Fire or natural calamity

Policy 24/106 Postponement and / or Remission of Rates and Charges on Properties Affected by Fire or Natural Calamity

Provides reduced or delayed rates for properties badly damaged by fire or natural disasters while the home or building cannot be lived in or used.

Objectives of the policy

This policy recognises that where a rating unit has been physically damaged to the extent that the land or buildings are irretrievably damaged, where it cannot be inhabited, used or otherwise occupied for an extended period, then the application of full rates could cause financial hardship.

The objective of the policy is to enable appropriate rate relief to be provided where the use that may be made of any land or buildings have been detrimentally affected by fire or natural calamity.

Criteria and conditions

Council may remit and / or postpone rates wholly, or in part, in respect of any land or buildings affected by fire or natural calamity, where it considers it fair and reasonable to do so.

Specifically:

  1. The sewerage disposal rate and water supply charge will be remitted for the period that the rating unit cannot be inhabited, used or otherwise occupied.
  2. The general rates may be postponed for the period that the rating unit cannot be inhabited, used or otherwise occupied.

    The general rates may be remitted if the property is irretrievably damaged and has a negligible land value e.g.$1,000 after the value has been reassessed by the Council's valuation service provider in accordance with 6, below.
  3. All rates that have been postponed and not remitted under this policy become due and payable immediately on:
    1. the ratepayer(s) ceasing to be the owner or occupier of the rating unit; or
    2. until a date specified by the council as determined by the council in any particular case.
  4. Any application for rates relief due to fire will not be accepted if council has any reason to suspect, on reasonable grounds, that the fire was deliberately caused by owner, occupier or a related party.
  5. To be considered for rates postponement and / or remission under this policy, the ratepayer must apply for rates postponement and / or remission under this policy, provide information in the prescribed form on how the relevant criteria and conditions are satisfied and complete any relevant statutory declarations as may be required by Council.
  6. If an application is approved, Council may direct its valuation service provider to inspect the rating unit and prepare a valuation that will consider any factors that could affect the use of the land or buildings as a result of the fire or natural calamity.

    As there are no statutory rights of objection or appeal for valuations of this nature then the valuation service provider's decision will be final. The value-based general rates will be calculated at the new value from the next rating year.

Apply for a postponement and / or remission

You can apply several ways:

Online

Step 1.Gather supporting documents

You'll need to gather any documents that support your application, such as photo(s) of damaged property or insurer's damage assessment letter.

Step 2.Complete application

Fill in our online form and upload any supporting documents:

Postponement and / or remission for Fire or Natural Calamity application

Step 3.Assess your application

We’ll check your application is complete and contact you if we need more information.

Step 4.Notification and remission applied

We will let you know the result of your application.

If your application is approved, the remission will be applied to your rates.

Depending on how you pay your rates, your payment amounts may need to change. We will let you know if you need to make any changes when we contact you.

Online:  Pay your land rates

Phone: 09 430 4200

By email

Step 1.Gather supporting documents

You'll need to gather any documents that support your application, such as photo(s) of damaged property or insurer's damage assessment letter.

Step 2.Complete application

Download the application, print and complete it by hand.

Postponement and / or remission for Fire or Natural Calamity application(PDF, 188KB)

Step 3.Email us

Email your completed application and any supporting documents to:

Email: mailroom@wdc.govt.nz

Step 4.Assess your application

We'll check your application is complete and contact you if we need more information.

Step 5.Notification and remission applied

We will let you know the result of your application.

If your application is approved, the remission will be applied to your rates.

Depending on how you pay your rates, your payment amounts may need to change. We will let you know if you need to make any changes when we contact you.

Online:  Pay your land rates

Phone: 09 430 4200

By post

Step 1.Gather supporting documents

You'll need to gather any documents that support your application, such as photo(s) of damaged property or insurer's damage assessment letter.

Step 2.Complete application

Download the application, print and complete it by hand.

Postponement and / or remission for Fire or Natural Calamity application(PDF, 188KB)

Step 3.Post to us

Post your completed application and any supporting documents to:

Whangarei District Council
Private Bag 9023
Te Mai
Whangārei 0143

Step 4.Assess your application

We'll check your application is complete and contact you if we need more information.

Step 5.Notification and remission applied

We will let you know the result of your application.

If your application is approved, the remission will be applied to your rates.

Depending on how you pay your rates, your payment amounts may need to change. We will let you know if you need to make any changes when we contact you.

Online:  Pay your land rates

Phone: 09 430 4200

In person

Step 1.Gather supporting documents

You'll need to gather any documents that support your application, such as photo(s) of damaged property or insurer's damage assessment letter.

Step 2.Complete application

Download the application, print and complete it by hand.

Postponement and / or remission for Fire or Natural Calamity application(PDF, 188KB)

Step 3.Bring into us

Bring your completed application and any supporting documents into one of our Customer Service Centres:

Te Iwitahi (civic centre)
 9 Rust Avenue, Whangārei
Hours: Monday to Friday – 8:00am to 4:30pm
Closed public holidays

Ruakākā service centre 
9 Takutai Place, Ruakākā
Hours: Monday to Friday – 8:30am to 4:00pm
Closed public holidays

Service centre at isite
92 Otaika Road, Raumanga
Hours: Monday to Friday – 9:00am to 12:00pm and 12:30pm to 4:30pm
Closed public holidays

Step 4.Assess your application

We'll check your application is complete and contact you if we need more information.

Step 5.Notification and remission applied

We will let you know the result of your application.

If your application is approved, the remission will be applied to your rates.

Depending on how you pay your rates, your payment amounts may need to change. We will let you know if you need to make any changes when we contact you.

Online:  Pay your land rates

Phone: 09 430 4200

Need help?

If you need help completing the form or need us to send the form to you, give us a call or use our online enquiry form.

Enquire online

Phone: 09 430 4200 

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