What you need to know - Ōu Rēti your Rates - Gisborne District Council

Ōu Rēti
your Rates
What you
need to know
How to pay
When are rates due
Are you eligible for a rates rebate
Rates for 2021/22
Rating revaluation – 2020
Water meter rates
Changes to the rating of Māori land
The information in this document forms part of your rates assessment.

                                                                        July 2021

How to pay
     Pay online
     Visit www.gdc.govt.nz to pay with Debit / Credit card
     •    a 1% surcharge fee applies with credit card payments.

     or
     Use online banking
     Our bank account number: 03-0638-0502288-00
     •    Please use your valuation number (on rates invoice) as a reference for
          payment.

     EasyPay
     Direct Debit, it’s the easy way to pay. We calculate the amount
     and deduct it from your bank account. You can either pay
     weekly, fortnightly, monthly or quarterly on the due date.
     Council will automatically review the payments if your rates
     increase or decrease. You will never have to worry about
     penalties being added to your rates.

     Call us on 06 867 2049 or
     visit www.gdc.govt.nz to set it up.

     Over the counter
     Cash / Eftpos / Credit Card
     •    1% surcharges applies to credit card transactions
     •    Cheques are no longer accepted

     Open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
            Awarua, 15 Fitzherbert Street, Gisborne

            Te Puia Springs service centre, 4746 Waiapu Road

When are rates due?
                      Due date                      Date penalty added
Instalment 1          20 August 2021                26 August 2021
Instalment 2          22 November 2021              26 November 2021
Instalment 3          21 February 2022              25 February 2022
Instalment 4          20 May 2022                   26 May 2022

Penalties
A 10% penalty will be added to any unpaid portion of the
rates not paid by the due date.

Rates for 2021/22
We have reviewed our Revenue and Finance policy as part
of the Long Term Plan. This year Council will collect $75.6m
including GST in rates.

How much you pay is dependent on:
1. The valuation of the property.
2. How the land is used.
3. Where the property is located and what targeted rates apply.
4. Changes to the cost or funding of Council’s activities and
   services.

How much our activities cost per household per day
                                 $1.55
                                 Roads and transport
                                 18%
                                 $1.07
        $8.53                    Planning and governance
                                 13%
        on average
                                 69c
                                 Environment and regulation
                                 8%
$2.30                            60c
Three waters 27%                 Rubbish and recycling
$1.98                            7%
Community spaces and             34c
facilities 23%                   Flood control 4%

Further information about rates can be found on our website.

Rating revaluation – 2020
Council contracted Lewis Wright Valuers to reassess rating
valuations for Gisborne district properties in 2020. The
revaluation was delayed by three months due to COVID 19
and is dated September 2020. These valuations will be used
for setting the 2021-2022 rates from July 2021.

Find your rates information with our Rates and valuation
search on our website.

Are you eligible for a rates rebate?
The Department of Internal Affairs scheme can reduce your
rates by up to $665 this year if your household earns less than
$26,000. If your household earns less than $42,000 you may
still qualify for a portion of the rates rebate.

Retirement village residents are also able to apply for a rates
rebate if you don’t own your own unit and hold a licence to
occupy agreement. A separate declaration form is required
to be filled in by the retirement village operator. Contact your
village operator for further information.

To apply
Our Customer Service team will work out your 2021/22 rates
rebate for you. You must sign the application form.
Please bring in your:
 •   application form
 •   current rates invoice
 •   accurate information about your income (before tax) for
     the year ending 31 March 2021
 •   accurate information about your partner or joint
     homeowner’s income (before tax) for the year ending
     31 March 2021

If you receive national superannuation or a government benefit
we already have these income amounts.

The last day you can apply for the rates rebate is 30 June 2022.
More information about the rates rebate scheme is available from
Customer Service, our website or www.ratesrebates.govt.nz

Rating information database
Inspection and objection
As a ratepayer you have the right to inspect our Rating Information Database
(RID) and rates records. They are available for inspection at our customer service
counters at 15 Fitzherbert Street and Te Puia Springs. Ratepayers have the right to
object to any of the information included in the RID and rates records as set out
in the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002.

