Less of a hit in the pocket for ratepayers

Council rate rises were more muted than usual this year, in the wake of Covid-19.

Stats NZ says the overall 3.1 percent annual increase in local authority rates and payments is the smallest in 20 years.

Prices senior manager, Aaron Beck, says councils have faced unprecedented financial strain due to the pandemic and have reassessed their budgets.

He says this has led to many rate increases being lower than those signalled in councils' long-term plans.