The decision of the
Dunedin City council to develop a rates remission policy to take into account
the special relationship Maori have with the land is - well – interesting. All DCC
ratepayers will I’m sure be sympathetic to the idea that all non-revenue
bearing land should be exempt from rates yet intrigued to understand the
principle the DCC employ that will allow for rates remission for only Maori
freehold land not producing revenue.
It is a policy that
will be embraced by most if not all rate payers as it sets a wonderful
precedent. Cr Hillary Calvert sensibly noted that DCC staff should develop
policy which included non-Maori land as well for consideration.
