55798 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

55798 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government: Will councils be legally required to set annual rates increases no lower than the bottom of the proposed 2–4 percent per-capita target range, given that the Government has stated that “a minimum increase is necessary” to maintain essential services under the rates-cap regime?

Hon Simon Watts: Yes. All councils will have to operate within the band unless they seek, and are granted, an exemption.