Media Release from Paekakariki Community Board

Monday 14 August 2006

Rating System Must Be Changed

The Paekakariki Community Board wants to change a rating system that has the effect of costing superannuitants in Paekakariki up to 19% of their nett superannuation income.

“We urgently need a public enquiry by a Select Committee of Parliament to examine the unfair and disproportionate effects of the archaic property tax system and to decide how the law should be changed,” said Board Chairman Adrian Webster.

He said a Select Committee enquiry would enable the expression of all points of view and a means of examining possible alternative systems including a local income tax. “What we need is a new way of funding local government which is based on people’s ability to pay.

“It is unconscionable that people who have lived in Paekakariki for most of their lives have been or are threatened with being rated out of their homes.

“What is happening in Paekakariki is also occurring throughout the Kapiti District. Many people have lived on the coast for more than 30 years from a time when living in a bach by the beach was a cheap option for those who could not afford to live in Wellington,’ said Mr Webster.

He said it was important that the political parties did not see rates as another football to kick around. “People are hurting too much for the parties to adopt a partisan approach.

“Certainly central government has shed some responsibilities to local government but these things are only a very small part of the ballooning local government budgets funded from unfair property taxes.

ENDS

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