A strong result from a global rating agency confirms Hastings District Council's financial management is strong and expected to remain so, the organisation says.
It has received an AA long-term credit rating by international independent financial analysis agency Standard & Poor's - a grading which will help the council keep rates affordable.
The external opinion measures an organisation's ability to manage and meet its financial obligations in full and on time.
The full rating, AA/A-1+, was equivalent to the highest rating awarded to any council in New Zealand, Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said.
The report said the rating reflected council's "robust management", and that "the council's debt burden will remain moderate relative to its peers".