While Wellington attempts to thrash out its 10-year plan, some smaller councils are taking a different approach.
Every three years, councils are supposed to refresh their long-term financial plans - know as LTPs - and ask the public for feedback.
However, the demise of Three Waters and uncertainty about the future of water infrastructure has thrown up big questions.
So the government has now allowed councils to postpone their LTPs for a year.
Libby Kirkby-McLeod looks at two Waikato councils taking up that offer.
