Understanding your Rates

Rates are an annual charge against a property set by Council in July of each year. Rates help us to fund the services we provide. 

Rates are based on:

• the use of the property (e.g. residential/commercial),
• the rating valuation of the property,
• the number of Separately Used or Inhabited Parts (SUIPs) of the property,
• the availability of services to the property (e.g. water, wastewater, refuse collection), and
• the location of the property if it is commercial (i.e. in the CBD or outside of the CBD).

Different rates apply to the following different categories:

• Residential
• Commercial (outside of the CBD)
• BID commercial (in the CBD)
• Other 
• Service use (church/educational/community)
• Sporting/cultural

Your rates support a number of services essential to keep residents in Central Hawke's Bay healthy, safe and happy, including:

• water management
• transport
• rubbish and recycling
• district planning and safety 
• burials and cemeteries 
• democracy 
• parks and recreation 
• arts and community groups.

A visual breakdown of what your rates fund is included in your rates invoice. We have included a copy of a rates invoice here so that you can see what all the figures mean.

Rates are invoiced in four instalments for the financial year that begins 1 July and ends 30 June the following year.

You can choose to receive your rates invoice by email and you can pay your rates by direct debit, credit card, internet banking or in person. 

You can choose to receive your Central Hawke’s Bay District Council rates and your Hawke’s Bay Regional Council rates invoices via email by signing up for eNotices. eNotices allows you to self-manage your properties, send notices to multiple email addresses and print additional copies.

Receive your rates invoices by email by signing up here.

You can pay your rates in quarterly instalments each August, November, February and May, or annually in full. Paying by direct debit also allows you to pay in weekly, fortnightly or monthly instalments. The full amount is detailed on the invoice to 30 June and will include any outstanding rates and penalties.

Pay your rates by the due date to avoid penalties. Your invoice will be posted or emailed around four to five weeks before they’re due.

Click here to choose from a selection of payment methods.