Overseas tourists could be charged $20 to visit Auckland's Botanic Gardens

The Auckland Botanic Gardens is a popular attraction, particularly at the time of the Sculpture in the Gardens event. Photo / Michael Craig

Tourists from overseas could be charged $20 to visit Auckland's Botanic Gardens, following in the footsteps of Auckland Museum and Auckland Art Gallery which already charge international visitors.

The proposed charge is included in Auckland Council's latest budget, which hits households with a proposed 4.5 per cent rates rise from July.

Mayor Phil Goff is planning a general rates increase of 3.5 per cent, but rising costs for waste management and lowering rates for business would see rates tip the scales at 4.5 per cent for households.

The $20 charge at the Botanic Gardens in Auckland follows a recent charge of $20 for overseas visitors at Auckland Art Gallery and a $25 charge for overseas tourists at Auckland Museum.

In the first year of the charge at the art gallery, it raised $682,455 against a budget of $750,000. A spokesman for Regional Facilities Auckland, the council body that oversees the gallery, was confident the figure will increase this year with a big international programme planned.

The council-owned Botanic Gardens plans to collect the charge from international tour operators and direct international visitors to a welcome desk to purchase tickets.

Manurewa-Papakura ward councillor Daniel Newman does not support the charge, saying it will be an unproductive use of time and money.

Manurewa-Papakura councillors Angela Dalton and Daniel Newman hold different views on the $20 charge. Photo / Dean Purcell

"This is not the Louvre. You can walk through multiple entrances to the park. I think there are better and easier ways to raise money than chasing coins down the back of the couch," he said.

The other councillor for the Manurewa-Papakura ward, Angela Dalton, supports the charge.

"It has been requested as a revenue stream for their currently stretched operational budget. Charges to destinations for international visitors are not uncommon and is certainly common practice overseas," Dalton said.

The garden's manager, Jack Hobbs, was unavailable for comment. About 1 million people a year visit the 64ha gardens and native forest, and the annual Sculpture in the Gardens event.

Council's head of Parks Services, Mark Bowater, said charging international tourists who visit the gardens is an idea worth exploring.

"The charge is a draft proposal we are considering to ensure ratepayers receive value for money. No decision will be made until we have Aucklanders feedback," he said.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff is planning to raise household rates 4.5 per cent this year. Photo / NZ Herald

Goff's latest budget would take the average household rate to nearly $2800, a $126 rise. On top of this, the average household water bill is $972 a year.

Goff said the budget includes $2.7b of investment in capital assets to improve transport and address traffic congestion, reduce carbon emissions and provide the services and facilities our city needs.

"With Auckland experiencing a period of unprecedented growth and development, this Annual Budget ensures continuity, stability and certainty, enabling us to fulfil our role as New Zealand's international city."

Consultation on the budget runs from February 21 until March 22.