Maori land rates compensation

Compensation for irrecoverable Maori land rates was one of a raft of revenue options proposed by Northland councils at a rates inquiry.

The councils told the Local Government Rating Inquiry that Government compensation should be available for a portion of rates lost each year on Maori land where multiple ownership, partial occupation and poor administration made it difficult to collect them.

Whangarei, Far North and Kaipara district council representatives also want rates to be charged to Crown-owned entities such as schools, hospitals, churches and Conservation Department-administered land.