Hawke's Bay Regional Council has signalled a zero rates increase due to the ongoing coronavirus concerns.
Councillors sought urgent advice from the chief executive James Palmer on the issue at a meeting on Wednesday, before stopping a proposed increase.
Chairman Rex Graham said the council was aware of the financial pain within the region due to Covid-19, drought and Bovine TB.
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"We want to postpone our planned rate increase and need to find ways to do this and still deliver on our 2020-21 Annual Plan," he said.
"It is an incredibly difficult time for many people in the region, and we are committed to doing everything in our powers to get the region through the series of crises we are in.
"This is just the beginning of a series of initiatives that we are developing."