Auckland rates: How your suburb fares

Photo / NZ Herald

Mt Eden and Mangere in for big rises while Waiheke will pay less

Auckland households are staring at an average rates increase of 5.6 per cent next year - and 126,000 households face an increase of more than 10 per cent.

Last night, the council released the latest rates breakdown based on a decision 12 days ago to raise the overall rates increase from 2.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent.

The higher overall rates increase, new property valuations and other factors have led to hefty hikes in rates for many.

Suburbs up for big rises include Mt Eden, Mt Roskill, Glenfield and working-class Mangere and Otahuhu where property values have soared.

On the flip side, several areas have sizeable rates cuts, including Great Barrier and Waiheke Islands, Rodney and Papakura.

Today councillors will consider options to lessen the pain, although officers are recommending no assistance so everyone on similar value properties pays the same rates.

The issue has been made more difficult because there are still 30,000 ratepayers who have not yet been moved over to a new single rating system for the Super City after a three-year transition period.

One option is to cap rates increases at 10 per cent next year.

This would result in an additional rates increase of 3.7 per cent, or an average household rates increase of 9.3 per cent, according to a report by a council officer.

Last week, the council bowed to a revolt by Local Boards over a 40 per cent cut in new spending on parks, community services and leisure activities and opted for 3.5 per cent rates increases over the next decade.

The latest inflation figure stands at 1 per cent.

Mayor Len Brown, who promised to hold rates at 2.5 per cent this term, voted with a majority of councillors for the 3.5 per cent increase.