Our Proposal

Our proposal

How rates work today, what goes wrong, and what changes under Land Value Rates.

What's wrong with rates?

Our rates system makes it expensive to build the housing we need
…and artificially lowers rates for landlords who own old and cold villas, even in the middle of town
A surface car park in the CBD gets a low rates bill; converting it to apartments would raise the bill a lot

Currently our rates system penalises those who want to invest in our communities. While rewarding slumlords and parking companies with a lower rates bill.

New Zealand’s rates system must encourage land use that provides value to our cities.

The solution: Land Value Rates

Under Land Value Rates you will be charged the same regardless of how you use the land
This means there will be more economic incentive to build. More homes for families means a more affordable city
Land bankers will pay more; rates on families go down. The average Wellingtonian will pay less, especially in a less-valuable property
Overall, 60% of residents would see a lower rates bill if Wellington switches to Land Value Rates

Land Value Rates

For a more affordable city