Inflation driven by massive council rates hikes

Responding to Statistics New Zealand’s announcement today that annual CPI inflation has hit three percent, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross said:

“Inflation is hitting the ceiling of the Reserve Bank’s target range, and council rates hikes are doing the heavy lifting. Local authority rates and payments contributed 27.9 percent of quarterly inflation."

“With average rates up 34 percent in just three years, council waste is hitting Kiwis with a double whammy: first directly in their pockets, and second through the inflation those hikes are fuelling.”

“These figures make it clear that local government needs to change. Kiwis can’t afford this cost-of-living crisis, so the Government must cap rates now.”