11 June 2025 

Questions and Answers from the webinar Tuesday 27 May 2025

The webinar questions, answers and slides are now available from the electronic Rebate Management System (eRMS) under the 'publication' tab.

New forms effective from 1 July 2025 

Available on eRMS under the 'Publication' tab are the following, effective from 1 July 2025: 

• Application form for downloading from the govt.nz website. The printed version of the rates rebate application form will be available from Bluestar https://portal.bluestar.co.nz/WebForm/DEPINT?form=Stationery&
• Refund request
• Adjustment request
• Effective from 1 July 2025 - spreadsheet specifications.

Continue following the current processes and using the existing forms until 30 June 2025.

Key transitional dates

Refer to our Rates Rebates Update Newsletter of 22 May 2025 for more information about the changes for the 2025 rating year.

The key dates are:

30 June 2025

• Access to eRMS is changed to read-only
• Last day to submit batches of claims in eRMS.

1 July 2025

• New criteria for eligibility for rates rebates 
• New ratepayer application form can be ordered via the Bluestar portal along with the poster and flyer
• Rebate online estimate calculator will be available at www.govt.nz/rates-rebates
• New process to revoke a claim already paid to council
• Batches submitted in eRMS will be paid during July 2025 and eRMS remains available to look up the invoice as normal. 

August 2025

• Within 5 working days after 31 July 2025, the council submits a request to refund claims granted in July 2025.

Council support 

Council support for difficult enquiries not covered in the handbook or questions about the new 1 July 2025-onwards process should be emailed to: 

support@ratesrebates.govt.nz.

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