Aucklanders face 11 per cent rates rise

UPDATE - Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard is proposing an 11 per cent rates rise for residents.

And those with homes worth more than around half a million dollars are set to pay 16 per cent more.

He would like businesses inside the CBD to pay 7.9 per cent more and those outside the CBD to pay 9.1 per cent more.

Mr Hubbard said the $60 million this would bring in over three years would go towards what Aucklanders say they categorically want fixed - congestion.

He said the reality is that if they are to fix the problem, the council needs more money.

Mr Hubbard said he is prepared to listen to what Aucklanders think of his proposal to raise rates - to an extent.

He said he is a listening mayor and will take public submissions into account, but insists the council is not going to be a "wishy-washy compromise" one.

But leader of the Citizens and Ratepayers team on Auckland City Council, councillor Scott Milne said: "This announcement is outrageous .In an environment of 2.5 per cent inflation and where rates rises in the previous term of council were held to inflation, an increase of 10 per cent is unacceptable.

"It clearly demonstrates that Bruce Hucker is running the city as it is one of the strongest socialist, left leaning documents to come from City Hall in decades."


- NEWSTALK ZB, HERALD STAFF