Centrist: Council Culture - rates surge 2.5x more than inflation over 3 year period

Local ratepayers face ballooning increases

Across New Zealand, average council rates have surged at more than twice the pace of inflation over the last three years. Fresh analysis reveals this surge in council rates, which makes central government look frugal by comparison.

Ele Ludemann: Cap rates now

Local body rate increases several times several times higher than the rate of inflation are fuelling inflation and are one of the biggest drag on the economy.

Year after year councils show they are incapable of restraining their spending voluntarily, it’s more than time New Zealand joined Australia and the UK in imposing rate caps on them.