Readers' views: Latest rises leave city ratepayers feeling they are being ripped off

Rate notices are delivering a nasty surprise in communities throughout the country. Herald readers share their views on the bills - and on council spending on facilities such as Eden Park

Our rates have increased over 50 per cent this year from $1100 to $1780 - that's a $600 increase. That is our annual holiday at a campground down the gurgler now thanks to Auckland City Council.
For the record, I don't give a hoot about Eden Park lights or a stadium in downtown Auckland and never go to the Viaduct Basin anyway.
Bring back the Auckland of 20 years ago - quiet, cultured, friendly and liveable. Not like the ghetto we have today.
- Julie Hunte

I agree absolutely that we should not be paying for the Eden Park upgrade or the Vector Arena - or for councillors to take expensive overseas trips. It is useless to try to suggest that this is valuable research, as the perception of ratepayers seems to be that it is simply a free junket.
The council's business is infrastructure, and that is where our rates should be directed. Council should not be concerned with social services - such as cheap housing - and this council has not been averse to approving developments which can only add to the strain on the infrastructure - such as Mt Wellington quarry and Sylvia Park.
- Geraldine Taylor

I heartily agree with the group of Whangarei ratepayers who do not want to pay for the expensive rugby stadium. Thank you for taking a stand and hopefully a fair precedent will be set for the rest of New Zealand.
Rates are high enough and many people are struggling to keep up with the increases. The rugby sector are quite capable of funding their own facilities.
- Victoria Davis

I live in Glendowie and have just received a new rates notice for $2166 which equates to a 53 per cent increase. I have owned property in Auckland for 26 years and have never experienced anything like this.
Isn't Dick doing a great job?
- Mark Polglase

The report about falling home ownership in Auckland and the huge increase in Auckland's rates highlights the serious problem of people being able to afford to continue living in Auckland, which must alarm both Government and local politicians.
- John and Linda Evans

I have a two-bedroom bungalow in Mt Roskill and last year my rates were $775, split into five payments. On Friday I received my rates notice of $998.01, which is an increase of 29 per cent.
If that was not enough, the council has reduced the payment times to four.
So, instead of last year paying five payments of $151, I now have to pay four payments of $249. In a way, that is a 65 per cent rise in the cost of paying my rates.
How can the council justify the move to four payments instead of five? Surely they could have decency; after giving me a 29 per cent rise they could have increased the number of payments to six or at least stuck to five.
Sorry Mayor Hubbard, but if you don't do something I won't be voting for you again.
- Chris Down

Our house got revalued from $385,000 to $800,000 - a whopping 100 per cent increase. But, get this, our house is a small, stucco terrace townhouse - five in one block, on a unit title section. The large free-standing bungalows with gardens on the same title are assessed at approximately $500,000. That doesn't make sense so we objected.
Of course we filed an objection, within the strict deadline set months ago. All we have got to date is a confirmation that ACC received our objection and the new, considerably increased, rates notice.
When we contacted ACC a month ago they told us that we must pay and they don't know when they will handle our objection. In the meantime, we must pay nearly double rates. Something is terribly wrong here.
The bottom line: Mr Hubbard, please take our house off our hands for the $800,000. We will be more than happy and laughing all the way to the Gold Coast.
- Frank van der Zwaag and Karyn Hopper

I am happy to pay my fair share to help run the city. However, the time has come to stop and rethink our whole rating system. There are far too many people paying for even more people who pay nothing, but get all the benefits.
My Waiheke rates have just increased 43 per cent to $3500. With the current "wish list" thinking this will be $125,000 in 10 years at the current rate of increases. This is for no water, sewerage, or paths and poor roads. Why do those who work to buy a (simple two-bedroom) home get pillaged? It's time for an equitable levy for all citizens - now. Oh, but I am so lucky to be able to walk on a lovely beach, I hear you say. Yes I am, and you can too, all at no cost to the council.
- Peter Lavelle