Penny Bright to appeal judgement over unpaid rates

Auckland Council has successfully obtained summary judgment against Ms Bright for unpaid rates. Photo / Lynda Feringa, Wairarapa Times-Age

Activist Penny Bright says she will appeal a judgment against her for unpaid rates on her Kingsland house.

On Tuesday, Auckland Council successfully obtained summary judgment against Ms Bright for unpaid rates, dating back almost nine years.

The Auckland District Court found in favour of the council. The decision is for $34,182.56, which was the amount of rates and penalties outstanding as at June 30, 2015.

Ms Bright told the Herald today she would appeal the decision.

"I only just yesterday received a copy of the judgment in my rates case," said Ms Bright, adding she had not had the time to properly study it.

Ms Bright has refused to pay her rates until the council maintains full and accurate records of private sector contractors.

"It is our public money and when I'm the mayor of Auckland I will have a small team of professional forensic accountants based and paid for out of the mayoral budget. They will report to me and find out where every dollar of ratepayer money is being spent, invested and borrowed," said Ms Bright, a candidate for the Auckland mayoralty this year.

In a statement, the council said it has a duty to all Aucklanders to collect rates, which ensures fairness to all ratepayers.

"As we have always stated, taking court action is the last resort for council to recover unpaid rates," said council chief financial officer Sue Tindal.

"We have given Ms Bright ample opportunity to resolve this matter in a way that would not cause her financial hardship, including through rates postponement."

The judgment means Ms Bright must pay her rates or put a rates payment plan in place. If she continues to refuse, as she has done for the past eight years, council can apply to the High Court for a ratings sale.

In a very small number of cases, the council will seek to recover rates through a court ordered sale of the property. This is only after all other options have been exhausted and the ratepayer is still refusing to enter into any payment arrangements.