Unpaid Rates On The Rise In Wairarapa

Wednesday, 12 March 2025, 7:43 am
Article: Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter

About $1.35 million in unpaid rates was outstanding at the end of December in South Wairarapa, a 79% increase on the year prior.

The latest report to the council’s Assurance, Risk and Finance Committee showed the largest arrears were in Martinborough, with 538 rating units owing a total of $506,000.

In Greytown, 429 rating units owed a total $403,000, and in Featherston 353 rating units owed a total 442,000.

The average outstanding debt among those who owed rates was about $1000.

Of the total arrears, 101 rating units owed $273,000 from the previous financial year.

Twenty-five were on repayment plans, 16 were currently with legal, and 46 were with mortgagee final demands, the report said.

In Masterton, $1.6 million in unpaid rates was outstanding at the end of December.

This was 18% more than at the same time last year but was the same as the end of last quarter.

Of the total bill, about $350,000 was owed from previous years.

A report to the Masterton District Council’s audit and risk committee said the council was making “active efforts” to work with ratepayers who were falling behind on payments.

Letters to mortgage-holding banks had also been sent to request payment of prior year arrears.

The Carterton District Council does not include a detailed rates arrears breakdown in its committee reports.

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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