Media Release
1 August 2012

Rates notices going to Auckland ratepayers from today

The first bills from Auckland Council’s new single rating system will begin going out to ratepayers from today, which will signal increases and decreases for many in the region.

Rates notices will start arriving in letterboxes from Thursday 2 August in the north and west and from Tuesday 7 August in the rest of Auckland. Council will implement the policy in stages to reduce the impact of the largest potential changes. Increases are capped at 10 per cent each year for the next three years for residential and farm/lifestyle properties

“We acknowledge that this year is one of adjustment as we implement the single rate system based on capital value,” said Andrew McKenzie, chief finance officer of Auckland Council. “As a result of this change, some people’s rates will go up and some will go down. Over time, people will pay the same rates on properties of the same value and use wherever they are in the region.”

Council has delivered an average rates rise of 3.6 per cent. That compares to an average 5.7 per cent rise per annum over the past seven years of the former councils.

Auckland Council has taken a number of steps to lessen the impact of amalgamation. A total of $1.7 billion in savings has been identified in its Long-term Plan and the government supported a transition mechanism to smooth out the impact of amalgamation on Auckland households and businesses.

Mr McKenzie says he is keen to see as many eligible people as possible take advantage of the rates rebate scheme, which assists people whose rates are high in relation to their income. Auckland Council has written to all ratepayers who have benefitted from the scheme in the past, reminding them to apply this year.

“We also want to make sure that those people who are eligible for rates postponements and remissions can access them, including the newly-introduced remission scheme for residents of license to occupy retirement villages.”

More information on the new rates system is available from www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or (09) 301 0101.

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