Have your say on the future of our rating system

Ready to give us your feedback? Click here now

We’re reviewing our rating system to ensure it is fair, transparent, and best reflects the needs of our district. This is an important opportunity to address inequities, make the system more adaptable, and ensure rates are calculated in a way that is in line with our community’s evolving demographics and economy.

What are we proposing to change?

We’re proposing a shift from rating based on land value to rating based on capital value. It's the system that over 65% of councils across New Zealand use.

This isn’t about increasing the total amount of rates collected—it’s about redistributing how rates are shared.

This approach considers both the value of the land and the improvements on it (such as buildings). The proposed move aims to make rates fairer by better reflecting ratepayers’ ability to pay. Moving to a capital value-based system is the fairest way to share the cost of services that are set through the general rate. 

Everything is laid out in our comprehensive Proposal Document. 

We’re proposing three different options for you to choose from.

• Option one: No change (status quo)
• Option two: Change from Land Value to Capital Value rating
• Option three: Change to Capital Value rating with Targeted Rate adjustments

You can find out more about the options by clicking the links above. 

We're also rethinking our approach to second dwellings

Most ratepayers who own properties with a second dwelling need to pay rates for these dwellings. Many owners feel this is unfair, saying the income they make from renting the second dwelling out for holidays and weekends barely covers the extra rates and costs of renting out the space. We’re looking to change the way we charge for Separately used or inhabited parts (SUIPs) to decrease the burden on affected ratepayers.

Everything is laid out in our comprehensive Proposal Document.

We've presented three options:

• Option one: Status quo
• Option two: Change to SUIP Policy
• Option 3: Change to the Rates Remission Policy to apply 100% remission to second units if conditions are met

Want to get involved?

Your input is critical in shaping the future of our rating system. Here’s how you can get involved:

• Use our FairShare Calculator: See the proposed changes and their potential impact on you.
• Attend our online public meeting: Join us to learn more and ask questions. The date for our public meeting will be published soon - in the meantime, you can register to be notified of these dates by joining our e-newsletter.
• Attend a community catch-up session: We’ve scheduled a few catch-up sessions where you can come and talk.

Give us your feedback

We’ll be asking for your thoughts until Monday 12 May.

Don't forget to read our comprehensive Proposal Document for all the details. 

You can give your feedback in a variety of ways: