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Rates Rebate

The Rates Rebate Scheme is available to homeowners on low incomes to help meet the cost of annual rates. This assistance is in the form of a partial discount on their property rates bills.

Who can apply for a rates rebate

You can apply for a rates rebate if you were the legal ratepayer for the property where you were usually living on 1 July on a given year. To be eligible:

  • Your name should be on the rates bill as a ratepayer
  • You need to declare the income that you (and any spouse, partner or joint homeowner living with you on 1 July 2025) received for the tax year ended 31 March 2025.

Income abatement threshold

  • For super gold cardholders your maximum income abatement threshold must be $45,000
  • For non-super gold cardholders your maximum income abatement threshold must be $32,210
  • "Income" must be the amount received before tax and includes some types of non-taxable income, such as certain Work and Income allowances.

The maximum rates rebate that can be applied to your rates bill for 2025/26 is $805. You may be eligible for all or only part of this amount.

How to apply for a rates rebate

The Rates Rebate scheme is administered by the Department of Internal Affairs (govt.nz) but rates rebate applications are processed by local councils.

You can now book a rates rebate appointment online. Click the link below to pre-book an appointment for the 2025/2026 rating year commencing on 1 July 2025.

Book your appointment online

Appointments will be held between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026. You can book an appointment time that suits via the booking form above or call the Rotorua Lakes Council Customer Solutions team on 07 348 4199 if you need help booking an appointment.

Please note: If you have booked online, you will receive email confirmation of your appointment booking. Please write your date and time down when you pre-book an appointment online or over the phone.

Note: If someone else will be attending the appointment on your behalf, please ensure they bring a copy of the Power of Attorney giving them permission to represent you.

  • Non SuperGold Card holder please bring a Community Services Card, Passport or Drivers Licence.
  • SuperGold Card holder – please bring this with you
  • Details of all gross income (before tax) for the financial year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.
  • Gross income includes the following:
  • If you are on wages or salary you will need to provide proof from IRD. You can download this online via the myIR website.
  • If you receive a Work and Income benefit or superannuation, council has access to the standard benefit information and you are not required to supply this.
  • If you receive any additional allowances to the benefit (e.g. accommodation supplement), you will need to provide this information. You will need to obtain this from Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ).
  • Please provide information on any in-work tax credits, minimum family tax credits and parental tax credits received. You will need to obtain this information from Inland Revenue.
  • Provide details of 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 gross interest and/or dividends earned.
  • Provide information for any rental income and/or shares or overseas benefits received.
  • If you are self-employed you will need to provide a full set of accounts for the business.
  • If someone else will be attending the appointment on your behalf, please ensure they bring a copy of the Power of Attorney giving them permission to represent you.

You may still be eligible, even if you and your spouse/partner's income is greater than the income abatement threshold.

Eligibility is based on your income level as well as the rates you pay and the number of dependents living with you.

Try the Rates Rebate Entitlement Calculator on the Department of Internal Affairs website to give you an indication of eligibility.

No. Ratepayers are only entitled to one rates rebate per rating year.

This is New Zealand wide. Therefore, if a customer owns a property in Tauranga and Rotorua and has applied for and been granted a rebate in Tauranga, they are not eligible to also apply for a rebate in Rotorua.

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