Voluntarily protected land

Policy 24/114 Remission of Rates on Voluntarily Protected Land

Reduces rates on land permanently protected for conservation or environmental purposes, such as QEII covenant land, when the land is not lived on or used.

Objectives of the policy

In the past legislation provided for non-rateable status on the portions of land set aside under the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) National Trust. However, the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002 does not provide this relief.

QEII National Trust helps private landowners in New Zealand protect special natural and cultural features on their land with open space covenants.

Council wishes to encourage and promote the conservation and protection of significant natural resources in the district. This will enable council to act fairly and equitably in the assessment of rates, in line with land forming part of a reserve under the Reserves Act 1977.

Criteria and conditions

Council may remit the rates where the application meets the following conditions and criteria:

  1. Council is satisfied that the land is subject to permanent protection under a QEII Open Space Covenant or similar permanent conservation covenant. That the covenant must be registered on record of title(s).
  2. The land is not inhabited, used or otherwise occupied and no building structures are within the boundaries of the covenanted area.
  3. Where part of the covenanted area is not inhabited, used or otherwise occupied and no building structures are within the boundaries of the covenanted area, Council may remit the general and targeted rates on that area.
  4. The ratepayer has applied for rates remission under this policy and provided information in the prescribed form on how the relevant criteria and conditions are satisfied and has completed relevant statutory declarations as may be required by Council.

Apply for a remission

You can apply several ways:

Online

Step 1.Gather required documents

You'll need to gather the following documents:

  • QEII National Trust Covenant documentation or Conservation Covenant document
  • Copy of Certificate of Title.

Step 2.Complete application

Fill in our online form and upload the required documents:

Remission of Rates on Voluntarily Protected Land 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:

  • QEII National Trust Covenant documentation or Conservation Covenant document
  • Copy of Certificate of Title.

Step 2.Complete application

Download the application, print and complete it by hand.

Remission of Rates on Voluntarily Protected Land application(PDF, 206KB)

Step 3.Email us

Email your completed application and the 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:

  • QEII National Trust Covenant documentation or Conservation Covenant document
  • Copy of Certificate of Title.

Step 2.Complete application

Download the application, print and complete it by hand.

Remission of Rates on Voluntarily Protected Land application(PDF, 206KB)

Step 3.Post to us

Post your completed application and the 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:

  • QEII National Trust Covenant documentation or Conservation Covenant document
  • Copy of Certificate of Title.

Step 2.Complete application

Download the application, print and complete it by hand.

Remission of Rates on Voluntarily Protected Land application(PDF, 206KB)

Step 3.Bring into us

Bring your completed application and the 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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