During the Finance Committee Meeting

During the Finance Committee meeting on Thursday, some interesting facts about the Whangarei District Council rates rebates scheme for this year came out, that I thought everyone would be interested in.

As of the end of August 2025, Council has processed 2,671 Rates Rebates requests for 2025-26, which was 14% more than this time last year (2024-25).

As of the end of August 2025, the total amount rebated is $2,119,000 which is 23% more than this time last year.

At of the end of August 2025, 84% came into the Council building to complete request, as compared to 63% this time last year, and 80% this year were Gold Card Holders and taking advance of the Central Government Gold Card policy for Rates Rebates.

When I chatted to some of the people in the line, I also found that some did not previously ask, as they did not know about the scheme or their previous Council never promoted as much as Whangarei Does.

The reason I am telling you all this, is that if you have not claimed your rates rebate there is still time, and it is money that is coming from Central Government, not from Council (as some candidates are suggesting).