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Local Government (Rating) Act 2002

Rating information database and rates records - Rates records

38: Inspection of rates records

You could also call this:

"Checking property rates records: who can look and how"

Illustration for Local Government (Rating) Act 2002

You can look at the rates records for a property if you are the ratepayer. You can also look if someone authorises you to do so. A person who has to pay the rates under section 61 or section 62 can look too.

You can inspect the rates records at the local authority's main office or other places they choose. These places are open during ordinary office hours. You can look at the records to see the rates that have been assessed.

A local authority can ask you to confirm that you need to see the rates records for a valid reason. They can ask you to prove that you are involved in a transaction related to the property and that you need the information. They can ask you by phone, email, or in person, whichever they think is best.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM132278.

Topics:
Government and voting > Local councilsHousing and property > Land use
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Part 2Rating information database and rates records
Rates records

38Inspection of rates records

  1. The following persons may inspect the rates record for a rating unit or separate rating area:

  2. the ratepayer:
    1. a person who is authorised by the ratepayer to do so:
      1. a person who has become liable to pay the rates in respect of the unit under section 61 or section 62:
        1. a solicitor, a person (not being a lawyer) who provides conveyancing services, a real estate agent, or any other person, who—
          1. is a party to (or acting as an agent for a party to) a transaction relating to the rating unit or separate rating area; and
            1. reasonably requires the information in the rates record for the purposes of the transaction:
            2. any member of the public with respect to rates assessed, but not including arrears, remissions, or postponed rates.

              1. The rates records must be available for inspection—

              2. at the principal public office of the local authority and any other place that the local authority considers necessary in order to provide reasonable access to all ratepayers and residents of the district; and
                1. during ordinary office hours or the hours at which the place is open to the public.

                  1. For the purposes of this section, a local authority may request from a person, by any reasonable means that the local authority considers appropriate, confirmation that he or she—

                  2. falls within the class of people described in subsection (1)(d)(i); and
                    1. reasonably requires the information in the rates record for the purposes of subsection (1)(d)(ii).

                      Notes
                      • Section 38(1): amended, on , by section 20(1) of the Local Government (Rating of Whenua Māori) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 12).
                      • Section 38(1)(d): substituted, on , by section 5(1) of the Local Government (Rating) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 66).
                      • Section 38(1)(d)(i): amended, on , by section 20(2) of the Local Government (Rating of Whenua Māori) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 12).
                      • Section 38(3): added, on , by section 5(2) of the Local Government (Rating) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 66).