Napier rates rise an average 2.9pc

LATEST RATES: Napier rates are among the lowest in the country.

Napier ratepayers are paying some of the lowest residential rates in the country.

Ratepayers will pay an average of 2.9 per cent more for rates this financial year. Councillors set the rates at an extraordinary meeting this week.

A 1 per cent rise equals $18 per average residential ratepayer per year. Individual rate increases or decreases vary depending on circumstances.

Napier ratepayers still have some of the lowest average residential rates in the country, chief executive Wayne Jack says.

In the last residential rates survey commissioned by the council, Napier had the lowest average residential rates when compared with nine other similar-sized provincial cities.

With the revaluation of the city in 2014, land values rose 3 per cent on average across the city. The new values are effective from July 1 for rate setting. While most ratepayers whose re-valuation change was close to or about this number will not notice any major change, ratepayers in some suburbs of Napier will. Many property values in Ahuriri have risen 15 to 25 per cent, which will be reflected in their rates notices, while some Maraenui ratepayers will receive a decrease.

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton said rates were based on property valuations and they changed every three years.

"The changes in Napier are however a lot lower compared with Auckland which is going through a rates harmonisation process following amalgamation."

Mr Jack told the meeting that "council's rates revenue had not gone up due to the revaluation as rating levels had been redistributed across all areas".

The first rates instalment notices for the 2015/16 year are due to go out next week.

-For more information about receiving rates notices by email, visit www.napier.govt.nz, keyword #ratesbyemail.