The Taxpayers’ Union has today launched the 2025 New Zealand Rates Dashboard at RatesDashboard.nz

The Rates Dashboard is for ratepayers to track and compare their council's annual and cumulative rates increases with councils across New Zealand. It shows the average cumulative rates increase over the current three-year council term is an astonishing 34.4 percent – more than two and a half times inflation over the same period. The average for 2025 alone is 8.39 percent.

Local Government Campaigns Manager, Sam Warren, said:

"The dashboard shows that the average Kiwi household now faces a rates bill more than a third higher than just three years ago. Over the same timeframe, inflation has been just 13.7 percent.”

"This year alone, the average rates increase is 7.4 percent - that’s still nearly three times the current 2.5 percent inflation rate."

"Ratepayers can see how their council compares at RatesDashboard.nz."

“These numbers represent real pain being felt by ratepayers, including reports of ratepayers being forced out of their homes. They show why UK or Australian-style rates capping is so urgently needed. Councils should be forced to keep rates under the level of inflation unless approved by local referenda.”

“More than 28,000 Kiwis have signed the Cap Rates Now petition and looking at the Rates Dashboard, it's no wonder ratepayers are angry and LGNZ know it's in trouble."

NOTES

The Taxpayers' Union 2025 Rates Dashboard can be found at RatesDashboard.nz

The top ten highest cumulative rates increases over the current three-year electoral term are:

• West Coast Regional Council – 65.57%
• Greater Wellington Regional Council – 54.67%
• Taranaki Regional Council – 51.02%
• Queenstown-Lakes District Council – 50.23%
• Hastings District Council – 48.76%
• Central Otago District Council – 47.95%
• Wellington City Council – 47.03%
• Upper Hutt City Council – 46.92%
• Gore District Council – 46.60%
• Otago Regional Council – 45.76%

The top ten highest rates increases for 2025 are:

• Clutha District Council – 16.59%
• Upper Hutt City Council – 15.78%
• Hamilton City Council – 15.50%
• Waipa District Council – 15.50%
• Hastings District Council – 15.00%
• Selwyn District Council – 14.20%
• Grey District Council – 13.73%
• Queenstown-Lakes District Council – 13.50%
• Westland District Council – 13.20%
• Taranaki Regional Council – 12.90%

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