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Where did the 39% ratepayer figure come from?

Following the State of the Far North address presented by Far North Mayor Moko Tepania in November, the council has received considerable feedback about the event, including questions about one figure used – that just 39 per cent of residents pay rates.

The State of the Far North address aimed to make the often complex business of council accessible to all residents while providing a transparent overview of the challenges facing the district and the steps being taken to address them.

Nearly all the information presented during the address is derived from publicly available council reports, including the long term and annual plans. These documents contain a lot of information and the address sought to highlight key themes these contain in a relatable format.

One of the key points raised during the presentation was the relationship between the Far North’s relatively low population density and how this impacts the district’s ratepayer base. As noted by Mayor Moko Tepania, the Far North District is home to just over 71,000 people. This population is spread across numerous small communities, and this creates many challenges for service delivery. Council services such as water, wastewater and stormwater, and community facilities like halls and cemeteries must be replicated across a large area.

Understanding the 39% figure

Calculating the exact number of ratepayers is complex. The total number of rate accounts in the district is 37,082, which includes some non-rateable accounts and parent accounts for rating purposes. After removing non-rateable accounts and duplicates (e.g. ratepayers owning multiple properties), the total number of unique ratepayers is approximately 28,000.

The figure of 39% was derived by comparing these 28,000 unique ratepayers to the district’s total population of approximately 71,000. It’s important to note that this calculation considers each ratepayer entity as a single unit and does not account for the multiple ways individuals or households contribute to rates, such as:

  • Multiple adults in a household sharing rate contributions.
  • Indirect contributions through rent payments, trusts, or commercial arrangements.
  • Children and others who benefit from rates-funded services but do not contribute directly.

The percentage is, therefore, a simplified property-to-population comparison, designed to illustrate the challenges posed by a relatively small ratepayer base supporting services for the entire population.

Clarifying the Context

While this calculation offers a straightforward perspective, it is not a definitive measure of the financial contributions of all individuals or households. The Mayor’s intent was to highlight the challenges of delivering services to a large, sparsely populated district with a limited ratepayer base, rather than provide a granular financial analysis.

This distinction is crucial to understanding the figures presented and underscores the need for transparency in discussing how services are funded and delivered in the Far North.

Engaging with feedback

The State of the Far North address has proven to be a valuable platform for bringing important topics, such as ratepayer contributions, to the forefront of community discussion. By raising these issues during the address, the council has created opportunities to clarify and provide additional context, ensuring residents are better informed about the complexities of local governance.

The feedback received highlights the importance of continued dialogue with our communities. It also reinforces the purpose of the address: to make council operations more transparent and accessible while encouraging community engagement. The council remains committed to addressing queries like this with openness and providing clear explanations of the information presented.

For those who wish to revisit or explore these discussions further, the entire State of the Far North address is available for on-demand viewing on the council's YouTube Channel and Facebook Page. We encourage all residents to watch and engage with this important conversation about our district’s challenges, achievements, and future direction.