Your Rates

Rates are a charge against a property (rating unit) paid by all property owners and is set annually by Council.

Rating affordability is of key importance to the community and Council.

There are different types of rates that make up the total you pay:

• General rates are charged based on the capital value of your property and location. The general rate is set on a differential basis based on land use.
• Targeted rates are charged where there is a specific benefit to the property owner from the services provided. Council uses the number of connections for funding the water supply activities, a per pan rate for funding sewerage activities, and a rating unit basis for funding waste management activities and roading activities. 

How to pay your rates

You can pay your rates by:

• direct debit,
• online banking,
• telephone banking,
• or in person.

Ratepayers are welcome to pay their full year's rates in one lump sum. The amount due for this option is detailed on your invoice as the balance to 30 June (includes any outstanding rates and penalties).

Direct debit

This is the Council’s preferred method of payment – just set and forget!

A direct debit allows a third party to transfer money from a person's account on agreed payment dates, typically in order to pay bills.

You’ll need to complete and sign a direct debit authority form [PDF, 84 KB] which you can also obtain from the Council office at 13 Tuku Road, Waitangi(external link).

To complete the direct debit form you'll need to fill in all the details including – name of the account, name of the bank, account number, payment option (fortnightly, monthly or by instalment). You must be the account holder and the authorised person to sign the direct debit form.

Once you’ve completed the form, either email it to accounts@cic.govt.nz or drop it off at the Council office.

Please note:

• You manage the direct debit and can cancel by contacting your bank.
• Direct debits by instalment will automatically adjust if there are any changes.
• If you have any queries, please contact us.

Online banking

For online payments, the bank account number is ANZ 01-1192-0006574-00 Chatham Islands Council. Chatham Islands Council should already be set up as a bill payee with your bank.

Please include your rate unit number as the reference e.g. Ref: RUXXX (your number). This number can be located on your rates assessment notice, rates invoice, or from the Rates Property Search.

You can also establish automatic payments from your bank account either weekly, fortnightly, monthly or quarterly. You will need to establish this yourself. Please refer to your rates assessment/invoice for the information you need to establish your automatic payments. You will need to calculate the amount for your automatic payments by dividing your total rates for the year with your preferred frequency of payment.

If you sell your property and purchase another, you will need to change the reference used to that of your new rate unit number.

Telephone banking

To pay by telephone banking:

• identify “Chatham Islands Council” as the creditor (you do not need to quote our bank account number)
• when prompted to add a reference please state “RU” followed by your rate unit number (this number can be located on your rates assessment notice, rates invoice or from the Rates Property Search)

If you sell your property and purchase another, you will need to change the reference used to that of your new rate unit number.

In person

You can pay your rates in person with cash or EFTPOS at the Council office at 13 Tuku Road, Waitangi(external link).

Rates for 2023/24

See our rates resolution for 2023/24 from the Council agenda on 29 June 2023.

The council has set the following rates for 2023/24:

General rates

Council will set a general rate based on the capital value of each rating unit in the territory. The general rate will be set on a differential basis based on land use. The categories and apportionment are:

Targeted rates

Rates by instalments

Council proposes to collect the rates in four instalments, due by: 14 September 2023, 14 November 2023, 14 February 2024 and 14 May 2024.

Penalties

A penalty of 10% is added to each instalment or part thereof that is unpaid after the last date for payment. The penalty dates are 15 September 2023, 15 November 2023, 15 February 2024 and 15 May 2024. The previous year’s rates that remain unpaid will have a further 10% penalty added on 7 July 2024.

Rates rebates

If you have a low income and pay the rates on your home, you could qualify for a rebate or rate reduction of up to $750.
The income threshold for rates rebates is $30,100; however, you could still be eligible if your income exceeds this – depending on the amount and how many dependents you have.

Rates rebates are administered by local councils and paid for by central government.

To apply, you must be:

• the person who pays the rates on the property that's your home
• living in your home
• listed as the ratepayer in the council's Rating Information Database (RID) — this has all the information about rates and ratepayers for every property in your council's area.

The closing date for applying for a rates rebate for the 2023/24 rating year is 30 June 2024.

Applying for a rates rebate

You can apply for a rates rebate by contacting us or completing the Rates Rebate Application form on Govt.nz(external link).

You will need:

• your rates notice for the current rating year
• information about what your income (before tax) was for the tax year 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
• information about what your partner/joint homeowner’s income was if he/she was normally living with you on 1 July 2023

Please note if you are the owner of an owner-occupied flat and your name is not on the rate bill, you must have a letter from the person whose name is on the rate bill stating what the total rates are and how much you pay towards them.

Successful applications received during the year will apply from the beginning of the following year. No applications will be backdated.

For more information and to apply, visit Govt.nz(external link).

Rates remissions

Council at its discretion allows ratepayers and organisations to apply for a rates remission or postponement, where qualifying criteria are met. The Council has the following types of rates remissions:

• Moriori and Māori freehold land
• Not-for-profit community organisations
• Property affected by natural calamity or disaster
• Late payment penalties
• Financial hardship relief (postponement only)

Applying for a rates remission

The application for a rates remission must be made formally to the Council prior to the commencement of the rating year (including any additional information requirements requested by the Council).

Applications received during a rating year will not be applicable until the commencement of the following rating year, from the 1st July of that year. No applications will be backdated.

Each application will be considered by Council on its merits. A provision of remission in any year does not set a precedent for similar remissions in future years. The extent of any remission to any qualifying organisation shall be as determined by the Council. A maximum remission of 50% rates will apply to organisations that hold a liquor licence.

No remission will be granted on a rate set solely for water supply, sewerage disposal, or refuse collection, in respect of those rates.

Download rates remission application form [PDF, 139 KB].

Your rates details

You can find out your property's valuation and rates details by looking up your data in this Rates Information Database spreadsheet [PDF, 836 KB] or enquiring at our Council office.

Within the document you can search for:

• property details – valuation number, property address, land area
• rates details – your account number, current rates, previous rates
• valuation details – the date rates take effect, land value and capital value.

You can withhold your personal details from the public Rating Information Database. To do so requires a written application to the Council.

For more information on our funding, financial and other policies, refer to our 2021-31 Long-Term Plan [PDF, 14 MB].