Post by Kiwi Frontline on Feb 11, 2016 16:35:25 GMT 12
Ratings Changes to Encourage Māori Land Development
Cabinet has agreed to provide local Councils with more workable and equitable tools to deal with issues around the rating of unused and unoccupied Māori land.
Local councils already have the ability to remit rates on general and Māori land. However this proposed change clarifies the law around the rating of unoccupied and unused Māori land.
The changes will provide councils the ability to remove rates arrears on unoccupied and unused Māori land where there is:
• a demonstrable commitment to use or occupy land;
• there is little prospect of the land ever being used or occupied.
Other changes include the removal of a two hectare non-rating limit for marae and urupā (burial grounds), and that Māori land subject to Ngā Whenua Rahui covenants will not be rated. This brings the rates for Māori land use of this nature in line with similar uses of general land including the non-rating of churches, cemeteries and QEII covenanted land.
A new approach to the valuation of Māori land for rating purposes will also be developed…..
www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1602/S00145/ratings-changes-to-encourage-maori-land-development.htm
Cabinet has agreed to provide local Councils with more workable and equitable tools to deal with issues around the rating of unused and unoccupied Māori land.
Local councils already have the ability to remit rates on general and Māori land. However this proposed change clarifies the law around the rating of unoccupied and unused Māori land.
The changes will provide councils the ability to remove rates arrears on unoccupied and unused Māori land where there is:
• a demonstrable commitment to use or occupy land;
• there is little prospect of the land ever being used or occupied.
Other changes include the removal of a two hectare non-rating limit for marae and urupā (burial grounds), and that Māori land subject to Ngā Whenua Rahui covenants will not be rated. This brings the rates for Māori land use of this nature in line with similar uses of general land including the non-rating of churches, cemeteries and QEII covenanted land.
A new approach to the valuation of Māori land for rating purposes will also be developed…..
www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1602/S00145/ratings-changes-to-encourage-maori-land-development.htm