Have your say on the future of our rating system
The feedback period has now closed for this consultation.
We’re reviewing our rating system to ensure it is fair, transparent, and best reflects the needs of our district. This is an important opportunity to address inequities, make the system more adaptable, and ensure rates are calculated in a way that is in line with our community’s evolving demographics and economy.
What are we proposing to change?
We’re proposing a shift from rating based on land value to rating based on capital value. It's the system that over 65% of councils across New Zealand use.
This isn’t about increasing the total amount of rates collected—it’s about redistributing how rates are shared.
This approach considers both the value of the land and the improvements on it (such as buildings). The proposed move aims to make rates fairer by better reflecting ratepayers’ ability to pay. Moving to a capital value-based system is the fairest way to share the cost of services that are set through the general rate.
Everything is laid out in our comprehensive Proposal Document.
We’re proposing three different options for you to choose from.
You can find out more about the options by clicking the links above.
We're also rethinking our approach to second dwellings
Most ratepayers who own properties with a second dwelling need to pay rates for these dwellings. Many owners feel this is unfair, saying the income they make from renting the second dwelling out for holidays and weekends barely covers the extra rates and costs of renting out the space. We’re looking to change the way we charge for Separately used or inhabited parts (SUIPs) to decrease the burden on affected ratepayers.
Everything is laid out in our comprehensive Proposal Document.
We've presented three options: