Rates

Lookup your rates online using the property address or VG number

The Rating Information Database contains a record of all information required for setting and assessing rates. The database for the Kaikōura District Council and Environment Canterbury (Kaikōura District properties only) may be inspected without fee at the Council’s reception, Level 2, 96 West End, Kaikōura between the hours of 8.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. You can also access it by checking under 'look up your rates' below.

Rating Areas

Kaikoura has three rating areas; urban, semi-rural and rural. Properties are allocated to an area based on how close they are to urban services  Commercial properties (those used exclusively or primarily for business purposes) also pay specific rates.

• Download a map of the Urban Area (properties within Kaikoura Township, storm water management area and incorporating properties in the Seaview and Ocean Ridge subdivision areas and the Kaikoura Peninsula.)
• Download a map of the Semi-Rural Area (all properties within a 10 kilometre radius of the town centre including Peketa and Hapuku villages, Inland Road up to but not including Kowleigh, and the Kaikoura Flats, but excluding all property within the urban area.) 
• Download a map of the Rural Area (all property outside the urban and semi-rural areas.) 

Different types of rates

There are rules around setting rates which Council must follow. These are set out in the Local Government Act and the Local Government (Rating) Act.

All Councils set their rates differently depending on the wants and needs of the communities within the district or city. This makes comparing rates between districts very difficult.

As well as rates, Council seeks income from other sources such as fees, user charges and subsidies or grants from central government or other funding partners.

The Uniform Annual Charge – a fixed amount charged to all rating units (or separately used or inhabited part of a rating unit). This is not affected by the capital value of a property. This ‘flat fee’ covers things Council believes all ratepayers benefit from equally such as the general operations of Council including governance (Mayor and Councillors), library services, sports fields, playgrounds, cemetery, walkways, public halls, civil defence and waste management.

General Rate – an amount you pay based on cents in the dollar of the rateable capital value of your property that pays for the general operations of Council. The rate includes a differential, so that rural and semi-rural ratepayers pay slightly less than urban. This includes community services, environmental planning, planning, building control, dog control, community facilities, general parks and reserves, a portion of public toilets and traffic control.

Targeted rates - rates that are charged to pay for specific things.  These are often charged to a selection of properties and the amount charged will vary depending on the rating area, location and other aspects of the property. (Sewerage and water are good examples).

Differentials –a way of splitting the cost of some of our rates/charges across our rating areas to make sure that different areas pay different amounts. For example for a differential of 1 urban:0.5 semi-rural : 0.25 rural, urban properties pay twice as much per dollar of capital value than semi-rural properties do, and four times as much per dollar of capital value than rural properties do. 

Most properties also pay water charges - you can find out more about these here 

For the following rates, different rating areas pay a different amount. Generally, those benefiting most from the service provided pay more, with people living further away benefiting a little less and therefore paying less.

Rates are broken down into four equal installments and invoiced quarterly. The last day for payment of each installment is shown below;

• Instalment 1: 20 September
• Instalment 2: 20 December
• Instalment 3: 20 March
• Instalment 4: 20 June

If you don’t pay your rates installment on time you will receive a penalty of 10%. To help avoid penalties we recommend setting up a direct debit or automatic payment for your rates. There are several payment options including fortnightly or monthly - see 'Pay your rates' below for more information.

Although the rates invoices are sent quarterly, you are welcome to pay fortnightly or monthly if that works better for you. You can choose from the following payment options:

• Online using your credit card.
• Via direct debit. To help avoid penalties we recommend setting up a direct debit or automatic payment for your rates, you can set this weekly, fortnightly, monthly or at other times that work for you. Bank fees may apply, please contact your bank for further information on their fees and charges.
• To set up a direct debit download the form.
  Then email it to rates@kaikoura.govt.nz or post it to
  PO Box 6 
  96 West End
  Kaikōura 7300
• By EFTpos (internet banking). Our bank account details are:
  Kaikōura District Council
  02-0856-0011698-000.
  
  Please use your Rates Valuation Reference Number found on the front of your rates invoice under the address line eg: 21070/11124
• In the office - just come in and see us.

What is it?

To assist people on low incomes with housing costs, central government offers rates rebates if you meet certain requirements. The paperwork is done by Council and central government pays the money onto the rate account.

Council then deducts the amount of your rebate from your rates bill, or, if you've already paid your rates in full we'll give you a refund.

How much you can claim depends on: how much your rates are — this includes local, regional and water rates, your income, and, whether you have any dependants, such as children, living with you.

If your gross (before tax) income is $24,790 or less you can often claim the full amount The most you can get is $620 for the current year. If your income is higher you may still be able to get all or part of the rebate depending on: how much your rates are, and how many children or other dependants are in your household.

If you have dependants, your income can be $500 more for each one. For example, if you have 2 children, then you would still be able to get the full rebate of $620 if your income is less than or equal to $25,790.

You can read more about the rebates, and find an application form here.

How to apply

1. Download the Rates Rebate Form
2. Fill it out with all the correct information
3. Call 03 319 5026 for an appointment to get the application form signed by an authorised Council Officer

Council offers rates remission (discounts) for;

• uninhabitable or unsafe buildings following a Civil Defence Emergency
• late payment where payment was beyond the ratepayers control
• land protected for natural, or historical or cultural purposes
• Maori Freehold Land

To be eligible properties must meet the conditions of Councils Rates Remission Policy. 

Rates remissions for uninhabitable/unsafe properties

Council offers 100% rates remission all rates on residential properties smaller than 1 ha that are uninhabitable due to damage from the November 2016 earthquake. Properties that were red-stickered, assessed as uninhabitable or unsafe to occupy due to risk of rock fall, dam burst, or collapse of adjacent buildings are likely to be eligible.

Residential homes are elligible for 100%. Farm buildings and commercial property that is unsafe to occupy are eligible for rates remission on the improvement value (that means they will be rated as if they were bare land, subject to terms and conditions).

Rates remission applies for the period of time that the building is unable to be used until demolition, or sale as-is.

How to apply

1. Download the Rates Relief Application Form
2. Fill it out with all the required information
3. Post it to us at PO Box 6, 96 West End, Kaikoura 7300 or email us, or drop into the Council office at Level 2, 96 West End, Kaikoura