Government introduced a rates rebate scheme to assist those who find it difficult to pay normal rates.
This is wrong in my opinion as the focus ought to have been in introducing methods to reduce rates for everybody. The fact that some superannuitants were unable to afford rates should have been the signal like the canary in the mine -- indicating to government that rates were unacceptably high.
The rates rebate scheme (if you think about it) is a defacto method of reintroducing the old, hated asset and/or income testing. In other words, for those who cannot afford rate payments, they get a small grant to help them pay. Is this not a selective method of increasing super for the poor?
A bad aspect of the scheme is that many elderly will be too proud to claim, while there are those who position themselves to claim for everything.
The Resource Management Act is unweildy and many local bodies find it is very expensive to administer. This is the area where pruning of expensive political correctness needs attention.

Since the government changed the criteria for the rates rebate scheme, I have been able to claim it, however in a few years time it won't be a viable thing for a lot of people. The $500 now will soon get eroded by the relentless rates hikes and we'll all be back in the same situation as before.
Currently rates are set by the valuation on your house for the area you live in, when in fact should be set by your ability to pay. I don't mind paying rates but do object to having to pay the same as my neighbour who might be earning $50,000 more than I am.

Hello Ashley and welcome to the discussions.

The rates have become very extreme when you consider that one purpose of purchasing a house is not to have to fork out a great weekly sum once you have finished paying it.
I guess the setting of rates to the value of the home is one way of making the one who can afford a "richer" home pay more for the amenities..that seems to me to already be a subsidising scheme, you know , the rich pay more, the poor pay less, and it brings in enough money to cover.
I'm thinking as time goes by and the rates increase, then the 500.00 has to increase to offset this.
if a person really needs the help, they have to forget pride..it is hateful filling in forms and seemingly begging, but if necessity demands it then sensibility must take hold I feel.
As for changing anything with the council..what does it take to make that happen? they seem to have set thenselves up as a tower, unconquerable.