Otaki TodayWhile Kāpiti ratepayers are up in arms about an expected average rates increase of 17 percent, Ōtaki is likely to be hit much harder.
Kāpiti Coast District Council’s draft Long-term Plan suggests an average rise of 23.9 percent for Ōtaki, the highest of any area in the district. Only the rural rate increase – at 26.5 percent – is higher. The lowest proposed increase is for Paekākāriki at 17.3 percent.
The big proposed increase for Ōtaki is because Ōtaki has had significant rises for land values in the past year.
“We have done districtwide property revaluations in 2023, which take effect from 1 July 2024,” a council spokesperson told Ōtaki Today.
“As can be seen from the table [above], Otaki had significant increases (well above average) to land values, which will be impacting on the higher average rates increases for Otaki properties.”
The draft Long-Term Plan showed the median capital value of an Ōtaki property was $560,000 and land value $300,000. Current median rates are $3189 a year and proposed rates $3951 – an increase of $762. Some rates for individual properties will be higher, some lower.
The dollar amount increase is the highest across the region – except commercial, which has an annual increase of $1083. However, the total annual rates paid, at $3951, would still be the lowest in the region (except for rural ratepayers).
The council has completed a month of consultation with the community and had hearings on May 2. It will deliberate and adopt the fees and charges for 2024-25 on May 23 and adopt the Long-term Plan for 2024-2034 on June 27.
This Kāpiti Coast District Council table (below) shows the property value increases for areas throughout the district. Ōtaki rural (27.6 percent) and Ōtaki Central show the biggest increases. For more information on valuations, see kapiticoast.govt.nz
