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Many Tararua farmers were shocked to receive rates indication letters forecasting up to 40 per cent increases when the district council’s draft long term plan slated a 9 per cent rural rates increase for the 2021/2022 year.
Farmers are irate over massive rates increases, calling for adjustments and reconsideration of the ‘broken system’ heavily linking their rates bill to rapidly rising property values. The Tararua District Council heard submissions on its draft 2021-2031 Long Term Plan this week, bringing consultation to an end before public opinion was taken into consideration for the final draft. Farmers were the most vocal of submitters, fired up by the difference between the 9 per cent rural rates increase slated for the 2021/2022 year in the draft plan, and the up to 40 per cent increases many were seeing in rates indication letters sent out by the council.