FAQs

Council hasn't undertaken a comprehensive review of its rating settings for some time. However, individual aspects of the rating system have been reviewed periodically through the Long Term Plan and Annual Plan processes.

Upper Hutt has changed over time, and water services have transferred to Tiaki Wai. This review provides an opportunity to make sure Council's rating settings remain appropriate for our city.

Any changes resulting from the review are expected to take effect from 1 July 2027.

No. This consultation is about how rates are shared between different property categories, not the total amount Council collects. The total amount of rates Council collects is determined through the Long Term Plan and Annual Plan processes.

Capital value is the estimated market value of a property at the date of the Council valuation. It includes the value of the land and any improvements, such as a house, other buildings, landscaping and site works. It is not necessarily the price the property would sell for today. Council uses capital value to calculate the portion of some rates each property pays.

A targeted rate is charged to help fund a particular activity or service. Upper Hutt City Council has two targeted rates – the Land Transport Rate and the Government Compliance Rate.

The draft policy recognises that different property types and land uses may receive different levels of service or place different demands on Council infrastructure. Differential rating categories are one way Council can reflect these differences when deciding how rates are shared.

A rates remission is when Council reduces or waives rates that would otherwise be payable.

A rates postponement allows a ratepayer to delay paying their rates until a later date. The rates must still be paid.

Council must have policies in place to allow rates to be remitted or postponed, including a policy for Māori freehold land.

Council's current rates remission and postponement policy can be viewed here. This policy will be reviewed as part of the Long Term Plan process, with consultation planned for April 2027.

If your property is in a rural zone but is smaller than 30 hectares, it falls within the standard rating category.

The proposed changes would affect how rates are shared between different property categories. This means some properties could pay a larger share of rates, while others could pay a smaller share.

The impact on individual properties will depend on their rating category and the final decisions made by Council. The consultation document includes examples of how different property types could be affected.