Overdue rates bills piling up

By SCOTT MacLEOD

Nearly 150,000 people had until last night to pay their controversial rates bills from Auckland Regional Council or risk being slapped with 10 per cent fines.

Just how many of those people refused to pay is a mystery, because the council says it cannot give a running tally.

But the Regional Ratepayers Rebellion Group contends that up to 20 per cent of ratepayers have ignored their bills.

And it claims some councillors are blocking emails as they grapple with a public backlash to the council's attempt to boost its rates grab by 34 per cent.

Yesterday's deadline was for properties in Waitakere, Rosebank, Waterview, Avondale, New Windsor, Blockhouse Bay, Mangere, Papatoetoe, Otara, Manukau Central, Manurewa, Weymouth, Takanini and parts of Rodney.

Payment deadlines for the owners of properties in three other Auckland regions are August 6, September 1 and September 15.

David Thornton, who is leading the ratepayer rebellion, was meant to pay his rates on August 6, but refused. He said yesterday that he was yet to receive a letter from the council about the 10 per cent penalty.

Mr Thornton said that up to 22,000 other people who were meant to pay on that date also refused, based on an estimate of an 80 per cent compliance rate.

Many others had paid only a part of their bill to avoid penalties, or were sending post-dated cheques.

"And I've heard that at least two councillors have blocked emails."

Mr Thornton said it was "a public duty" for those councillors to field ratepayer concerns. He named Judith Bassett and a second councillor, who was overseas yesterday and could not be reached.

Mrs Bassett denied blocking emails, but said the Blaster computer worm had created havoc at Auckland University, where she teaches history.

"I have responded to emails from people in my area, but I have not responded to abusive emails."

Council staff who would not be named yesterday said it was impossible to estimate how many people had met the second deadline. Nor could they give a precise figure on the first deadline, other than to say "at least 75 per cent" had paid.

Council spokesman Ken Dyer said 9 per cent of people who paid chose the new direct debit method, under which payments could be spread over 10 months.

Yesterday's deadline was for 147,755 people, he said.

The next key date is a council meeting on Thursday, when lawyers will advise on payment options and whether penalties can be deferred.

The Rebellion Group claims to have up to 40,000 signatures on a petition calling for the rates to be re-set.

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