Financial assistance, rates remissions and postponementsNgā Kaupapahere Whakaiti Tāke Kaunihera, Tārewa Hoki

Are you a ratepayer experiencing extreme financial hardship due to a climate event? We may be able to remit all, or part of your rates.

You need to demonstrate you are experiencing extreme financial hardship, through making an application in writing.

How to apply

Online application form

Printable application form: Remission of Rates on properties affected by Natural Calamity

Are you a ratepayer who has experienced extreme financial hardship because of changes to the way Regional Council rates were set?

The remission will be capped at 50% of the policy change impact only.

You need to demonstrate that you are experiencing financial hardship.

How to apply

Online application form

Printable application form: Hardship from Revenue and Financing Policy Changes

Are you a ratepayer who has been significantly impacted from the extension of the public transport footprint?

• We may remit part of any newly added Public Transport Rate.
• If you pay a Public Transport Rate of between $200 and $400, our remission will cut your contribution to $200.
• Where you pay a Public Transport Rate greater than $400, we will apply a 50% remission.
• This remission will not be applied to commercial or industrial properties.

How to apply

All applications must be made in writing to remissions@hbrc.govt.nz

This remission enables us to act fairly and reasonable when a rates payment has not been received by the due date.

• We may remit where one of the conditions listed below are met:
  • You have made a full payment of outstanding rates (excluding the penalty amount) before applying for a remission
  • If you have rate arrears, and establish and stick to a payment plan, we will remit  additional penalties at an agreed time.
  • If you have made a late payment due to a significant unforeseen disruption, such as a serious illness, case of death, injury, accident of family member, or family circumstances.
  • Your late payment was caused by matters outside of your control.
  • It is demonstrated that the penalty has been added because of an error by the Regional Council.
  • Where it is considered just and equitable to do so.

How to apply

All applications must be made in writing using one of the forms linked below.

Online application form

Printable application form: Penalty Remission Application

The Māori Freehold Land Remission policy has been formulated for the purpose of ensuring the fair and equitable collection of rates from all sectors of the community by recognising that certain Māori-owned lands have particular conditions, features, ownership structures or other circumstances that make it appropriate to provide relief from rates. 

The objectives of this policy are to:

• support the use of land by the owners for traditional purposes,
• recognise and support the relationship of Māori culture and traditions, relating to ancestral land,
• avoid of further alienation of Māori freehold land,
• facilitate the desire of the owners to develop the land for economic use,
• recognise and take account of the presence of wahi tapu that may affect the use of the land for other purposes,
• recognise and take account of the importance of land in providing economic and infrastructure support for marae and associated papakāinga housing,
• recognise and take account of the importance of the land for community goals relating to:
  • the preservation of the natural character of the coastal environment
  • the protection of outstanding natural features
  • the protection of significant indigenous natural vegetation and fauna
• recognise the level of community services provided to the land and its occupiers,
• recognise matters related to the physical accessibility of the land,
• support the principles set out in the Preamble to Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993.

How to apply

All applications must be made in writing to remissions@hbrc.govt.nz

Our Remission for Uniform Annual Charges and Related Targeted rates policy allows for the following circumstances:

• To provide relief to ratepayers who occupy several near adjacent rating units, but which do not meet the criteria for contiguity under section 20 of the Local Government Act (Rating) 2002.
• This enables the Regional Council to assess two or more separable rateable properties as one for the purpose of rates where they are effectively being used as one single operation.
• To provide relief for developers in the instances of subdivision development in urban areas.
• We may remit any uniform annual charges  and related targeted rates where individual lots continue to be held in the ownership of the developer. 

How to apply

All applications must be made in writing to remissions@hbrc.govt.nz

Our policy for Remission of Rates in Special Circumstances provides for the possibility of a rates remission in circumstances that have not been specifically addressed in other parts of the Regional Council’s rating policy.

• We may remit all or part of rates assessed in special or unforeseen circumstances where we consider it just and equitable to do so.
• The approval of any the remission must not set a precedent that unfairly disadvantages other ratepayers.

How to apply

All applications must be made in writing to remissions@hbrc.govt.nz before the due date of the payment.