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Waitakere business owners and city council members will set up a working group to explore ways of softening the blow of rates rises after a three-yearly property revaluation.
The impact of Quotable Value's latest revision of land value on businesses' rates bills sparked a protest meeting attended by 40 people at Glen Eden on Monday.
Mayor Bob Harvey and councillors faced calls to change rating policy.
"All we want is a fair deal ... we are ratepayers as residents and businesses and our staff are ratepayers too and we are getting screwed," said Graham Poole, of Blow Moulders.
Mr Poole said his factory's rates had increased 60 per cent, and neighbours' rates went up by between 20 and 70 per cent.
Business land values increased by an average of 95.33 per cent, and as a result 1200 properties had rates increases averaging $2115 but peaking at $77,234.
Half the council's rates revenue comes from setting a rate in the dollar of land value, and current policy has a business differential.