Request to withhold your name and address
As an owner your name and address details are included on the Rating Information
Database. You may request that we make your name and/or postal address
confidential on the database. The request needs to be in writing confirming the
details you want made confidential. There is an online form on our website.

Have you recently sold your property?
If you have, and this rates notice is still in your name, it is likely we have not
received notification of the sale. Please ask your solicitor to notify Council as soon
as possible.

Water meter rates
If you are an extraordinary water user (eg Commercial or Rural
user) under Councils water bylaw you will be charged a water
by meter rate of $1.52 per cubic metre + GST. This is based on
how much water is consumed.

Special reading fee
•    Unscheduled water meter readings, including final
     readings will be charged $67 + GST.

Water rates are invoiced on monthly, quarterly, six monthly
and annual cycles.

A 10% penalty will be added to any unpaid portion of the
water rates not paid by the due date shown below.

 Month of Invoice     Due Date             Date penalty added

 Invoiced Annually
 Jun-21               20 July 2021         23 July 2021

 Invoiced 6-Monthly
 Jun-21               20 July 2021         23 July 2021
 Dec-21               20 January 2022      25 January 2022

 Invoiced Quarterly
 Jun-21               20 July 2021         23 July 2021
 Sep-21               20 October 2021      26 October 2021
 Dec-21               20 January 2022      25 January 2022
 Mar-22               20 April 2022        26 April 2022

 Invoiced Monthly
 Jun-21               20 July 2021         23 July 2021
 Jul-21               20 August 2021       25 August 2021
 Aug-21               20 September 2021    23 September 2021
 Sep-21               20 October 2021      26 October 2021
 Oct-21               22 November 2021     25 November 2021
 Nov-21               20 December 2021     23 December 2021
 Dec-21               20 January 2022      25 January 2022
 Jan-22               21 February 2022     25 February 2022
 Feb-22               21 March 2022        24 March 2022
 Mar-22               20 April 2022        26 April 2022
 Apr-22               20 May 2022          26 May 2022
 May-22               20 June 2022         23 June 2022

Rates Remission and Postponement policies
Council offers a range of rate remission and postponement policies which we
have summarized below. The full policies and application forms are available from
Customer Service at 15 Fitzherbert Street and Te Puia Springs and our website.

Community, Recreation & Not for Profit organisations
This policy applies to land occupied by a Not-for-Profit organisation, which is
used principally for sporting, recreation, or community purposes.

Covid-19
If your household or business has been hit hard by Covid-19 we have rate relief
options that might help you.
  • Payment plan
  • Defer rates payments
  • Rates relief remission policies

Economic development
Remission will be considered for new and existing businesses to promote
employment and economic development in the district.

Excess water rates
Remission for metered water where water usage is high due to a water leak or
damage to a property’s internal water reticulation system.

Financial hardship and exceptional circumstances
We will consider remitting rates to assist ratepayers experiencing financial
hardship and/or adversely impacted by a natural disaster or other calamity which
directly affects their ability to pay rates.

Fragmented & uneconomic coastal rural land
 • Where coastal land has a valuation in excess of its economic use (e.g. the
    land is valued based on its coastal value, but is used for grazing purposes),
    you can apply to have the land revalued
 • Multiple properties are farmed together but each property is valued as if
    it could have a house on it. You can apply to have the land valued as if it
    were one large farm.

Land affected by plan changes
The value of additional rates maybe remitted when a property’s the existing use
of land is affected by zoning changes.

Natural heritage and cultural heritage
Council will grant rating remissions for land that has a natural, historic and
cultural heritage.

Payment arrangement and rate arrears
Where a ratepayer has a genuine arrangement with Council to pay overdue rates
within an agreed timeframe, Council may remit rates up to $500 and additionally
any penalties. A penalty suppression can be applied on the property to avoid the
further penalties,

Permanent crops
This policy applies to horticultural properties if the value of the permanent crop
is included in the value of the rating unit eg grapes, citrus, kiwifruit and apples.
Ratepayers would apply for a remission annually. There is a minimum remission
value of $100 and a maximum remission value of $7,000.

