Understanding your rates bill. Why your rates may have changed this year

Rates bills may look different this year because the 4.9 per cent overall rates increase is shared across properties in different ways. Changes to property values, the services each property receives and targeted rates all affect what individual ratepayers pay.

When our Mayor and Councillors adopted our Annual Plan in June, they approved an overall rates increase of 4.9 per cent for 2026/27 — below the 10.5 per cent that had been forecast for this year in our Long-term Plan.

What does 4.9 per cent mean?

The 4.9 per cent increase is the total increase in rates revenue we need to collect compared with 2025/2026 but it does not mean every property owner’s bill will rise by 4.9 per cent. Individual rates bills can go up, go down or stay about the same, depending on each property’s circumstances.

Why your bill may be different

Your rates bill can change for several reasons:

• The type of property you have, such as a home, business, small holding or farm.
•  The services your property receives, such as water, wastewater, stormwater, rubbish and recycling.
• Targeted rates that apply to your property or area.
• How your property value changed compared with other properties.
• Last year’s one-off residential rates remission.

What ratepayers may see this year *

Rates notices for the first quarter of the year were sent out last week to more than 37,800 properties across the district.

This year, around 14,000 residential properties and 100 commercial and industrial properties will see increases of between 1 and 4 per cent.

Around 8,300 residential properties and 190 commercial and industrial properties will see increases of between 6 and 10 per cent. About 6,000 residential properties and 1,200 commercial and industrial properties will have either no change or a reduction in rates.

It’s estimated that:

•  About 20 per cent of all properties are expected to have lower rates.
•  About 47 per cent are expected to increase by $0 to $200.
• About 26 per cent are expected to increase by $201 to $400.
• About 4 per cent are expected to increase by $401 to $600.
• About 4 per cent are expected to increase by more than $600.

*Excluding Taranaki Regional Council rates.

How property values affect rates

One of the biggest influences this year is the recent property revaluation. Average property values across the district fell by about 9 per cent, but what matters most is how your property’s value changed compared with others.

Property revaluations are conducted independently every three years and help decide how rates are shared across the district's ratepayers. They do not determine how much we collect in rates overall.

Think of rates like a pie.  While Council decides the overall size of the pie through its budgeting process property values help determine how that pie is shared between property owners. A revaluation does not change the total amount of rates that need to be collected.

What is included in your rates bill?

The back of your rates notice shows the charges that make up your bill. Depending on your property and the services it receives, these may include:

• General rates
• Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC) – paid by every property to help fund all Council activities, including those funded by targeted rates where those rates do not cover the full cost.
• Water supply charges
• Wastewater charges
• Rubbish and recycling collection services
• Other targeted rates that apply to specific properties.

Why this year may look higher than expected

Last year, a one-off rates remission for residential ratepayers after adopting the 2025/26 Annual Plan was applied, lowering the amount paid. It did not change the total amount of rates we needed to collect.

Because that remission was for one year only, this year’s bill may look higher when compared with last year’s discounted amount.

If your property value fell by less than the district average, stayed the same or increased, your share of rates may be higher than last year.

Need help understanding your bill?
If you’re unsure why your rates have changed, there is more information on our rates information page or contact us.