KEY POINTS:
Manukau City residents are being urged to apply for their share of a $70 million Government rebate.
The rates rebate scheme, established in 1973, has been changed so more people are eligible.
Households with an income of $21,180 or less are eligible to claim up to $530. Previously only those with an income of $20,000 or less were eligible to claim a maximum of $500.
Department of Internal Affairs figures show that 3320 South Auckland households have so far received a rebate, but more people are being urged to apply to their local council, says Pakuranga councillor David Collings.
"It's there for people to take. Now with the price of milk, butter and cheese so high, you do what you can," he said.
Mr Collings acknowledged that many people did not know about the rates rebate scheme and the money being offered, so better promotion was needed.
"When we tell some people, the reaction is, 'Oh wow, oh really?'
"We're trying to get more people to get involved, we're trying to get more people to claim and to double the number of people applying."
So far this financial year, Manukau City Council has approved 3474 applications for rebates - a significant improvement on the 754 approved in the 2005-06 financial year.
In Auckland City, the largest council in New Zealand, the number of ratepayers receiving rebates was 6951 in the 2006-07 financial year.
The council has so far approved 6953 applications in the 2007-08 year from 7077 applicants.
Labour list MP Su'a William Sio, a former Manukau City councillor, acknowledged that language barriers were also a factor for many people not knowing or applying.
"We always struggled to get people to apply, especially Pacific peoples.
"If we had people in council who can speak to people in their own mother tongue, they would know."
Applications for rates rebates close on June 30.
