UPDATE: 15 March 2023

Audit NZ has confirmed that they will be aiming to complete all outstanding audits and audit opinions by 31 March 2023 for all councils experiencing delays in publishing their annual reports for 2021/22. South Wairarapa District Council anticipates adopting the Annual Report in May 2023; publishing of the report will take place within 30 days.

South Wairarapa District Council has been forced to defer its adoption of its Annual Report 2021/22 as Audit New Zealand has been unable to complete its audit within the legislated timeframes.

Council submitted the Annual Report for auditing within the required timeline, however, Audit NZ was not able to complete the audit before the statutory deadline in December 2022 due to resourcing constraints.

Audit NZ has assured Council they will complete the audit in early 2023 but there is no certainty of a specific date.

Once audited, Council will then need to address any issues arising from the audit before tabling at the next suitable Council meeting for adoption and publishing the adopted report.

Council and members of our community are extremely disappointed at this ongoing delay as this report provides the opportunity to report on Council’s achievements of its Long Term Plan commitments and other priorities from the past year.

See Audit NZ’s explanatory letter to councils for details on the delayed auditing.