Rates rebate and relief

Did you know you could get up to $790 off your rates bill?

Ratepayers who own their own home, they are living in on 1 July and have a low income, may be eligible for a government rates rebate on their rates bill. 

Before applying 

Before applying, please check other assistance options. You may be eligible for:

Accommodation Supplement to help pay the costs of owning a home. You don't have to be on a benefit to get this payment.

Accommodation Supplement (workandincome.govt.nz)

Apply for a rates rebate

Use this calculator to work out what you might get:

Rates Rebate calculator (govt.nz)

Homeowners can apply for the rebate once the first rates instalment is created, after 1 July. A rebate is for the current year and you need to apply by 30 June.

You can apply by downloading and completing the below form.

Rates rebate application form (govt.nz)

Once completed, you can submit the form either by post, by email or in-person.

By post:  Post in a sealed envelope to:

By email:  Email the form to us:

rebates@wdc.govt.nz

In-person:  Bring in to one of our customer service centres:

If you need help completing the form or need us to send the form to you, give us a call or use our online enquiry form.

Enquire online

Phone: 09 430 4200 

You may be eligible for rates remission if your property meets certain criteria. A rates remission is a reduction in the amount of rates you have to pay.

The objective of our Rates Remissions and Postponement Policy is to ensure the fair and equitable collection of rates from all sectors of the community by:

• providing financial assistance and support to ratepayers
• addressing any rating anomalies and enabling economic development
• ensuring the environment is protected
• recognising the particularities of ownership, inaccessibility and other factors specific to Māori freehold land.   

The Rates Remissions and Postponement Policy provides information on the rates remissions available to ratepayers, the objective and the criteria and conditions for each remission type.

Rates Remission and Postponement Policy

How to apply

Download and complete the relevant application form.

Rates Remission - Policy 24/101 Remission of Penalties application(PDF, 161KB)

Rates Remission - Policy 24/102 Remission of Excess Water Supply Rates application (Water Leak Assessment)(PDF, 297KB)

Rates Remission -; Policy 24/104 Remission of Sewage Disposal Rates: Non-Residential application(PDF, 190KB)

Rates Remission - Policy 24/105 Postponement of Rates -; Extreme Financial Hardship application(PDF, 189KB)

Rates Remission - Policy 24/106 Postponement and/or Remission for Fire or Natural Calamity application(PDF, 189KB)

Rates Remission - Policy 24/109(a) Same Tenant for Business / Residence application(PDF, 222KB)

Rates Remission - Policy 24/109(b) Dependant Relative application(PDF, 246KB)

Rates Remission - Policy 24/109(c) Used in Conjunction With But Not Contiguous application(PDF, 223KB)

Rates Remission - Policy 24/109(d) Commercial SUIP Inequity application(PDF, 230KB)

Rates Remission - Policy 24/111 Remission of Rates for Community, Sports and Other Organisations application(PDF, 216KB)

Rates Remission - Policy 24/112 Postponement on Specific Farmland Properties application(PDF, 218KB)

Rates Remission - Policy 24/113 Remission of Postponement of Rates and Penalties for Miscellaneous Purposes application(PDF, 213KB)

Rates Remission - Policy 24/114 Remission of Rates on Voluntarily Protected Land application(PDF, 206KB)

Rates Remission - Policy 24/115 Remission of Rates on Māori Freehold Land application(PDF, 252KB)

Rates Relief - Contiguous (Rating Units in Common Ownership) Properties application(PDF, 180KB)

Rates Relief - SUIP (Separately Used or Inhabited Part Use) Declaration(PDF, 159KB)

Once completed, you can submit the form either by post, by email or in-person.

By post:  Post in a sealed envelope to:

By email:  Email the completed form to us:

mailroom@wdc.govt.nz

In-person:  Bring in to one of our customer service centres:

If you need help completing the form or need us to send the form to you, give us a call or use our online enquiry form.

Enquire online

Phone: 09 430 4200 

We are able to recover rates if a property owner is in default.

If you are in arrears, please contact us so that we can work together to find a solution.

The debt recovery process

Any arrears on the property, as at 1^st July, for which no payment arrangement has been made, we may proceed with legal action to recover the debt.

If you have a mortgage on the property, we will contact the financial institution.

If the rates remain unpaid, or no payment arrangement has been agreed, 3-4 months later, we may demand payment of the rates arrears from the financial institution. 

For properties without a mortgage, we may forward the arrears to our debt collection agency.

In extreme cases, the property can be sold to recover outstanding rates under section 68 of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002.

Find more information on the NZ Legislation website:

• Section 63, Local Government (Rating) Act 2002 (legislation.govt.nz)
• Section 68, Local Government (Rating) Act 2002 (legislation.govt.nz)