Media
We’re Officially Launched! 🚀
What a night! On Wednesday, the Sunday Cantina was packed to the brim with locals eager to hear what the We Love Kāpiti candidates are all about.

The buzz in the room was unmistakable - a clear sign that our community is ready for real change at the Council table.
We could feel the energy as we introduced ourselves, shared our vision, and connected directly with many of you. This was our first chance to step forward as a team, and we’re incredibly grateful for the turnout, the support, and the meaningful conversations that followed.
We’re just getting started - and we’re committed to working hard in the months ahead to meet with as many of you as possible.
🎥 Missed the launch? You can watch the full recording below
Let’s make this the year our community’s voice truly counts. 💚💙
18th June 2025 - Launch @ Sunday Cantina, Raumati South, Kāpiti
Watch our launch where the candidates explain the policies behind what We Love Kāpiti stand for.
9th July 2025 - Media Release
NEW INDEPENDANT GROUP TO CONTEST KAPITI COAST COUNCIL ELECTIONS
We Love Kāpiti is a new group in the political landscape of the Kāpiti Coast district.
We love Kāpiti is a group of hard-working, everyday people who are worried about the future for residents of the Kāpiti Coast District. This is an independent group that has diverse backgrounds and experiences and together they make a strong team because they have agreed on what matters most and will lead accordingly.
The We Love Kāpiti team aims to make sure that rates can be affordable again, that council makes commonsense decisions and that it works for the community, not against it.
A key part of their election platform is halting the planned rates increases identified in the current Long Term Plan. Under that plan, rates will more than double in the next 10 years. Residents are worried about the impact of those rises at a time when everything is costing more.
The team has developed a five-point strategy to restore affordability and set rates increases at no more than 3% per annum, on average. This is a significant decrease from the planned trajectory of 6.9% this year and then further rises of 7% year on year.
The We Love Kāpiti team says that keeping rates at affordable levels is possible with greater fiscal responsibility in the spending decisions council makes. Their Five Point Plan for Affordable Rates identifies how they plan to do this.
- Halt Unaffordable Increases: Freeze the KCDC planned 7% rises and design a sustainable rates path by July 2026.
- Commit to Affordability: Average rates will increase no more than 3% per annum, on average, over the period of the current Long Term Plan and will return to below 5% of median income. Community consultation will precede any deviation.
- Target Spending for Efficiency:
- Adjust debt repayment to equitably share costs across generations.
- Reduce excessive Council costs and bring back budget discipline.
- Reassess grant funding which increased 150% from 2022-2024 by focusing on effectiveness and value for money.
- Trim “economic development” spending while preserving community-benefit initiatives like the Kāpiti Food Fair and the Maoriland Film Festival.
- Align “Regulatory Services” funding with inflation to support local businesses.
- Preserve Community Facilities: Limit discretionary spending while protecting core services such as libraries, parks, and pools.
- Streamline Depreciation Costs: Fully fund depreciation costs while optimising capital spending and reviewing depreciation policies to ensure depreciation is properly used.
The We Love Kāpiti rates plan is designed to ensure rates remain affordable without compromising essential services for the Kāpiti community.
Dean Harris, one of the We Love Kāpiti team who is standing for mayor and councillor for the Waikanae Ward says, “We believe the recent and proposed rate hikes are unacceptable. Our vision is a Kāpiti where people can afford to rent, own a home, raise their families, and retire with dignity—a community that thrives, not struggles.”
26th July 2025 - Media Release
Another clear choice: KCDC vs We Love Kāpiti 💚
Here’s what could be achieved with new leadership - compared to what the current Council is planning.
📊 Our latest graphs show two key facts:
- By 2033/34, KCDC’s Long Term Plan has rates revenue climbing to $213 million.
✅ We Love Kāpiti plan: just $144 million
💥 = A $69 MILLION saving in ONE YEAR - From 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2034 -
That’s the 7 years We Love Kāpiti candidates could influence if elected -
📉 Total savings for ratepayers: $270 MILLION
The numbers speak for themselves.
Vote for change. Vote to protect your pocket.

