NoMoreRates.com
THE nationwide CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF COUNCIL RATES WITH A FAIRER SYSTEM INCLUDING RESTRAINTS ON
COUNCILS ABILITY TO INCREASE EXPENDITURE WITHOUT THE SPECIFIC APPROVAL OF THE COMMUNITY
www.NoMoreRates.com
16 November 2006
MEDIA RELEASE
Opposition to Bed and Airport Taxes, to Pay for World Cup Stadium, Will Put Pressure Straight Back on Residential
Ratepayers
While it is not surprising that the Travel industry should oppose any new taxes on their businesses, that industry must
accept that it is their businesses which stand to gain financially from visitors to major events at a stadium.
Those same visitors, especially in large numbers, add pressure on to the local infrastructure which has largely been
paid for by residential ratepayers.
Travellers out of Sydney are taxed at the airport to pay for that city’s Olympic Stadium at Homebush – surely New
Zealand can do the same.
The government has already signalled it expects local government to make a reasonable contribution to the cost of a
Waterfront stadium.
A higher level of contribution would reportedly be required for an Eden Park upgrade.
To avoid imposing a greater burden on ratepayers the government has offered to introduce bed taxes and airport taxes
which would be made available to local councils.
The alternative to such taxes is likely to mean hefty council rates increases on top of the already high increases
forecast for the next ten years.
It is grossly unfair to expect residential ratepayers to pay for venues for professional sport and commercial
entertainment – especially when the amount each ratepayer would contribute is calculated on the value of their homes.
ENDS