing review by the Audit New Zealand technical committee. We are awaiting their final decision, however initial feedback has been positive. A verbal update will be provided at the Council meeting.

We expect Audit NZ to issue their audit opinion on or before 30 October 2025.

Emphasis Of Matter

The audit opinion includes an emphasis of matter paragraph regarding the Council’s response to the Government’s Local Water Done Well reforms. An emphasis of matter is not a negative finding but draws attention to the financial uncertainty that exists as a result of the proposed formation of the Wairarapa-Tararua joint entity to deliver water, wastewater and stormwater services from 1 July 2027. The financial impact of this decision is unknown because details of the exact arrangements are still being considered. In addition, there is some uncertainty as the proposal is yet to be accepted by the Secretary for Local Government.

5. NEXT STEPS

It is recommended the Mayor and Chief Executive are delegated the authority to approve any final editorial changes to the 2025 Annual Report before publication.

The Annual Report and Summary Annual Report will be published on the CDC website within one month of adoption.

6. CONSIDERATIONS

6.1 Climate change

There are no specific climate change considerations regarding the decision to adopt the 2025 Annual Report.

6.2 Tāngata whenua

There are no specific tāngata whenua considerations regarding the decision to adopt the 2025 Annual Report.

6.3 Financial impact

There are no specific financial considerations regarding the decision to adopt the 2025 Annual Report.

6.4 Community Engagement requirements

The 2025 Annual Report and Summary Annual Report will be published on the CDC website within one month of adoption as required by legislation.

6.5 Risks

Council has a legislative obligation to adopt the Annual Report by 31 October 2025 therefore there may be a significant reputational and financial risk should this not occur.

There is also a risk that errors or non-compliance with legislation and accounting standards could occur in preparing the Annual Report. To mitigate this risk, officers have worked closely with PWC to prepare the report and provide quality assurance reviews on the results and commentary. Other external specialist advice has been sought where deemed necessary including specialist support for revaluations.

6.6 Community Wellbeings

There are no additional Community Wellbeings considerations required for the decision to adopt the 2025 Annual Report.

7. Recommendation

That the Council:

1. Receives the report.

2. Adopts the Carterton District Council Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2025.

3. Delegates the Mayor and Chief Executive the authority to approve any final editorial changes to the 2025 Annual Report prior to publication.

4. Notes that the Annual Report and a Summary Annual Report must be published within one month of adoption.

File Number: 480943

Author: Geri Brooking, Group Manager People and Corporate

Attachments: 1. Annual Report 2024_25 FINAL ⇩


AGENDA Ordinary Council Meeting
Date:	Thursday, 30 October 2025
Time:	5:15 pm
Location:	Carterton Events Centre 50 Holloway St Carterton
Mayor S Cretney Cr B Deller Cr S Laurence Cr G Ayling Cr L Newman	Cr S Gallon Cr S Casey Cr J Burns Cr R Round