Councils are celebrating the government's decision to lift the debt cap, allowing them to borrow more money.
It follows an average 15% rates increase this year across the country.
Local Government New Zealand President Sam Broughton told Mike Hosking that councils currently have two options - borrow or lift rates.
He says they have to borrow more because residents can't afford to fund the infrastructure deficit councils are in.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.