Rates Rebates, Remission and Postponement

Kā tautohe, whakaititanga, whakatarewa ā-rēti

Here you can find out if you're eligible to apply for a rates rebate or for rates remission or postponement.

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Rates rebates

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Rates remission and postponement

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Rates rebates

We're able to give out rates rebates on behalf of the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). This subsidy is targeted at low-income earners to assist them with the cost of their rates.

Central Government has increased the rates rebates thresholds, so many more property owners are now eligible.

You're eligible to apply for a rebate if:

  • you pay rates on the address you live at.

  • you were living at the same property at the beginning of the rating year.

  • your name is on the rates invoice.

  • the total income of the owners of the property is low.

  • the maximum rebate granted per year is $790.00 (2024/25).  Rebates will be credited to your rates account.

DIA have provided an electronic calculator which shows whether you're eligible, and how to apply.

Visit the DIA website Visit the DIA website icon

Rates postponement for older people

Paying rates can be a huge burden for people in their retirement years, especially those on superannuation.

The rates postponement for the scheme gives you the choice to postpone the payment of your rates for a fixed period of time, or leaving them for your estate to take care of after you die.

Scheme Information and Application Form

  • You can apply for rates remission under the following circumstances:

    1. Community, Sporting and other Organisations with property used exclusively or mainly for these purposes and is not operated for private financial profit. For example: St Johns Ambulance or the Bowling Club.
    2. Land protected for Natural, Historic or Cultural Conservation purposes, which is protected on a voluntary basis.
    3. Land affected by Natural Calamity - or damaged by the effects of a natural disaster.
    4. Uniform Annual Charges and Targeted Rates on Contiguous Rating Units in Separate Ownership, Used Jointly as a Single Entity - land owned by the same ratepayer/s and considered a single property.
    5. Rate Penalties - incurred penalties may be remitted if the ratepayer can provide evidence that it is fair to do so.
    6. Sundry Remissions - to remit rates that are the result of an error, are considered uneconomic or not able to be recovered.
    7. Māori Freehold Land - when the land is unoccupied and no income is generated from the land.
    8. Remission of Postponed Rates - allows council to remit rates in accordance with approved postponement policies.
    9. Rates on Land that has made Lump Sum Contributions - allows council to remit annual loan rates for properties that have previously paid lump sum contributions.
    10. Rating of Separately Used or Inhabited Parts of a Rating Unit - to limit the occurrence of multiple charges on properties with separate uses or inhabitants where it is fair to do so.
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  • You can apply for a rates postponement under the following circumstances:

    1. Residential Land subject to Zone Changes - residential rateable property which has been rezoned.
    2. Extreme Financial Hardship - residential rateable property where the ratepayer is experiencing extreme financial hardship.
    3. Rate Postponement for Farmland - rural rateable property used as farmland but has the potential for non-farming development.
    4. Rate Postponement for Elderly - residential rateable property where the ratepayer is 65+ years old, a New Zealand citizen and owns no other property.

    Read more about the rates remission and postponement policies here:

    Volume 3 of the the 2012-22 Council Community Plan.

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