Community, sports and other organisations

Policy 24/111 - Remission of Rates for Community and Sports Groups

Supports community, sports, health, cultural, and papakāinga groups by lowering their rates, recognising the benefits they provide to local people.

Objectives of the policy

Community and voluntary organisations provide facilities for residents which enhance and contribute to the district's wellbeing.  Council wishes to encourage such groups by providing rates relief. 

Doing so will enable Council to act fairly and equitably with respect to the imposition of rates on land used or occupied by societies or association of persons for organisations that have a strong community focus but do not currently meet the 100% or 50% non-rateable criteria under Schedule 1 of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002.

Criteria and conditions

Council may remit all or part of rates to a rating unit that is being used or occupied under the following circumstances:

  1. Land owned or used by a society or association of persons, for community purposes, games or sports other than galloping races, harness races and greyhound races, and which does not meet the 50% non-rateable definition as a club license under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 is for the time being in force
  2. Land owned or used by a society or association of persons, the object or principal object of which is to conserve the health or well-being of the community or to tend the sick or injured.
  3. Land owned or used by a society or association of persons, for the purposes of a public hall, library, museum or similar institution.  
  4. Māori Freehold Land used for papakāinga, for the purpose of providing temporary or transitional housing assistance to those in need.

The policy will not apply in respect of:

  1. Societies or associations of persons operating for private pecuniary profit, or which charge tuition fees.  
  2. Land owned or used by a society or association of persons for business purposes or like, despite the profits being for community purposes.
  3. Societies or associations of persons whose primary purpose is to address the needs of adult members (over 18 years) for entertainment or social interaction, or who engage in recreational, sporting, or community services as a secondary purpose only.
  4. To be considered for rates remission under this policy, the ratepayer must apply under this policy, provide information in the prescribed form on how the relevant criteria and conditions are satisfied, and complete relevant statutory declarations as may be required by Council.  
  5. The rates remission for the following uses is:
Land use Remission Rates excluded
Community, games and sports 50% Excludes water supply
Health, libraries, museum or similar institution 100% Excludes water supply and sewerage services
Public halls 100% Excludes water supply
Papakāinga 50% Excludes water supply and sewerage services

Apply for a remission

You can apply several ways:

Online

Step 1.Gather required documents

You'll need to gather the following documents:

  • Statement of objectives
  • Full financial accounts
  • Information on activities and programmes
  • Details of membership or clients.

Step 2.Complete application

Fill in our online form and upload the required documents:

Remission of Rates for Community, Sports and Other Organisations 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 required documents

You'll need to gather the following documents:

  • Statement of objectives
  • Full financial accounts
  • Information on activities and programmes
  • Details of membership or clients.

Step 2.Complete application

Download the application, print and complete it by hand.

Remission of Rates for Community, Sports and Other Organisations application(PDF, 215KB)

Step 3.Email us

Email your completed application and required 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 required documents

You'll need to gather the following documents:

  • Statement of objectives
  • Full financial accounts
  • Information on activities and programmes
  • Details of membership or clients.

Step 2.Complete application

Download the application, print and complete it by hand.

Remission of Rates for Community, Sports and Other Organisations application(PDF, 215KB)

Step 3.Post to us

Post your completed application and required 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 required documents

You'll need to gather the following documents:

  • Statement of objectives
  • Full financial accounts
  • Information on activities and programmes
  • Details of membership or clients.

Step 2.Complete application

Download the application, print and complete it by hand.

Remission of Rates for Community, Sports and Other Organisations application(PDF, 215KB)

Step 3.Bring into us

Bring your completed application and required 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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