Upper Hutt City Council is inviting the community to have its say on proposed changes to how rates are shared across different types of properties in the city.

Consultation on Council’s draft Rating Policy is open from 5pm 27 October, with submissions closing at 5pm 27 November.

Group Manager Finance, Risk and Digital Solutions, Sarah Tunnicliffe, says the review is an opportunity to look at whether the current rating settings remain appropriate for Upper Hutt.

“Rates affect everyone in our community, either directly or indirectly, so people must have the opportunity to understand the proposed changes and tell us what they think,” she says.

“This review is not about deciding the total amount of rates Council collects. It’s about how that rates requirement is shared across different types of properties and rating categories.”

Council is consulting on two approaches: retaining the existing rating structure and settings, or introducing a range of changes under Council’s preferred approach.

The preferred approach includes splitting the existing business rating category into commercial and industrial categories, adjusting some general rate differentials and introducing different rating settings for the Land Transport Rate.

Council is also proposing to bring its rating principles and settings together in one Rating Policy. Currently, this information is spread across several Council documents.

The review takes into account factors including affordability, the benefits different properties receive from Council services and the demands different land uses may place on infrastructure.

Sarah says Council wants the community to understand the options and their potential impacts before decisions are made.

“No final decisions have been made. We encourage people to read the consultation information, consider what the changes could mean and share their views.”

The full consultation document, including the reasons for the proposed changes and examples of potential impacts, is available on Let’s kōrero.

Submissions can be made online, with paper copies of the consultation material and submission form available from Council’s Customer Services counter and Upper Hutt Libraries.

Following consultation and hearings, Council is scheduled to consider the Rating Policy for adoption on 9 December 2026.

Any changes adopted are intended to take effect from 1 July 2027.

Have your say by 5pm 27 November at letskorero.upperhutt.govt.nz/rates-review-2026

Source: Upper Hutt City Council

28/10/26