Penalties
Remission of penalties will be considered where payment has been late due to:
 • circumstances outside the ratepayer’s control. such as a significant family
    disruption.
 • the property was recently purchased and the settlement date coincided
    with penalty dates.
 • Rateable Māori freehold land vested in trustees, which has insufficient
    income derived from the land to pay rates.
 • A genuine payment arrangement is made to pay overdue rates within a
    specific timeframe.

Rates Transition Policy
To provide rates relief where there is an unintended and significant impact on
rates caused by changes to the Revenue and Financing Policy. There is specific
criteria that must be met to be eligible.

Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC) and certain targeted rates
You can apply for a remission of uniform charge (UAGC) and some targeted rates.
The remission may apply where:
 a) Multiple dwellings on a property are not used as dwellings or are derelict or
     uninhabitable.
 b) Multiple dwellings on a property are used by a dependent family member
     or caregiver.
 c) A Business has separate accommodation essential to the operation of the
     business.
 d) Dwellings are vacant for more than three months and generate no income.
 e) In certain circumstances where nearby properties are used for the same
     purpose.
 f) Nearby properties for subdivision are in same ownership.
 g) Low value properties.
 h) Land which cannot be built on.
 i) Other circumstances where it is reasonable to remit a UAGC and certain
     targeted rates.

Rate Remissions for Māori Freehold Land
Tairāwhiti has a significant amount of whenua Māori. These policies are
additional to the general policies above.
Due to introduction of the Local Government (rating of Whenua Māori)
amendment bill in April 2021 the rate remission policies for Māori Freehold land
will be reviewed later this year.

Development of Māori Freehold Land
This policy supports Māori landowners and those responsible for whenua Māori
who wish to develop previously unused or unoccupied land for economic use.
Council may remit general rates and the UAGC on a sliding scale over 5 years.

Landlocked, Marginal Land and Fragmented Ownership
Owners and ratepayers of unproductive and unoccupied land can apply
for remission of the rates where the use of land is limited due to physical
accessibility or fragmented ownership and is not used.

Māori freehold land – General
This policy enables rates and/or penalties to be written off when there is virtually
no practical way of recovering past outstanding debt.

Partial Use and Partial Occupation of Māori freehold land
Provides rates relief to ratepayers who wish to use or occupy portions of Māori
freehold rating unit previously unused and unoccupied. The used and unused
portions are separated and the rates are divided between them

Postponement of rates
Financial Hardship
This policy applies to both residential and non-residential properties. The
Council must be satisfied that the ratepayer does not have the financial capacity
to pay their rates instalment, or payment of the rates instalment would create
financial hardship. Any postponed rates will be postponed until:
  a) A date specified by the Council; or
  b) The death of the ratepayer; or
  c) The ratepayer ceases to be the owner of the rating unit.

Māori freehold land
Council’s policy is that rates for Māori freehold land will not be postponed but
instead will be dealt with under the rate remission policies for Māori land.

Changes to the rating of Māori land
In April 2021 the government passed the
Local Government (Rating of Whenua Māori)
Amendment Bill.
The bill reduces barriers for owners of Māori
freehold land who want to use, occupy, build
houses on and develop their whenua. The bill
provides greater consistency, equity and clarity
around the rating of Māori land.We will be
writing to Māori land Owners about the changes
and work together to put them in place.
The main changes are:
• Unused land to be non-rateable.
• Council can write off arrears on land it
  considers to be unrecoverable.
• Rate Remission for Māori Freehold Land
  under development.
• Ngā Whenua Rāhui Kawenata land to be
  made non-rateable.
• Treating multiple land blocks as one.
• Rating individual homeowners on Māori
  Land separately.
• Trustees to declare income received from
  land if requested by local authorities.
• Homes on Māori Reservations liable for rates
• Homes on Māori Land eligible for the
  rate rebate.
• Protection for Māori Land converted to general
  land in 1967 from abandoned land sales.

 06 867 2049 | 0800 653 800
 www.gdc.govt.nz
 service@gdc.govt.nz
                                                   MVM 66444

 @Gisborne DC
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