Council agrees to 6.78% total rate increase

Far North District councillors have agreed to increase the district’s total rates take for 2023/24 by 6.78 per cent, less than the 8.63 per cent increase initially proposed in the Annual Plan.

The 6.78 per cent rates increase applies to the total amount of rates the council requires for operational expenditure. It does not mean all ratepayers will see their rates rise by 6.78 per cent.

The increase was confirmed when councillors adopted the Annual Plan for 2023/24 during a meeting last Thursday (29 June) at Council Chambers in Kaikohe. Last week’s adoption of the Annual Plan followed a marathon seven-hour council meeting held on 1 June. This included extensive debate among councillors about how to fund the delivery of key infrastructure and services at a time when residents and the district face significant challenges. These include back-to-back weather events requiring major repairs to the district’s roading network, combined with high levels of inflation that have increased budgets across the organisation.

Far North Kahika Moko Tepania says councillors are very aware that many residents are struggling to pay their bills due to high inflation and the cost-of-living crisis.

“This was a tough decision for the council. We do not want to increase financial demands on residents, but we also need to consider the wider implications of council spending.”

Thursday’s meeting also confirmed decisions on two proposals included in the Annual Plan that the council consulted the public on in March and April 2023. The council has adopted a proposal to take over ownership of the Turner Centre building at Kerikeri. This will see ownership of the building transferred to the council at zero-cost. The move will allow the charitable trust that operates the centre to focus on delivering arts programming.

The council also adopted a proposal to amend its rates remissions policy for Māori Freehold Land. This will make it easier for the owners of Māori Freehold Land to develop their land for much-needed housing.

Another proposal, which would have changed the way the council pays for water and wastewater infrastructure, was not adopted. This option would have replaced the current scheme-by-scheme rating system with a district-wide targeted rate for those connected to council water and wastewater schemes.

Property owners can find out what rates will be applied to their properties for the 2023/24 financial year by checking the Rating Information Database on the council’s website.