Post by Kiwi Frontline on Aug 22, 2018 17:29:14 GMT 12
FAR NORTH COUNCIL AIMS TO RECOUP $20M UNPAID RATES FROM MĀORI LAND OWNERS
Far North District Council has set up a dedicated unit to work with Māori freehold landowners in a bid to recoup more than $20 million unpaid rates.
The total rates debt on Māori freehold land from 2013 to 2018 is $20.9m owed by 2060 accounts.
Because much of the land is of poor quality, unoccupied and landlocked, along with the issue of collective ownership, the council is working with Māori to develop their land to generate income to repay the debt.
Treaty lawyer Season-Mary Downs, from Tukau Law and Consultancy, said addressing rating issues would be difficult as there were "a lot of historical issues" that must be taken into account.
Only 5 per cent of land in New Zealand is Māori land, and there needed to be "careful consideration about if and how it is rated", she said.
"It's not just a rating issue, it's a Treaty and a partnership issue," Downs said.
"Any regime created must consider Treaty issues as well as the Treaty partnership......
www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/northland/106407605/far-north-council-aims-to-recoup-20m-unpaid-rates-from-maori-land-owners?cid=app-iPad
Far North District Council has set up a dedicated unit to work with Māori freehold landowners in a bid to recoup more than $20 million unpaid rates.
The total rates debt on Māori freehold land from 2013 to 2018 is $20.9m owed by 2060 accounts.
Because much of the land is of poor quality, unoccupied and landlocked, along with the issue of collective ownership, the council is working with Māori to develop their land to generate income to repay the debt.
Treaty lawyer Season-Mary Downs, from Tukau Law and Consultancy, said addressing rating issues would be difficult as there were "a lot of historical issues" that must be taken into account.
Only 5 per cent of land in New Zealand is Māori land, and there needed to be "careful consideration about if and how it is rated", she said.
"It's not just a rating issue, it's a Treaty and a partnership issue," Downs said.
"Any regime created must consider Treaty issues as well as the Treaty partnership......
www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/northland/106407605/far-north-council-aims-to-recoup-20m-unpaid-rates-from-maori-land-owners?cid=app-iPad