About ORC Rates

As an Otago Regional Council ratepayer, your contribution plays a vital role in making this region a great place to live, work and visit.

ORC is responsible for promoting the economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing of the region. Our focus is on the environment and Otago’s natural resources. The rates you pay directly help ORC’s work to protect Otago’s natural resources — water, land and air on behalf of the community.

Our work includes flood protection, natural hazard adaptation, public bus services, a ferry service in Queenstown, compliance and a regional response to natural disasters when needed. All of this helps to address regional issues and keep people and properties safe.

Your rates explained

September 2024

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The rates you pay directly help ORC’s work to protect Otago’s natural resources — water, land and air on behalf of the community. Read on for more details.

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How rates are used

Get a better understanding on how ORC spends the funding we receive from different sources - including rates.

How rates are calculated

Less than half of ORC’s funding comes from rates. Ratepayers pay a mix of general, which every property pays, and targeted, which is set for properties that are in areas most benefited by an activity.

Pie graph showing where ORC funding will come from in 2024-2025. General rates $29.05M. Targeted rates $35.85M. Fees, charges, grants and other $34.34M. Port Otago dividend $18M. Dividents, interest and investments $1.53M. Reserves $3.56M. — ORC anticipated funding

Pie graph showing planned cost of work for 2024-2025. Regional leadership $29.05M. Environmental $31.25M. Safety and resilience $23.07M. Transport $41.95M — ORC planned spending

How ORC rates are set

ORC rates are set by a Rates Resolution passed annually by Council. The 24-25 ORC rates were passed in the Council Meeting held on 26 June 2024.

How spending decisions are made

ORC’s budget and rates come from the work identified in our Long-Term Plan.

Every three years a Long-Term Plan is developed with the community to set out the work we will do in the years ahead. In the years between, we use an annual plan to do this. These plans help to informs the work we do as well as the budgets and rates required to do it.

Did you know that less than half of the Otago Regional Council’s funding will come from rates payments? The rest comes from:

Fees and charges, grants
Reserves
Port Otago dividends, investment interest

Long-Term Plan (LTP)

The Otago Regional Council "Long-Term Plan" (LTP) is prepared in consultation with our community. The LTP sets out what we plan to deliver across a three-year planning cycle. The LTP also looks out, in less detail, 10 years.

Rates due date and late payment penalties

The due date for all current year rates is 31 October.

All rates unpaid on 1 November will have a 10% penalty applied.

A further 10% penalty will be applied to all rates from previous financial years which remain unpaid on 1 May. Further penalties will continue to be applied in accordance with Council resolutions.

Make sure your details are up to date. Late arrival of your payment due to incorrect addressing, postal service timing or any other reason is not the responsibility of Otago Regional Council (ORC). You can also choose to receive your rates invoice via email.

Need help?

Don’t wait until the penalty date before raising inquiries; get in touch because we’re here to help. Be sure to have your rates assessment number handy.

The rates assessment number is at the top of your rates invoice.

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