The highest possible ranking has been bestowed on the Western Bay of Plenty District Council and the outlook is positive.
International credit rating agency Standard and Poor's has lifted the council from AA minus to AA rating - the highest possible ranking for a local authority - and has revised the council's outlook from stable to positive.
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The upgrade is in recognition of council's significant reduction in debt, good financial performance and positive fiscal outlook.
Council chief executive Miriam Taris said the upgrade was a positive report card for the council.