Mayor’s proposals: Slash rates rise by a third, return two-hour free parking
Friday, 27 March 2026
Relief from a double-digit rates rise and CBD parking charges are on the way for Hamilton City residents under new mayoral proposals.
Mayor Tim Macindoe told the Waikato Times he wants to slash this year’s rate rise by a third, to 6.9%, and make good on an election promise to reintroduce two hours free parking in the city centre.
“Those are two key things that I'm pushing for and they both reflect my absolute commitment to trying to deliver to the voters on their expectations and what I think they voted for in electing me as mayor and also in electing council that is broadly supportive of the direction I'm taking,’’ he said.
His proposals will be considered at the council’s Draft Annual Plan meeting on April 2.
Mayor Macindoe said without the rates changes ratepayers would face a 10.4% rates rise from July - taking into consideration removal of water charges.
That would come on the back of a 16.5% rates increase in 2024/25, a 15.5% rates increase last year.
“So, three substantial double digit rates increases over that three-year period and under the LTP, because it's a ten year plan, there are further double digit rates increases, just on a slightly declining scale.
“I'm determined not to inflict that on our ratepayers.’’
If approved by the council, it will only be for one year but Mayor Macindoe said he is “firmly committed’’ to ensure rates keep tracking down when deliberations start on “the mother of all Long Term Plans’’ in July.
“I'm just determined to do my level best for Hamilton residents and ratepayers and hope that it will be enough to ensure that we are financially-sustainable long-term and next year's Long-Term Plan is one that they find far more palatable than the last one.’’
Mayor Macindoe said that could be achieved without major trade-offs.
“None of us are looking to shut libraries and swimming pools or kneecap the Hamilton Gardens or close the zoo. On the contrary, I want to ensure that we maintain and where we can enhance those obviously achieving all the efficiencies we can.’’
‘Fairer’ parking from July
The mayor also wants a return to two hours free parking in the CBD by July 1, 2026 and has directed the Central City Revitalisation Subcommittee to make it a priority.
The cost in lost revenue is an estimated $793,300.
However, he said the change is essential to make the central city 'welcoming and accessible' for retailers and visitors alike.
“The community has spoken, and I’m acting to ease financial pressure on Hamiltonians.’’
He is reluctant to spend ratepayers’ money to remove the existing paid-parking signage, but confirmed parking would return to a two hours free model across the existing on-street six-day paid-parking model.
“There would be some factors to go with that, that I hope would make our system of parking fairer, much easier to understand and reflects my commitment to do what I can to invest in our CBD to make it a really vibrant, bustling city centre.’’
Savings key to proposals
Examples of where savings had been made to allow for the lower rates rise were through revamped procurement processes and, through water company IAWAI, spreading the cost of paying for new infrastructure for new-build houses over a longer-term.
The proposed IAWAI water charge for the median residential annual increase for Hamilton has also dropped from $265 to $174 per year – a decrease of $91 from that originally indicated.
Macindoe’s rates plan and the two hours free-parking directive are key parts of his seven-point Mayoral Plan, which has seven themes:
Financial Responsibility: Leading the push for lower rates.
Central City Pride: Establishing a dedicated subcommittee to drive inner-city confidence.
Sensible Infrastructure: Scrutinising projects to avoid 'gold-plating' and limiting unpopular features like raised platforms.
Transparent Organization: Reviewing procurement and consultant spending.
Pragmatic Growth: Focusing on the 'whole of life' costs for new developments.
City Places for People: Ensuring services remain cost-effective.
Open for Business: Partnering with iwi and private investors to unlock economic potential.
“The seven-point Mayor's Plan was unanimously adopted by our council last year. It essentially could be summarised as fiscal sustainability and responsibility while preserving and enhancing everything that makes Hamilton special,” Macindoe said.
He also praised the council staff’s work, saying “I can't achieve a 6.9% rates increase without having staff delivering for me”.