Splash Planet's future up for feedback as Hastings council looks to limit rates rises

The future of Splash Planet is in the hands of the community as Hastings District Council looks at ways to cut costs over the next decade.

In an effort to keep future rate increases as low as possible, the council is seeking feedback on a number of things including the theme park, the Hastings Art Gallery, senior housing, parks, reserves and playgrounds, roads and footpaths, visitor information services and community grants.

Ratepayers pay about $1.6 million a year (about $50 per rates bill a year) towards running Splash Planet, while the art gallery costs about $1.9 million a year (about $58 per rates bill a year).

Maintaining parks and reserves costs about $7m a year, averaging about $219 per rates bill a year.

Mayor Wendy Schollum said the council had made significant savings over the past year, but there was more to do to reduce upward pressure on future rates.

She said no decisions had been made on the options put forward for feedback.

"People might be happy to see less maintenance in some parks, for example, but feel strongly about keeping their local playground or swimming pool.

"Others might be prepared to pay more to keep a particular service. We need to know where people stand."

The theme park has faced challenges in recent years with wet summers and fluctuating visitor numbers, although using the venue for Spooky Planet's Halloween event and the Illuminate Light and Sound show have proved popular.

The community is being asked if the council should keep operating the park and replace ageing attractions, or gradually move away as the attractions reach the end of their lives.

In the 2024/2025 season, after a wet, cold summer that included rare snowfall on the Ruahine and Kaweka Ranges on January 5, the council closed Splash Planet 14 days earlier than scheduled.

At the end of January 2025, visitor numbers to the water park were down more than 15,000 on the previous season and revenue fell by $558,000.

The council said effective operations management cut costs by $232,000, reducing the loss to $326,000.

The 2025/2026 season proved better with 53,000 visitors by mid-January, 5000 more than during the same period last season.

Despite operating for 13 fewer days because of an initial weekends-only opening, revenue increased by about $150,000 (ex GST).

In August 2026, the Illuminate Light and Sound show drew 24,000 people to Splash Planet over eight days, netting Hastings council an estimated profit of $20,000 to $30,000.

A council spokesperson said Spooky Planet was a fantastic success this year, with both Friday and Saturday sold out and more than 4600 people coming through the gates to celebrate Halloween.

The spokesperson said Spooky Planet was a great example of how Splash Planet can be used in new and different ways, "extending its value beyond the traditional summer season and making the most of this fantastic community facility".

Schollum said the council faced difficult decisions as it worked towards its 2027-2037 Long Term Plan.

"Every service and facility has a cost, and while we'd all like to keep everything we have, we need to be realistic about what we can afford without simply passing more cost on through rates.

"Before making any significant changes, we need to understand how our residents feel about them."

Schollum said the council would continue investing in essential infrastructure, while managing the cost of other activities.

"We have rising costs we can't ignore. The more we can save elsewhere, the less pressure those rising costs put on future rates.

"We want Hastings to remain a great place to live. To do that, we need to be realistic about what we can afford."

This feedback will help prepare the council's draft Long Term Plan, which will go out for formal consultation in early 2027.

To have your say, visit myvoicemychoice.co.nz with consultation open until Sunday, November 29.

Hard copies are available at libraries in Hastings, Havelock North and Flaxmere, and at the Customer Service Centre on Lyndon Road, Hastings.