3 June 2026

Income threshold and rebate amounts for the 2026 rating year

From 1 July 2026, the income threshold to be eligible for the maximum rebate for SuperGold Cardholders and their households will be raised from $45,000 to $46,400 and from $32,210 to $33,210 for every other ratepayer.

The maximum rebate will also increase from $805 to $830.

Read the press release 'Rate Rebate Scheme to assist ratepayers'.

Promotion of the rates rebates scheme

Recent publicity has increased awareness of the rates rebate scheme, and we hope this will encourage more ratepayers to apply.

The rates rebates scheme was promoted in the April 2026 edition of the Seniors Newsletter.

Radio New Zealand published an item on 12 May 2026 'More than 100,000 households claim rates help'.

Late 2025 rating year applications cannot be accepted

We cannot accept Rates rebate applications for the 2025 rating year received on or after 1 July 2026. The Rates Rebate Act 1973 does not allow any discretion to accept late applications.

The only exception is where there is clear evidence the application was posted 3 or more working days before 1 July 2026.

Late applicants should not be referred to the Department of Internal Affairs.

Preparation for the 2026 rating year

From 1 July 2026, and not earlier:

• Application forms for 2026 rating year can be downloaded by the public on the govt.nz website under Housing and property > Get financial help with housing > Get a rates rebate > Apply for a rates rebate: application forms.
• Councils can find the updated forms and handbook on www.dia.govt.nz/Rates-Rebates-Claims. The handbook will include the updated benefit amounts
• Councils can order the printed version of the rates rebate application through the Bluestar portal https://portal.bluestar.co.nz/WebForm/DEPINT?form=Stationery&. DLE size paper forms will be available from the Bluestar portal. 
• The rates rebate estimator calculator at www.govt.nz/rates-rebates will be modified for exact amounts from 1 July 2026. Councils can use this resource to calculate the rebate amounts for the 2026 rating year.

If your council would like the editable Adobe InDesign file for the 2026 rating year, email us at support@ratesrebates.govt.nz

Law changes affecting water charges

If water is charged separately from rates, those charges are added when calculating a rates rebate.

If the current year’s water charges are not known at the time of application, the previous rating year’s full water charges are used instead. Accounts must relate to the property being claimed for and be included with the application, unless the council can verify them another way. This applies even if the property changed ownership during the year.

Before and including 26 August 2025: Water and wastewater charges from council‑controlled organisations or contracted providers (such as Watercare) were not included as rates.

From 27 August 2025: Changes to the law mean water and wastewater charges set or collected under the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025 are now included as rates. This includes charges from Watercare and other water service providers, such as Tiaki Wai.

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