55792 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

55792 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government: What consideration has the Government given to the impact of an enforced minimum annual rates increase on local democratic decision-making, particularly where communities support a rates freeze or a minimal increase?

Hon Simon Watts: The proposed model is designed to keep council rates increases affordable for households and businesses while ensuring councils can maintain essential services and invest in infrastructure. The lower bound of the target (two percent) is necessary to ensure councils maintain existing services and assets.