Cap Rates Now
Background
Our Cap Rates Now campaign is fighting to protect ratepayers from relentless rates hikes by introducing a cap on how much councils can increase rates each year. With households facing double-digit increases while councils continue to spend on waste and nice-to-haves, we are campaigning for an inflation and population-based cap that forces councils to live within their means.
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Actions taken
- Launched the Cap Rates Now campaign and nationwide petition, backed by more than 31,000 New Zealanders
- Took the campaign to Fieldays, distributing Cap Rates Now caps and building public support
- Distributed roadside banners and ran nationwide advertising and social media campaigns
- Took a billboard truck and supporters to the LGNZ conference to put pressure directly on councils and the Government
- Met with and lobbied Local Government Minister Simon Watts
- Published the Rates Dashboard and Ratepayers’ Report, exposing council-by-council rates increases
- Produced the How to Cap Rates Now briefing paper setting out a workable model for rates capping
The message is simple: ratepayers deserve protection from town halls that consistently increase rates. The Taxpayers' Union will hold the government’s feet to the fire to make sure their promise to deliver a rates cap is delivered.
Where are we now?
The Cap Rates Now campaign has won the argument, with the Government committing to introduce rates caps. But the job isn't finished. As currently proposed, the cap would not take effect until 2029, potentially giving councils another three years to front-load rates increases. We are pushing for the cap to be brought forward, for safeguards to ensure the proposed rates band does not become a rates floor, and for clear consequences when councils breach the cap. We will continue scrutinising the legislation as it moves through Parliament to make sure the final policy actually delivers for ratepayers.
Supporting information
- Watts makes bad Local Government Bill worse
- Tourism funding boost means no excuse to delay rates cap
- LGNZ's bogus $34 rates cap claim blown apart by new analysis
- Next step is getting councils back to basics
- Government’s rates cap a campaign win for ratepayers
- Rates Dashboard 2026
- Calls for ‘relief’ are an insult to Waitaki ratepayers
- Hastings Mayor’s extraordinary admission undermines entire Annual Plan consultation
- Rates showdown tonight: Hastings businesses face rates increases of up to 85 percent
- Watts hands councils $400 million while ratepayers wait
- Waitaki rates stitch-up shows Watts must bring cap forward
- Taxpayers’ Union Slams Waikato Regional Chair For Silencing LGNZ Critics
- Gore Councillors pile on more pain for ratepayers
- From Rates Cap to Bed Tax, Luxon Bows to Brown
- Christchurch ratepayers hit by rates cap delay
- Rates Target Model consultation (DIA)
- PM needs to explain backroom deals on rates caps
- Rates Pain, Pay Gain: New Councillor Salary Increase Dashboard exposes eye-watering pay rises for councillors and mayors
- Rates Capping
- Taxpayer Update: Govt want to Cap Rates LATER ⏰ | New dashboard of savings 🧮 | $837,000 of Golden Handshakes this week alone 🫲
- Rates cap dashboard - How much would you have saved?
- Taxpayer Talk: John O'Connell on Rates Caps, Death Tax and the MPs' Expenses Scandal
- Taxpayer Update: MAJOR Taxpayer Victory ✌️ | NEW POLL: Majority of all groups back rates cap 🧢 | Grey District Council caught on camera 🎥
- Taxpayer Update: 30,000 now Cap Rates Now 🎉 | Nicola Willis *grows* the public service 📈 | StatsNZ take ‘swag’ to the next level 🦹♂️
- Taxpayer Update: NEW POLL: NZ's favourite mayors revealed 📊 | Waikato Regional Council U-Turns on LGNZ 💔
- Taxpayer Update: We meet with Watts in his Beehive office 💥 | Cap Rates Now hits 25,000 signatures📝 | The Greens fiscal 'strategy' 🦄
- Taxpayers’ Union calls for rates caps now following today’s 12 percent rates increase in Wellington
- 25,000 Back a Rates Cap But Government Delay Lets Councils Keep Spending
- New Zealanders should not have to wait yet another year for Rates Capping
- Farmers Back Rates Capping Campaign, Time For Minister Watts To Act
- Join the campaign to Cap Rates Now
- New Campaign Launched to tell Government to Cap Rates Now
- Taxpayer Update: RIP Sir Bob 🕯️ | A sad milestone ⏰ | Warning signs for Govt in new poll 📊