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Rates Rebate Act 1973

5: Applications to territorial authority for rates rebate

You could also call this:

"Apply to your local council for help with paying your home's rates"

Illustration for Rates Rebate Act 1973

You can apply for a rates rebate to your local council. You must apply to the council where your property is located. You can apply for a rebate on the rates you pay for your home. You need to fill out a special form that the government approves. You must sign the form to say the information is true. You can take the form to the council's office or send it to them by post. If you do not know how much you have to pay for water or other rates, you use the amount from the previous year to work out your rebate. When you apply, the council checks your form. If it is complete, they give you a rebate. They take the rebate off the total rates you owe. The council does not have to check everything you say on your form, like how much money you earn. You can find more information about rates rebates in section 3 and section 6 of the Rates Rebate Act. There are also rules about penalties in section 57 of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002.

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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=DLM409689.

Topics:
Housing and property > Land useMoney and consumer rights > TaxesGovernment and voting > Local councils
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5Applications to territorial authority for rates rebate

  1. Subject to section 6, every application for a rebate of rates shall be made to the territorial authority in whose district the property is situated, whether the rates are payable to that territorial authority or to any other local authority.

  2. The ratepayer in respect of any residential property may in any rating year apply to that territorial authority for a rebate in accordance with section 3 of the rates due and payable in respect of that property for that rating year.

  3. Every such application shall be made on a form approved for the purpose by the Secretary for Local Government, shall be verified in writing by the applicant, and shall be left at the public office of the territorial authority or sent by post addressed to that office.

  4. Where the amount of any water charges payable to the territorial authority, or of any rates payable to a local authority other than the territorial authority, in respect of the property for the rating year in which the application is made is not known at the time when the application is made, then, for the purpose of determining the amount of the rebate to which the ratepayer is entitled, the amount of those water charges or rates, as the case may be, payable in respect of the property for the rating year shall be deemed to be the same amount as the amount that was payable for the immediately preceding rating year.

  5. Where application is made to a territorial authority under subsection (2), and the chief executive of the territorial authority or other officer authorised by him for the purpose is satisfied that the application has been properly completed,—

  6. a rebate of rates shall be granted to the applicant of the amount to which he is entitled on the basis of the information contained in his application; and
    1. the amount of that rebate shall be deducted from the total amount of the rates due and payable to that territorial authority in respect of the property for the rating year in which the application is made; and
      1. the amount then remaining shall be deemed to be the amount of the rates payable in respect of the property to the territorial authority for that rating year:
          1. provided that the amount of a penalty added under section 57 of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002 must be calculated as if the rebate had not been granted.

        1. The chief executive of the territorial authority or other authorised officer is not required to verify a statement about any of the following matters made by a ratepayer in their application for a rebate:

        2. the ratepayer’s income:
          1. the income of any other person:
            1. the occupancy of the property:
              1. the ratepayer’s status as a SuperGold Card cardholder.

                Notes
                • Section 5(3): amended, on , by section 4(a) of the Rates Rebate (Statutory Declarations) Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 44).
                • Section 5(3): amended, on , by section 4(b) of the Rates Rebate (Statutory Declarations) Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 44).
                • Section 5(4): replaced, on , by section 4 of the Rates Rebate Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 35).
                • Section 5(5): amended, on , by section 262 of the Local Government Act 2002 (2002 No 84).
                • Section 5(5) proviso: amended, on , by section 137(1) of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002 (2002 No 6).
                • Section 5(5) proviso: amended, on , by section 208(1) of the Rating Powers Act 1988 (1988 No 97).
                • Section 5(6): replaced, on , by section 6 of the Rates Rebate Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 31).