COUNCIL

A lot of people aren’t sure what it is that Councils do… what ‘rates’ pay for… and what it all mean to you…

Rates are a property tax based on how much a property is worth (it’s valuation).  You’ll be contributing to rates if you own a property and will even be contributing if you rent, as the landlord would have factored it into what you pay.  So it’s good to know what your money is being used for.

There are two types of Councils that collect rates:

A district council, for us it’s the Rangitīkei District Council. 

They are responsible for:

• urban and rural planning (where you can build, what you can build and what you can do with your land)
• services to and from your property like drinking water, sewerage, stormwater
• solid waste – that’s the dump and recycling stations
• local roads and footpaths – not the highways which are the responsibility of the government-funded New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA)
• libraries, parks and reserves, public toilets, community halls
• community development – just like youth spaces and this website,

A regional council, for us in the Rangitīkei that is Horizons Regional Council. 

They are responsible for:

• environmental management, including water (like lakes, coast and coastline, streams and rivers)
• contaminated discharge, including flood and drainage control
• regional land management
• regional transport (including public transport i.e. buses)
• harbours
• biosecurity or pest management (including stoats, rats, possums)

If you notice something wrong or that’s needs fixing on our roads, footpaths or building owned by council you can call up or go to the website and let Council know so they can get it fixed.  Even better here’s the link: Fix-it-Form

To get a bit more detail on Councils, how decisions are made, how to enrol to vote once you turn 18 or even how to stand for Council and be an Elected Member yourself  Click here: Local Government Information