Future of the Far North takes centre stage

The inaugural State of the Far North address, held at Kerikeri’s Turner Centre on 12 November, was a defining moment for the district. More than 200 attendees—including business, community, political, and Te Ao Māori representatives—gathered to hear Far North Mayor Moko Tepania share the situation and vision for the region’s future.

At the heart of the fast-paced, information-rich address was a message of resilience and innovation. Despite the significant challenges posed by recent weather events and economic changes, the region achieved an extraordinary milestone—a national low rates increase of just 4.5% for the 2024-25 financial year.

This was made possible through a “new way of doing things” at FNDC and a $5 million dividend from Far North Holdings Ltd.

Mayor Tepania highlighted a stark reality: of the district’s 71,000 residents, only 28,000 are ratepayers, accounting for just 39% of the population. Despite this low rating base, the Council is leveraging innovative strategies and partnerships to drive progress.

The State of the Far North address will now become an annual fixture, offering transparency and accountability for commitments made. This new tradition is focused on keeping the district’s community informed about the challenges the Council faces and the actions it is taking to ensure a brighter, more resilient future for all.

As the commercial trading and asset management arm of FNDC, Far North Holdings is proud to contribute to this vision, in continuing to drive dividend growth alongside supporting positive social outcomes for the communities in which we serve and invest in.

Watch the full presentation on below