The impact of change in Rating Values
During 2006, properties in the Wairoa District were subject to a three yearly revaluation by Quotable Values NZ.  As with other districts in New Zealand there was a significant increase in property values, particularly in the coastal Mahia region and rural areas throughout the district. 

Land values increased by 99% and capital values by 71.8% in the district.

Council has reviewed the likely impact of these changes on the incidence of rates.  If no changes were made to the structure of the rating system then properties with increases greater than average will incur significant rate increases greater than the average.  The Council believes that some changes are necessary and is committed to further reviewing the rating system in the future.

Rating Structure from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 

• A 0.50 differential rating factor for Mahia and Tuai, which applies a factor of 50% to the standard rates.
• A 3.5 factor for urban commercial and industrial ratepayers to reflect the relative advantage this group has relative to other ratepayers located in the same uran area.
• A 2.5 factor for high capital urban commercial and industrial ratepayers.
• A 3.7 factor for high capital rural commercial and industrial ratepayers.
• A factor of 0.3 for urban properties with Land values greater than $79,995.

Differential Rating Settings
The differential settings are as follows:

• Wairoa Rural (all rural properties except Mahia/Tuai)
  = 1.0
• Residential One (Mahia/Tuai)
  = 0.50
• Residential Two (>1.5 hectares)
  = 0.7
• Wairoa Township (excl Commercial/Industrial)
  = 1.0
• Commercial and Industrial (Wairoa Township)
  = 3.5
• Commercial and Industrial (Wairoa Township CV>$200K)
  = 2.5
• Commercial and Industrial (Rural CV > $200K)
  = 3.7
  

For more information relating to the Wairoa District Council Rating Structure, please contact Russell Snow at Wairoa District Council on (06) 838 7309.