Taxpayers' Union Launches 2025 Ratepayers' Report for Otago 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.” 

“Otago ratepayers are on the hook for some of the biggest debts in the country. The Regional Council tops the national chart with liabilities of $34,471 per household, while Queenstown-Lakes is close behind at $28,334 per household. Queenstown locals are also paying sky-high rates averaging $4,194 per household, compared to just $2,514 per household in Clutha. 

“These figures show a region where ratepayers face extreme costs both in debt and rates. When Dunedin has 77 percent of its workforce on six-figure salaries, and Central Otago runs the country’s largest per-household deficit, residents should be asking hard questions about spending priorities.” 

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