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How rates are calculated
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As an Otago Regional Council ratepayer, your contribution plays a vital role in making this region a great place to live, work and visit.
Each year we develop a work plan based on projections in our Long-Term Plan, community requests and government requirements. The community is asked for feedback and ideas before councillors make decisions on what is proposed. Rates are then set using our rating and funding model.
Less than half of ORC’s funding comes from rates — the rest comes from fees and charges, grants, reserves, dividends from Port Otago and investment income.
A copy of our rates resolution can be found in our council meeting minutes Council Meeting 26 June 2024 (orc.govt.nz)
Rates are divided into general rates, region-wide targeted rates and targeted rates in specific areas.
The general rate is charged to every property as it pays for activities that benefit everyone. The general rate is calculated based on a property’s capital value. This rate is subsidised by Port Otago dividends. In 2024-25, this reduced the general rate cost for property owners by 38%.
General rates help to cover the cost of work including air quality, governance and community activities, land sustainability, policy development and natural hazards.
Targeted rates pay for specific services or projects and can be set for all ratepayers or to specific areas or properties based on the benefit received.
Your rates invoice may have some of the targeted rates below:
This rate funds pest and biosecurity management and promote and support initiatives with communities and farmers to protect and enhance Otago’s biodiversity and ecosystems. This rate is set based on land value on all properties in Otago.
This rate helps to cover the cost of ORC’s biodiversity, water quality, land and water implementation and catchment management activities. All properties pay this rate which is based on capital value.
This rate funds ORC’s Civil Defence and Emergency Management work. This rate is charged to every property in Otago at a fixed rate – each property pays the same amount.
The Flood Protection and Drainage rates cover the cost of providing infrastructure such as floodbanks and pump stations. Properties are rated differently for this depending on the benefit they receive.
Both rates use ‘benefit zones’ to reflect the benefit each property receives which determines how much their rate will be. While most of these rates are targeted, a proportion is also collected from the general rate - 20% for flood protection and 10% for drainage, reflecting the wider benefit of these schemes.
Click the links below to see the rates map for each area.
The farm monitoring rate is for dairy farm inspections. Every property used for dairy farming in Otago pays the same fixed rate.
This rate is for the management of rivers and waterways in the Otago region. It is charged on a district basis to reflect the required activity in each district depending on the quantity of rivers and waterways requiring management. This rate is charged on capital value to all properties in Otago.
This rate helps to cover the cost of the harbourmaster service — navigation and safety in Otago’s harbours and waterways. This rate applies to all ratepayers except the Queenstown Lakes District, where a harbourmaster service is provided by QLDC. Every property pays the same fixed amount.
Public transport is funded by NZTA grants, bus fares and a targeted transport rate. The funding portion paid by Otago ratepayers is split, 20% funded by general rates and 80% funded by targeted rates for each transport scheme.
Properties in Queenstown, Dunedin and Palmerston pay targeted rates for public transport. There is a different "class" rate for commercial and residential properties.
The targeted mapping area for Dunedin and Whakatipu passenger transport is the following:
- Dunedin Passenger Transport (Residential and Commercial) - Dunedin City region
- Dunedin Passenger Transport (Residential and Commercial) - Dunedin North region
Oamaru passenger transport targeted rate is funded as a fixed rate per property in the Waitaki District, charged to all properties that do not receive a Dunedin Passenger Transport (Residential) - Waitaki region (Palmerston) rate.
The wilding tree rate goes toward the cost of controlling and preventing the spread of wilding trees. This rate is charged to every property in Otago at a fixed rate – each property pays the same amount.
How rates are used
Get a better understanding on how ORC spends the funding we receive from different sources - including rates.
About your rates
We collect rates directly from owners of property in Otago.
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.
