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Auckland Council is changing the way it charges rates on Maori land to reflect the limited potential for development of some land in multiple ownership.
The change to the rates remission and postponement policy in the 2016/2017 budget means rates can be adjusted to what would have been charged had the property been valued excluding any potential use that is unlikely to be achieved within Maori ownership.
The rates can also take into account significant barriers to development such as owners being deceased or not succeeded to.
Rates can also be remitted for marae and urupa land even if it is larger than the current two hectare limit for non-rateability.
Land returned under treaty settlement for commercial redress but then set aside and protected for cultural, historic or natural conservation purposes or because it is waahi tapu can also escape rating.
The council will also extend to Maori landowners the ability enjoyed by farmers where multiple titles used as single property don’t attract multiple fixed charges.
Mayor Len Brown says he supported the changes even though they were not well supported by the public consultation because they are about achieving fairness and equity.
He says any impact is minimal and will not affect the stability of the rating policy.
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