AUCKLAND, NZ – August 5, 2025 –Franklin Local Board member Gary Holmes and Rodney Local Board member Mark Dennis are today taking their concerns public, condemning Auckland Council’s latest rates increase as an unjust and inequitable burden on rural residential communities.

The representatives say their communities, including towns like Waiuku and Helensville, are facing rates increases significantly higher than the average, with some rural residential properties in Franklin and Rodney seeing increases of over 23%. Other rural and island areas, such as Great Barrier Island, are experiencing hikes of nearly 30%. These figures starkly contrast with the Council’s advertised average residential increase of 5.8 per cent.

This substantial hike is due to a disproportionate increase in the general rate for properties classified as rural residential.

“The communities we represent are being hit with a rates increase that is not only staggering but completely unjustified,” said Gary Holmes. “We supported a reasonable rates increase to meet Auckland’s needs, but the reality is that the new rural residential general rate has landed as an unfair punishment on our communities. Despite a minor adjustment to the farm/lifestyle differential from 80% to 73.8%, this change has proven insufficient to mitigate the severe impact on our communities. It is simply not equitable across the region.”

The issue stems directly from the 2024 property revaluations. While average residential property values across Auckland dropped by 9.1 per cent, rural and lifestyle properties, including those in Franklin and Rodney, saw their values hold steady or even increase (e.g., Rural +4%, Lifestyle +4%, and the Farm/Lifestyle rating category +1%). This disparity, driven by the Council’s 'relative change' principle, means that properties whose values decreased less than the regional average, or increased, are now forced to bear a significantly larger share of the overall rates burden, leading to these substantial increases.

Mark Dennis highlighted the profound irony and unfairness of the situation. “For all intents and purposes, towns like Helensville and Waiuku are urban in form, but we enjoy none of the benefits that urban suburbs receive, such as extensive public transport and enhanced community facilities. Now, we are being disproportionately penalised through our rates while still receiving a fraction of the services.”

The representatives assert that the Council failed to adequately highlight the true, disproportionate impact of these changes on rural residential communities during the consultation period. Crucially, the Council's own analysis of rates changes excluded the impact of the new rates-funded refuse services, which are being rolled out for the first time in Franklin and Rodney in 2025/2026, adding another significant and uncommunicated burden to our residents’ bills.

Their push for public transparency is aimed at exposing what they call a fundamental flaw in the rates model that places a punishing financial strain on residents who are already feeling the pressure of the rising cost of living.

Holmes and Dennis are calling on Auckland Council to urgently re-evaluate the rates model to ensure it is fair and transparent for all ratepayers, not just those in the central city.

Gary Holmes Franklin Local Board Member
Mark Dennis Rodney Local Board Member

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