​Whakaahuatanga o tō pire reiti How your property rates bill is made up

Changes to Urban Rating Area

In 2021/2022 we changed the definition of the Urban Rating Area (URA). It now includes all land within the Rural Urban Boundary, except land zoned future urban and Warkworth.

Farm and lifestyle properties within the URA are now considered urban residential. These properties will have their rates set on the same basis as properties with similar access to council services and facilities.

Targeted rates

Targeted rates pay for specific services or projects. They can be set generally across all ratepayers or to specific ratepayers in certain areas.

Current targeted rates include:

• natural environment - funding kauri dieback, and predator and weed control
• water quality - funding stormwater and waterway projects
• transport for climate action – funding public transport, walking and cycling, and tree planting, to support climate action goals
• waste management - funding rubbish, recycling, food scraps and inorganic collections
• repayment of financial assistance (for example, the Retrofit Your Home scheme - closed to new applicants)
• free adult entry to swimming pools in the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu and Ōtara-Papatoetoe local board areas
• swimming pool fencing inspection targeted rate for owners of swimming/spa pools
• business improvement district (BID) targeted rates to pay for local BID programmes that: 
  • improve the appearance and condition of local business streets
  • help attract, retain and grow local businesses
  • increase employment and local business investment in BID areas 
• electricity network resilience - charged to Vector to pay for tree trimming around their power lines
• septic tank pump-outs in the Waitākere Local Board area
• Rodney drainage districts.
• Franklin Paths - supporting investment in active transport modes like walking and cycling.

Rates for separately used or inhabited parts of a property (SUIP)

Rates apply to each separately used part of a property, such as a house, flat, unit and apartment.

Visit Rates for separately used or inhabited parts of a property (SUIP) to find out how we charge rates for SUIPs when part of your property is used by someone else.

Rating maps

Some ratepayers pay more or less in general rates than others with the same value property. We define the categories using location and land use.

Business and residential properties located within the urban rating area pay higher urban rates. Properties located outside the urban rating area pay lower rural rates.

Some properties in special areas might also need to pay a targeted rate such as:

• Business Improvement Districts
• City Centre Targeted Rate
• Waitākere Rural Sewerage Rate
• Rodney Land Drainage Districts
• Franklin Paths Targeted Rate
• Māngere-Ōtāhuhu swimming pool free entry targeted rate
• Ōtara-Papatoetoe swimming pool free entry targeted rate.

Visit Annual Plan 2025/2026 to learn how we apply these rates. 

Get a copy of current Rodney Land Drainage Districts maps

Get a copy of the current rating maps