Modest home with a Capital Value (CV or RV) of $710k:

In less than 9 years time, you will need to find (at minimum) an extra $4,000 per year, just to pay your rates – can you afford that?

Current Rates bill         – $3,772

Forecast 2025/26         – $4,217

Forecast 2026/27         – $4,692

Forecast 2027/28         – $5,174

Forecast 2028/29         – $5,554

Forecast 2029/30         – $5,938

Forecast 2030/31         – $6,379

Forecast 2031/32         – $6,807

Forecast 2032/33         – $7,275

Forecast 2033/34         – $7,812

Middle of the road home with a Capital Value (CV or RV) of $1.17m:

In less than 9 years time, you will need to find (at minimum) an extra $6,000 per year, just to pay your rates – can you afford that?

Current Rates bill         – $5,859

Forecast 2025/26         – $6,552

Forecast 2026/27         – $7,291

Forecast 2027/28         – $8,037

Forecast 2028/29         – $8,613

Forecast 2029/30         – $9,188

Forecast 2030/31         – $9,852

Forecast 2031/32         – $10,487

Forecast 2032/33         – $11,181

Forecast 2033/34         – $11,980

Inner City home with a Capital Value (CV or RV) of $1.78m:

In less than 9 years time, you will need to find (at minimum) an extra $9,000 per year, just to pay your rates – can you afford that?

Current Rates bill         – $8,627

Forecast 2025/26         – $9,649

Forecast 2026/27         – $10,737

Forecast 2027/28         – $11,835

Forecast 2028/29         – $12,668

Forecast 2029/30         – $13,497

Forecast 2030/31         – $14,456

Forecast 2031/32         – $15,367

Forecast 2032/33         – $16,360

Forecast 2033/34         – $17,508

High end home with a Capital Value (CV or RV) of $2.38m:

In less than 9 years time, you will need to find (at minimum) an extra $11,000 per year, just to pay your rates – can you afford that?

Current Rates bill         – $11,349

Forecast 2025/26         – $12,694

Forecast 2026/27         – $14,127

Forecast 2027/28         – $15,570

Forecast 2028/29         – $16,657

Forecast 2029/30         – $17,736

Forecast 2030/31         – $18,985

Forecast 2031/32         – $20,167

Forecast 2032/33         – $21,455

Forecast 2033/34         – $22,945

Assumptions and notes:

• Rates and Water are split in 2025/2026. Their combined bills result in the above forecasted increases, based on the pre Dec’24 LTP & LTP amendment Mar-Apr’25.
• The forecasted rates and water charges in the LTP are accurate. Note: The forecasted increases for years 5 to 10 in LTPs are typically always lower than realty, so above forecasts are likely low.
• Water is implemented under the preferred WCC Option 1 of “Multi-council owned” model – blue line on the graph on Pg 64 of the WCC LTP Amendment & Consultation Document 20 March–21 April 2025.
• The same % of rent is used to pay rates each year. % of Rent = Annual Rates / Annual rent paid
• If the rents are not increased to maintain % of rents to rates, then Landlords will have to pay a higher % of the rents to WCC. Resulting cases where over 30% of rents going to WCC, leaving less for Insurance, mortgage, maint. & other expenses. Private rentals may fold.
• The Sludge levy has been maintained at 1.6% for next 9 years, as it is unlikely be removed from the overall rates bill (call me cynical) now that it has been implemented.
• *NB: Some properties do not pay a Group 1 (G1) Sludge levy (so their Rates bill may be slight lower ~ $100), some rates change slightly with residential differentials – for example if the don’t have streetlighting or footpaths and a few other rural things.
• A drop in CV next year will not result in a reduction of your Rates bill (& unless your drop is significantly more than others), as WCC will adjust figures to ensure they their overall Rates income still matches their forecasted income.
• The WCC’s online site (https://services.wellington.govt.nz/property-search/ ) for looking up CVs does not handle multi-dwell properties well (re: houses split into multi entities – flats or apartment buildings).
• These are estimates and should be seen as “indicative”. They are based on the above-mentioned sources and are subject to change.