Wairoa District Council is working with the community to help ensure property owners pay their rates on time.

Wairoa District Council Chief Executive Matt Lawson said most people pay their rates by the required due date, avoiding penalties and additional costs.

“However, we also know there can be genuine difficulties in meeting rates obligations, and this was noticeable after recent flooding events. Council now has a renewed focus on ensuring rates are paid and is working even more with our community to find solutions.”

Mr Lawson said recently Council recovered $30,000 from a ratepayer, with about a third of that amount representing penalties and costs for the initial balance being overdue. “If your rates invoice becomes overdue, it will end up costing you a lot more to bring it up to date, and we don’t want to see that. We would rather genuinely work with our property owners to sort overdue rates accounts out.

“The experience of the recent rates recovery highlighted alternative ways to reach solutions and improved coordination between Council and other parties to reach the desired outcome.

“Most people understand the importance of paying rates and understand the contribution they make to wider community wellbeing. We also recognise there are times when some people find it difficult to pay their rates, and if this happens, we encourage you to talk with Council staff so we can look at payment plans and other options to stop the overdue figure growing and becoming even harder to pay.”

If you need to talk to a Council staff member about different payment methods, please contact the Council on 06 838 7309.

22 September 2026

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