About rates FAQs

Rates help pay for the work we are required to do on your behalf for your region.

There may be a mix of different types of rates, including general rates which are calculated by your property’s land value, and targeted rates which are based on location and the benefit you might receive from the service they are used to fund.

Because of how your rates are calculated, it’s likely that the cost of rates you are required to pay will be different from your neighbour, or someone living in a different part of the region.

The location of your property, the property size and land value are the key factors in assessing how much rates you pay.

Throughout New Zealand, regional councils and city / district councils, collect rates to help fund the different work they’re required to do by law.  

Your Regional Council rates help fund the services and work we deliver across the region.

This includes activities such as:

• Managing the environment and natural resources
• Providing flood protection and drainage infrastructure
• Supporting public transport services
• Delivering biosecurity, land management, and regional planning

These services are planned through our Long Term Plan (10 years) and Annual Plan, which set out what work will be delivered and how it will be funded.

You can find out more about the work we do and how you can have a say in that work.

There are seven city/district councils in the Bay of Plenty, which include:

• Tauranga City Council,
• Western Bay of Plenty District Council,
• Kawerau District Council,
• Rotorua District Council,
• Ōpōtiki District Council,
• Whakatāne District Council and,
• a small part of Taupō District Council’s area.

Your city/district council provides the services you use day to day. This includes quality drinking water, wastewater and stormwater, roads and rubbish collection, as well as providing community facilities such as parks, cycleways, community halls, libraries, swimming pools and sports fields.

For more information about your city or district council and the work they do, see here.

We use a Revenue and Financing Policy to determine how each activity is funded, as required by the Local Government Act 2002.

When deciding how to fund services, we consider:

• Who benefits — the whole community, specific groups, or individual properties
• When benefits occur — now or over the longer term
• Whether costs should be shared through rates, fees, or other funding sources
• The overall impact on fairness, transparency, and affordability

This helps ensure costs are allocated in a way that is balanced and appropriate for the type of service being delivered.

The work Regional Council carries out is set out under several pieces of legislation, including the Local Government Act 2002, Resource Management Act 1991, and Biosecurity Act 1993.

Every year councils go through an annual planning process to set out what they plan to do in the next 12 months, to meet the requirements of these pieces of legislation. Every third year this planning takes a long term approach setting out a work programme for the next 10 years.

The community plays an important role in shaping this work. You can have your say by:

• Participating in consultations and submissions on plans and projects
• Sign up at participate.boprc.govt.nz keep informed about opportunities to have your say about our work
• Speaking to your councillors about what we’re doing in your rohe
• Keep an eye on our website for opportunities to get involved and provided feedback on our work

Your feedback helps inform decisions about what services are delivered and how they are funded.

General rates fund services that benefit the entire region.

They are typically based on your property’s land value, as many Regional Council activities (such as environmental management) influence the value and use of land over time.

The Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC) is a fixed charge applied equally to every property. It ensures that all properties contribute the same base amount toward services that benefit everyone, regardless of value or location.

Together, general rates and the UAGC help spread costs fairly across the region.

Targeted rates are used to fund specific services or activities.

Even if you don’t personally use a service, you may still benefit from it indirectly. For example, Emergency management services support community safety during events and public transport reduces traffic and congestion across the region.

Targeted rates are applied based on:

• Location (where the service is provided)
• Level of benefit received
• The type of service or infrastructure involved

They may be:

• A fixed charge per property, or
• Set using different categories (differentials), where properties that receive greater benefit contribute more

This means two properties in the same scheme may pay different amounts depending on their level of service or exposure to risk.

You can see what targeted rates you pay on your rates assessment where these are itemised. 

Targeted rates support a range of important services across the Bay of Plenty, including:

• Rivers, drainage and flood protection - managing flood risk and drainage networks
• Passenger transport – providing public transport services and accessible travel options across the region.
• Rotorua Lakes – Supports the sustainable management of the land and water.  
• Regional safety and rescue services – including Surf Lifesaving, Coastguard, Land Search and Rescue (LSAR), St Johns, and Rescue Helicopters. The rate is for each area is different, based on the range of safety and rescue services that are most relevant in each area.
• Civil Defence Emergency Management – ensures that a response is coordinated, and communities are supported in emergencies.
• Rotorua Air – Clean Heat – supporting cleaner home heating in the Rotorua Air Shed area

Each targeted rate applies based on where you live, and the services provided in your area.

Our work is funded by a mix of rates, fees, charges, grants and investment income. Council owns an investment company called Quayside Holdings Limited which has a majority shareholding in the Port of Tauranga. 

You can see a breakdown of this income and how it is allocated by viewing our Annual Plan and Long Term Plan on our website.

Rivers and drainage schemes help protect communities from flooding and manage land drainage across the region. They reduce the risk of damage to homes, farmland, roads, and essential infrastructure, and support safer, more resilient communities.

These schemes include flood protection and drainage assets such as stopbanks, floodwalls, pump stations, floodgates, drains, and riverbank protection works. Together, they help manage flood flows, reduce erosion, and control water levels in low‑lying areas.

Across the region, rivers and drainage schemes provide direct protection and drainage benefits to more than 54,000 properties, while also delivering wider community and economic benefits.

Find out more about flood protection around the rohe here.

Rivers and drainage activities are planned through the Rivers and Drainage Asset Management Plan (AMP). The AMP takes a long‑term view (around 50 years) and sets out how assets will be maintained, renewed, and upgraded over time to meet legislative requirements and agreed service levels.

