Taxpayers' Union Launches 2025 Ratepayers' Report for Northland Councils 

The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union has today published the 2025 edition of the Ratepayers' Report, available at RatepayersReport.nz. 

Taxpayers' Union spokesperson, Sam Warren, said: 
 
“The Ratepayers’ Report allows Kiwis to easily compare their local council’s performance and financial position for 2023/24 against others. The report provides transparency for ratepayers, especially important this year as we head into the local government elections.” 

“Northland’s councils show striking differences in their debt levels, with Whangārei District Council households carrying $7,740 each – far higher than Kaipara ($5,849 per household), Far North ($5,243 per household), and Northland Regional Council ($473 per household). When it comes to staffing, Far North has the largest number of high earners with 117 staff on six-figure salaries, compared to Whangārei’s 94 staff – despite its larger population.” 

“These differences show how uneven the financial burden is across Northland. Ratepayers deserve transparency about why some councils are loading their residents with far more debt and higher costs than others.” 

“Ratepayers can compare their councils for themselves at RatepayersReport.nz.”