The latest Council news and events
Our staff and elected representatives
Find out about upcoming meetings and read agendas
Social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing
How to request official information from the Council
The Chathams Islands is a remote, awe-inspiring place
Information on the upcoming local election
Sets out our work and priorities for the next financial year
Our work and priorities for the next decade
An overview of the Council’s activity for 2020/21
Understanding hazards and risks to build capability
A report on the Chatham Islands economy
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:
You can pay your rates by:
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).
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:
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.
To pay by telephone banking:
You can pay your rates in person with cash or EFTPOS at the Council office at 13 Tuku Road, Waitangi(external link).
See our adopted rates resolution for 2022/23 [PDF, 7 MB] from the Council meeting minutes on 23 June 2022.
The council has set the following rates for 2022/23:
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:
Rates by instalments
Council proposes to collect the rates in four instalments, due by: 1 August 2022, 1 October 2022, 1 January 2023 and 1 April 2023.
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 2022, 15 November 2022, 15 February 2023 and 15 May 2023. The previous year’s rates that remain unpaid will have a further 10% penalty added on 6 July 2023.
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 $655.The income threshold for rates rebates is $26,150; 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 closing date for applying for a rates rebate for the 2022/23 rating year is 30 June 2023.
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:
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).
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:
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.
You can find out your property's valuation and rates details by looking up your data in this rates property information spreadsheet [PDF, 790 KB] or enquiring at our Council office.
Within the document you can search for:
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].
Chatham Islands Council’s income comes from rates, Council dues and Government assistance.