Pay Your Rates
How to pay
You can pay your rates online by credit card, direct debit, internet or telephone banking, or in person.
A 2% discount is offered if the full year's rates are paid by the due date for the first instalment (i.e. 20 August).
Pay online by credit card
You can use Mastercard or Visa to pay rates through our Windcave secure online payment service. Payments using this method will incur a convenience fee, based on the amount paid. Council does not receive any part of this fee.
Set up a direct debit
Paying by direct debit means you can pay your rates the secure and easy way. To pay your property or water rates by direct debit, please complete the online form below.
Internet banking or automatic payments
You can set up Rotorua Lakes Council as a bill payee with your bank. This means you can use us as a payee for one-off and automatic internet banking payments.
Please ensure you include your property's valuation number in the Payer Reference field.
How to set up Rotorua Lakes Council as a payee
- Log on to your bank account
- Select your Bill Payment function
- Search for Rotorua Lakes Council as your Bill Payee (you don't need the bank account number).
- Follow the prompts.
If you have trouble with your internet banking setup, contact your bank.
Certain banks might require you to contact them to set this up and you will need to provide the bank with the Valuation Number from your rates invoice for the applicable property.
Note: For multiple properties, you will need to set up a separate payment for each property.
Setting up automatic payments
You can also set up automatic payments using Rotorua Lakes Council as the payee.
- Regular payments will be made automatically from your bank account (e.g. weekly, fortnightly or monthly)
- Check the amounts on these payments matches what's owed on your current rates invoice.
Phone banking
You will need to contact your bank directly to set up or pay by phone banking.
Pay in person
Pay by cash or Eftpos at Council's Customer Service Centre, 1061 Haupapa Street, Rotorua.
Receiving your rates invoice
Rotorua ratepayers receive separate rates invoices from Rotorua Lakes Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council:
- Rotorua Lakes Council invoices are sent quarterly
- Bay of Plenty Regional Council rates invoices are sent yearly in late August/early September for payment by 20 October.
Visit the BOPRC website for more information about regional council rates.
Keep your contact details current
Make sure you don't miss your rates invoice by keeping your contact details up to date if you move, change your email or phone number.
How to update your details
- Tell us online
- Visit the Customer Centre: 1061 Haupapa Street, Rotorua
- Email: info@rotorualc.nz
- Call: 07 348 4199.
Rates invoices by email
You can receive your rates assessments and invoices by email rather than by regular mail. Register for this service so you don't miss an invoice in your postbox.
Avoiding late payment penalties
A 10% penalty applies to any part of a quarterly rates invoice not paid by the due date specified on that invoice. The final payment dates for each quarter of the rating year are 20 August, 20 November, 20 February, and 20 May.
