Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Christchurch City Council has adopted a rates rise below 10 percent in its 2024 to 2034 Long Term Plan.
Councillors voted for a 9.90 percent average rates increase for next year, with 14 councillors for and three against.
There will be a rise of 8.48 percent in 2026 and 5.80 percent in 2027.
Mayor Phil Mauger said the overall average rates increase is one of the lowest around the country, particularly amongst other city councils.
"For me, this is really important as every point lower means less coming from cash-strapped back pockets around the city.
"We have navigated these choppy financial waters in a relatively strong position.
"This proposed increase includes a balanced budget, additional support for community organisations like the Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora, Orana Park and the Santa Parade, and accounts for the costs associated with Te Kaha.
"It also includes funding for helping our communities adapt to the impacts of climate change and natural hazards and continuing to bid for events to come to the city - all of this while not cutting our levels of service."
The finalised 10-year road map includes no cuts to services.
The Christchurch Arts Centre is also receiving more funding.
The historic attraction will receive $1.5 million of funding from the Christchurch City Council across the next two years, with a further annual allocation of $500,000 for the eight years after that.
This is on top of a further $220,000 across the next two years from one of the council's community funds.
It follows growing concern around the future of the cash-strapped centre, leading the Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora trust to ask council for $1.8m annually for its survival.
The plan also includes funding for Orana Park and the Santa Parade, as well as helping communities adapt to the impacts of climate change and natural hazards, and continuing to support events.
The mayor said the council understands any increase has a significant impact on people and the increase will still put pressure on some businesses and households.
"We must continue to find ways to reduce our operating and building costs as we implement this LTP to further reduce the impact of rate increases beyond the first year," he said.