Northern rates group eyes small claims tribunal

By TONY GEE

A ratepayer group plans to dispute rate rises imposed by the Far North District Council in the Small Claims Tribunal.

A public meeting of about 200 people on the Karikari Peninsula, northeast of Kaitaia, yesterday called for legal advice on taking a rate dispute case to the tribunal because the council's 4.5 per cent general rate rise did not match an overall 25 per cent increase in some rates in the district.

A spokesman for the Tokerau Beach-Whatuwhiwhi Ratepayers Association, Colin Spriggs, said if rate charges were in dispute before the tribunal, the council could not call in debt collectors.

But the association has rejected an earlier idea to set up a trust account into which property owners upset at rate rises could pay their rates until the council justified increases.

"We couldn't handle a trust account or the numbers involved," Mr Spriggs said.

"It would be too unwieldy and it would be stupid of us to go there. We don't want to be seen as irresponsible with the people involved."

Council chief executive Clive Manley said last night that the group was welcome to seek legal advice, but it would find the tribunal had no jurisdiction over rating issues.

Only the High Court could deal with rates, and then only on matters of process, he said.

Tell us what you think about the rates increases:
* Email the Herald News Desk