Government’s rates cap a campaign win for ratepayers

The Taxpayers’ Union is celebrating a major policy victory after the Government announced council rates increases will be capped from 1 July 2029.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“This is a huge win for ratepayers. More than 31,000 New Zealanders backed our Cap Rates Now campaign, and the Government has listened.”

“We took that message around the country, from a billboard truck outside the LGNZ conference to handing out ‘Cap Rates Now’ trucker caps at Fieldays. We’re delighted Local Government Minister Simon Watts has delivered, minus the ‘now’ part.”

“The policy design is not perfect, but a rates cap in place before next year’s Long-Term Plan process would be far better than waiting three years for a better one. Delaying until 2029 simply gives councils more time to front-load rates hikes before the cap bites.”

“Minister Watts has accepted the case for a rates cap. Now he needs to make sure it is in place before councils start setting their next Long-Term Plans.”