Campaigners call for rates revolt

Dick Hubbard

A rates revolt is brewing on Waiheke over the latest property revaluations, which many of its elderly and poorest citizens fear will rate them off the island.

Talk of a rates boycott gained support at a public meeting in the Ostend Hall yesterday where about 100 residents vented their anger at increases of 50 per cent or more as a result of surging property prices.

Wendy Gordon, whose 40ha farm at Awaawaroa Bay soared in value from $1 million to $7 million in the latest property revaluations, said her rates were forecast to increase from $2583 to $12,600.

Waiheke residents are big losers from Auckland City's latest three-yearly property revaluations. Properties that have risen in value by more than the city-wide average of 42 per cent will pay a greater share of the total rates pie - and Waiheke values have risen by 98 per cent on average.

The last big rates revolt in Auckland occurred three years ago when the Auckland Regional Council introduced a new rating system that hit households with increases as high as 657 per cent.

Wilf Jones, one of three elderly people who organised yesterday's meeting, said Waiheke was facing a serious turning point for people on fixed and low incomes.

"Our immediate concern is to oppose any and every policy that leads to the financial pressure and departure of the most vulnerable citizens.

"It is in the interests of all residents, irrespective of their own financial circumstances, to oppose this sort of economic cleansing," said Mr Jones.

His own modest cottage at Tui St in Oneroa has gone up in value from $184,000 in 2002 to $410,000 in 2005, leaving the 82-year-old single pensioner facing a 55 per cent rates increase from $735 to about $1140.

Another meeting organiser, Dan Mellamphy, said: "We don't want to be rated off the island. It's immoral, it's indecent and we will not allow it to happen."

Ostend resident Warren Crook asked for volunteers for a campaign of civil disobedience to say "no" and keep saying "no" to paying rates until the council and the Government changed the system of collecting rates "to a system that is to our satisfaction".

Several people in the hall indicated they would join a rates revolt. One man said he had already written to the council saying he was not paying the new rates.

Said Mike Jarman: "Asking us to pay more than a 50 per cent increase in local taxation is absurd. There has to be a better way of doing it."

The meeting voted to inform Mayor Dick Hubbard and councillors that excessive rates increases could force longtime residents to leave the island.

Mr Hubbard last night said he was unaware of the meeting but would be seeking a report from Hauraki Gulf Islands councillor Faye Storer, who attended, and figures from officers on the rating problem.

"I understand concerns about rates increases but on the other hand a number of people on Waiheke are making substantial capital gains on property.

"People don't want to pay rates increases but they also don't want to forgo the capital gain."

Mr Hubbard said the issue of rising property values was not specific to Waiheke. Suburbs like Ponsonby had become highly desirable in the past and had seen large price rises.

He said the council spent about $3 for every $1 it raised in rates on the island.