Council rate rises will be capped at 4% from 1 July 2029, though Local Government Minister Simon Watts says he expects councils to begin applying it from 1 July next year.

When asked by CountryWide CONNECT host Andy Thompson as to what’s stopping councils ramping up rates for the next two cycles before 2029, he said the ratepayer is acutely aware of that.

“At the end of the day, the councillors are democratically elected,” he says.

“I don’t expect, and I have trusted local government, that that’s not what they will do.”

He says the rollercoaster of double-digit increases has been the reality for ratepayers.

“I think for anyone who actually pays rates, they think it’s a pretty damn good idea.”

Rates rose 14.2% nationally last year and 9.2% this year. He says the increases have become unaffordable for ratepayers.

“These guys are monopolies, and they can wake up in the morning and go, ‘Hey, I’m going to increase rates by 15%,’ and the ratepayer gets that and can do nothing about it.”

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.