Minister Must Review Auckland Rates
ACT New Zealand Finance Spokesman Rodney Hide today welcomed the news that Local Government Minister Hon Chris Carter
was considering a ministerial review of Auckland's massive rate rise, which is causing such hardship and pain for
working families and pensioners.
"The Minister should do the review. He cannot sit on the sideline and wash his hands of the fate of ratepayers.
"On 30 June 2003, he promised New Zealanders that his new Local Government Act 2002 would `make it harder for councils
to increase rates without good reason'.
"He made the promise. He must now review what has happened. He should include in the review my proposal to cap the rate
increases that local councils can impose," Mr Hide said.