Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union Local Government Campaigns Manager Sam Warren said:

“There’s no doubt at all we need rates cap, but clearly we can’t afford to wait for another year of double-digit rates hikes.”

“Months and years of dysfunction have come to a crescendo. It’s a crushing decision while locals continue to suffer the heavy cost of poor decisions and planning by out-of-touch councillors.”

“$2.3 million on a light-up toilet block, hundreds of millions on cycleways and the not-so-Golden Mile, and a $563,000 bike rack outside the Mayor’s office have lead to rates soaring 47 percent in just three years.”

“There’s a good reason Tory Whanau received a ‘Lifetime Achievement in Waste’ Award at the annual Taxpayers’ Union Jonesie Awards earlier this year, and at this rate she’s on for a second one.”

“Wellington City Council cannot bring itself to prioritise ratepayers. It’s time to change the law now and force their hand.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is urging the Government to fast-track legislation to cap council rate hikes, following new figures from Stats NZ showing runaway local government spendingand the risk of even higher rates next year if action isn’t taken now.

Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager, said:

“Council spending is out of control and ratepayers are picking up the bill. This new data shows exactly why we need a rates cap now, not later.”

"Total council spending rose 7.6 percent to $18.41 billion compared to March 2024, yet employee costs have jumped 9.9 percent and interest payments soared 16.3 percent. It’s clear councils aren’t exercising financial discipline."

“More than 25,000 Kiwis have backed our petition to cap rates to inflation. The public gets it – and the Government is starting to as well.”

“The PM backed a rates cap on Newstalk ZB this morning, but the current timeline delays legislation until at least 2026, meaning councils can raise rates unchecked for another full year."

"Let's remember, the previous Local Government Minister, Simeon Brown, resolved to pass rates capping into legislation this year."

“Any later is too late. Councils are locking in bloated budgets right now. If we wait, ratepayers will keep getting hammered and blame will lie at the feet of councils and the Government.”

"The Government must act to Cap Rates Now and stop the spiral.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming Local Government Minister Simon Watts’ commitment to rates capping made last night in Wellington but is urging him to expedite the policy. The Union warns that continued delays will undermine public confidence and emboldening opponents of reform such as Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ).

Taxpayers’ Union Local Government Campaigns Manager, Sam Warren, said:

“More than 25,000 New Zealanders have already signed the Taxpayers’ Union’s Cap Rates Now petition. It’s time for Watts to listen – now, not later.”

“Only opening for consultation at the end of this year is simply not good enough. Polling shows that Kiwis are losing trust in National to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and with this slow response, we can see why. A primary driver of the cost of living is out of control rates, which have increased on average by more than a third since 2022.”

“The timeframe announced by Watts also means that voters are going into the local elections in October blind to what rates could or could not be, undermining local democracy. LGNZ know this, which is why they have been throwing sand in the gears to try and delay the policy.”

“Minister Watts is complicating what should be a straightforward fix. The policy work can and should be done within months, not dragged out to suit the bureaucrats and lobby groups like LGNZ who benefit from the status quo.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union is welcoming Federated Farmers’ call for voters to back candidates this October who commit to capping rates hikes at inflation.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:

“Rates bills went up 15 percent on average last year. Farmers just like everyone else are being fleeced by a local government sector more focused on vanity projects and bureaucratic bloat than getting the basics right.”

“The pressure is building. More than 15,000 Kiwis have already signed the Taxpayers' Union's petition to cap rates at inflation, and now Federated Farmers have joined the call.”

“Ratepayers are saying no to year after year of double-digit rates hikes. Minister Watts needs to act, put a lid on rates bills, and knock some common sense back into local government."

The Taxpayers’ Union’s Cap Rates Now petition is available at CapRatesNow.nz

We are officially launching our "Cap Rates Now!" campaign, to rein in New Zealand's out-of-control councils.

We're using this week's National Fieldays to call on Local Government Minister Simon Watts to introduce Australian and UK-style rates caps to limit annual rate increases to inflation.

We're demanding a rates cap - now! We need your support – sign the petition ✍️

Across the country, the story is the same: double-digit rate hikes, councils are driving up the costs of living.

Meanwhile, ballooning staff numbers and vanity project spending see councils delivering fewer core services.

Local Government New Zealand (the lobbyists for council bureaucrats) are in Simon Watts' ear. They want to keep councils unrestrained.

I need you to take 20 seconds today to sign the petition.

With Auckland’s new property values out yesterday, many homeowners are about to be slapped with massive rate hikes. Napier ratepayers are facing a hike of 20 percent, along with Gore, Upper Hutt, Hastings... The list goes on and on. 

It’s time to put a lid on it: Cap Rates Now!

Rates cap legislation would limit annual rates increases to inflation – unless a council can get approval from local ratepayers through a local referendum.

💥 Since 2022, average council rates have gone up 34% in New Zealand, compared to 14% in the UK and just 8% in Australia.

💥 A majority of Kiwis want the choice – polling shows that nearly two-thirds support referenda for big rate hikes.

💥 Meanwhile, council spending keeps ballooning – but not on core infrastructure. Our research shows that the money is going on bloated bureaucracies (staff costs) and non-core (i.e. vanity) projects.

If you agree, enough is enough, sign the Rates Cap Now petition at RatesCapNow.nz

Under our proposal, councils can still fund important projects – they’ll just have to justify the cost and get community backing. It’s about accountability, transparency, and putting ratepayers first.

The campaign is about protecting households, restoring trust in local government, and stopping councils from treating ratepayers like bottomless wallets.

If councils really need to spend more, they can just ask. That’s democracy.

But without a cap, nothing will change. The bills will keep piling up.

So let's build up the pressure . Let’s Cap Rates Now!

The Taxpayers' Union is launching a new nationwide campaign calling for Local Government Minister Simon Watts to 'Cap Rates Now' and adopt CPI-level limitations on councils hiking rates. The launch of the Cap Rates Now campaign coincides with the opening of National Fieldays and the release of Auckland Council's new property valuations.

We're calling on ratepayers across New Zealand to join us in asking Mr Watts to Cap Rates Now by signing the petition at CapRatesNow.nz.

"Council rates are out of control. Until they are capped, councils have little incentive to focus on core services and providing good quality infrastructure," said Taxpayers' Union Local Government Campaign Manager Sam Warren.

A March 2024 Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll found that nearly two-thirds of New Zealanders supported referendums for rates increases beyond inflation. and less than one quarter opposed. There was majority support for referendums in all gender and age groups.

"For years, skyrocketing rates have been a major driver of inflation and the cost of living crisis. Rates have increased 34 percent in New Zealand since 2022, compared to only 14 percent in the UK and 8 percent in Australia. Enough is enough."

"Rates caps are common in Australia and the United Kingdom, and last year even Prime Minister Luxon appeared to be fan," said Warren.

"Behind the scenes, we know that council officials, and their lobby group, LGNZ, have been trying to strong arm Simon Watts and lobby against this common-sense policy. Local Mayors try to claim local government is underfunded, but when you look at the numbers, the dramatic increases in rates revenue have been wasted on nice-to-haves and staff costs, rather than core capital infrastructure investment," said Warren.

"That's why we're calling on ratepayers to join us in our call to Cap Rates Now."

"In special circumstances with a good reason to increase rates over-and-above inflation, councils should seek the public mandate via referenda. That is the sensible compromise for LGNZ, who have been spending ratepayer money to lobby against rates capping."