Auckland rates hike: How much more will you pay?

NZ Herald 26 June 2015
About 34,000 Auckland households will pay more than $500 when they open their latest rates bills in six weeks, according to council figures.

Council estimates released today show about one-in-13 of the city’s 454,000 households will pay more than $500 and of those 9000 households will pay more than $1000.

The figures reveal the impact of Mayor Len Brown’s controversial new budget, which was passed by a single vote yesterday.

The bottom line is an average 9.9 per cent rise in residential rates costed at $214 for the average household.

Today, the council released the estimated impact of rates changes for the new financial year, starting on July 1.

Family First national director Bob McCoskrie said it was time councils, including Auckland Council, followed family and made sacrifices.

“They have not had the luxury of raising their income by 10% with a simple vote. They should not pass on out-of-control spending to families. It’s time that they too tightened their belt.,” he said.

“For many families, an increase in rates will put them under huge pressure – an increased cost which they cannot simply pass on to others, as councils can do.”

“Families, local bodies and government cannot simply spend spend spend without accountability for that spending and without facing the consequences of an out-of-control budget – family or otherwise,” Mr McCoskrie said.
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