15 April 2021
Media: Te Karere
Topic: Maori land rating
Enquiry
Please see questions below
How will Rotorua Lakes Council incorporate the new amendments to the Local Govt (Rating of Maori Whenua) Amendment Bill passed last week?
Will Rotorua Lakes Council look to clear current arrears on unused Maori land under the new bill? If so, when? If not, why?
If debt is cleared for unused Maori land, can Rotorua Lakes Council guarantee that it will not confiscate Maori land or use for proposals such as new roads or other use?
What are the consequences for Maori land owners who do not pay rates on used and unused land?
How is Rotorua Lakes Council helping Maori who still have arrears on their used or unused Maori land?
I'm following up with Rotorua Lakes Council for now and may approach other councils on the matter too
Response
See below from Mr Coll in response to your questions.
As discussed earlier, re your question that refers to compulsory purchase of land under the Public Works Act, which as I explained is different and unrelated to the topic of rating, you were going to check back with the person whose comments had prompted the question, in order to get clarity regarding the particular issues or concerns they had raised.
From Chief Financial Officer Thomas Coll:
We are confident that our current rating and remissions approach is already well aligned with the new legislation, and will now work through the details to understand any differences that may exist and adjust accordingly.
We actively work with Maori landowners where there are rates arrears to work through a solution. And where land has previously been un-used or unproductive but is transitioning to productive, we hold discussions with the landowners regarding any appropriate level of rates during the transition.