Wellington's mayor is talking up cost savings, as the council chases a lower 5.8 percent rates rise.

It proposed 7.4 percent during public consultation.

Some fees and user charges are increasing and big projects like the Town Hall and refurbishing the Botanic Gardens' Begonia House will continue. 

Andrew Little says they made cuts to keep rates down.

"Finding savings isn't an annual activity, it's a daily activity - so they carried on working, they found these projects that aren't going to be finished, that don't have to be depreciated , so we could donate to budget for that." 

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Wellington's mayor is talking up cost savings, as the council chases a lower 5.8 percent rates rise.
It proposed 7.4 percent during public consultation.
Some fees and user charges are increasing and big projects like the Town Hall and refurbishing the Botanic Gardens' Begonia House will continue.&nbsp;
Andrew Little says they made cuts to keep rates down.
"Finding savings isn't an annual activity, it's a daily activity - so they carried on working, they found these projects that aren't going to be finished, that don't have to be depreciated , so we could donate to budget for that."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Andrew Little: Wellington mayor on the council's plan to increase rates by 5.8 percent

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/18280b38-975e-4c1c-943b-b4570070da45/transcript