Council shows support in-principle for ratepayer scheme
A cost-of-living crisis, a growing cohort of elderly people on fixed incomes, an infrastructure deficit, growing challenges in accessing housing and health services, uncertainty around energy and fuel security...
These are some of the major issues facing New Zealanders. In response, a new council-controlled organisation is being proposed, the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme (RAS), which aims to provide ratepayers with access to low-cost loans for local authority charges (rates), development contributions, and property improvements that have a private and public benefit, such as conversion to solar power.
The Central Otago District Council, like all local authorities throughout the country, deliver critical services and infrastructure to ratepayers. Councils have been asked for assistance to support ratepayers themselves to directly address the challenges that affect them, and to provide flexibility in the way their ratepayers choose to pay local authority charges, while still enabling councils to meet funding requirements.
At the meeting on Wednesday (30 July 2025), the Council considered a request from an independent non-profit organisation, Rewiring Aotearoa, which is supporting communities through the energy transition in a drive to encourage more homes to utilise electricity for their energy needs as an economic and sustainable source.
Read more: Home | Rewiring Aotearoa
The group asked the Council for a letter of support for the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme; the RAS proposes to provide low-cost financing to ratepayers for approved purposes. This could include the RAS lending money to ratepayers (e.g., as mentioned earlier, rates postponement, approving loans for property improvements etc).
With the final development stage expected to be completed in December, the RAS will require establishment equity capital estimated at $30 million from local authorities and central government, and the enabling legislation.
In agreeing to provide an in-principle letter of support to Rewiring Aotearoa, the Council also acknowledged a potential future discussion regarding investment into the RAS.
A full report is available in the agenda: Agenda of Council meeting - Wednesday, 30 July 2025
