39648 (2026). Mike Davidson to the Minister of Local Government

39648 (2026). Mike Davidson to the Minister of Local Government: What portion of the average 14% rates increase across the country used in his answer to an oral question on 26 August 2026 that "In 2024, we saw average rates increases across the country of 14 percent. If we’d had a 4 percent rates cap at that time, we would have avoided an average 10 percent increase," was due to the water services portion of councils' rates increases?

Hon Simon Watts: The 14% increases relate to median projected total rates increases, as reported in the Local Government Performance information on the MCERT website.