Ratepayer Protection Pledge (2025)

The Ratepayer Protection Pledge put local election candidates on the record about whether they would stand up for ratepayers. Launched ahead of the 2025 local elections, we asked mayoral and council candidates across New Zealand to commit to keeping rates increases within inflation and population growth, opening council spending to greater public scrutiny, and opposing unelected appointments with spending and regulatory powers. We published every candidate who signed the pledge, giving voters a clear way to see who was committed to lower rates, greater transparency and democratic accountability.