Tourism funding boost means no excuse to delay rates cap

Responding to National’s announcement that it will redirect International Visitor Levy revenue to councils rather than introduce a bed tax, Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“National has shown what we have been saying all along: councils do not need a bed tax or a rates hike to deal with the costs of tourism.

“There is already a tax specifically charged to international visitors. Using that revenue in the communities hosting them makes far more sense than slapping a new tax on accommodation and catching Kiwi families in the crossfire.

“But if National is going to hand councils another $385 million, there is even less excuse for waiting until 2029 to cap rates. Give councils the funding to manage tourism, then cap rates now.”