The AMP informs the Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP) and Annual Plan, which determine what work is delivered each year and how it is funded.

Funding comes from:

• General rates, which reflect the region‑wide benefits of flood protection and river management, and
• Targeted rates, paid by properties within specific rivers or drainage schemes that receive direct protection or drainage services.

If your property is within a scheme, you pay a targeted rate for the additional benefits provided.

Rivers and drainage targeted rates are based on the level of benefit your property receives from flood protection and drainage services.

There are four major rivers scheme targeted rating areas in our region, these are:

• Kaituna Catchment Control
• Rangitāiki-Tarawera
• Whakatāne-Tauranga
• Waioeka-Otara

 And one major drainage scheme covering the Rangitāiki Plains area.

There are also 39 minor drainage and pumping schemes on the Rangitāiki Plains and Ōpōtiki area.

Rates vary between schemes due to differences in operating and maintenance costs, the size and complexity of the scheme, and the number of properties sharing those costs.

In the Rangitāiki Plains area, it is common for properties to contribute to three separate schemes (i.e. the Rangitāiki-Tarawera Rivers Scheme, the Rangitāiki Drainage Scheme and one of the minor pumping schemes).

Within each scheme, land is grouped into different rating classifications (differentials). Theses classifications are determined by the following factors:

• Whether your property is low‑lying or elevated
• Its flood and drainage risk
• The type and extent of infrastructure required to protect or service it

Properties that face higher flood risk or rely more heavily on scheme infrastructure receive a higher level of service and are therefore assigned a higher targeted rate.

You may pay more than one targeted rate if:

• Your property receives different types of services
• Your land spans multiple areas or classifications
• Your property is part of more than one scheme

For some of the Rivers and Drainage Scheme targeted rates, there can be two components, which is made up of:

• The ‘Area’ component is based on where the land is situated and is calculated using the area of land within the rating unit.
• The ‘Unit’ component is a fixed charge that all property owners will pay based on where the land is situated and the level of benefit received.

Public transport provides benefits to the whole community, even if you don’t regularly use the bus. It helps reduce traffic congestion, lowers emissions, and makes roads safer and less crowded. It also supports the local economy by enabling people to travel to work, education, and services.

Last year, more than 3.4 million passenger trips were made across the region, meaning significantly fewer private vehicle journeys on our roads. A well-functioning public transport system improves overall quality of life by keeping communities connected and accessible.

Public transport is funded through a mix of rates, bus fares, advertising revenue, and central government subsidies. Concession fares are also provided to some customers, with partial government funding to offset those costs.

Public transport rates reflect the cost of providing safe, reliable, and accessible transport services across the region.

The main factors that influence these costs include:

• Operating costs, such as fuel, labour, and maintenance
• Network coverage and service levels, including the frequency and reach of routes
• Population growth and demand for services
• Government funding levels and subsidies
• Investment in improvements, such as new services, technology, or infrastructure

Because these factors vary across the region, the impact on individual properties can differ depending on where you live and the services provided in your area.

We regularly review and adjust services to ensure they remain cost‑effective and aligned with community needs. This includes

• Using passenger data and feedback to refine routes and service levels
• Applying technology such as real‑time tracking and electronic ticketing
• Working closely with operators to manage costs while maintaining reliable services

This approach helps balance affordability with maintaining a transport network that supports connected, accessible communities.

Bus services are designed to provide consistent and reliable coverage across the region, including during quieter times of the day. While some buses may appear empty at certain times, most operating costs are fixed, so reducing services wouldn’t result in significant savings and could impact community access.

You may also see buses marked “Not in Service”, which are repositioning between routes or allowing for required driver breaks to keep services running safely and efficiently.

Standard-sized buses are used because they are better suited to peak demand and future growth. Smaller vehicles have similar operating costs, but we are exploring more flexible options such as on‑demand services in some areas.

We are also working to reduce environmental impacts. Current diesel buses meet Euro‑5 emissions standards, and electric buses are already operating in Tauranga. Looking ahead, we plan to transition to a fully zero‑emission urban bus fleet by 2035, in line with government direction.

If you have feedback or need to report an issue, you can contact us through our website  or call 0800 4 BAYBUS (0800 4 229 287). Providing details like the date, time, location, and route helps us respond more effectively.

Quayside Holdings Limited (Quayside) is an investment company that Bay of Plenty Regional Council owns.

It manages a range of investments on behalf of the community, including a majority shareholding in the Port of Tauranga and other regional developments.

Income from these investments (dividends) is returned to the Regional Council and used to help fund services such as environmental management and infrastructure.

This means the Council can deliver services while reducing the amount that needs to be collected from ratepayers, providing long‑term financial stability and better value for the community.

Each year, the dividend received from Quayside is used to reduce the amount of general rates required to fund Council activities.

The reduction shown on your rates invoice reflects your share of this benefit. In simple terms:

• The Council calculates how much funding is needed
• The Quayside dividend is applied to reduce that total
• The remaining amount is what needs to be collected through rates

If Council did not receive this dividend, your overall rates would be higher.

This reduction is applied before your rates are confirmed, so it has already been taken into account in the amount you are charged.

The Quayside dividend is applied to general rates so that all ratepayers benefit.

Targeted rates are only charged to properties that receive specific services in certain locations (for example, rivers or drainage schemes). Because these services don’t apply to everyone, the dividend is not used to reduce targeted rates.

The reduction also cannot be paid out separately (for example, as a refund), as it has already been applied before calculating your rates.