Rates Rebates

If you’re a low-to-middle income homeowner, you might be eligible for a rates rebate – a partial refund on your rates bill, based on your household income and rates amount.

You can  learn more and check if you're eligible on the New Zealand Government website.


Annual Process for Rates Rebates

Each year, new rates are set in July and direct debits are updated to match.  From 1 August, you can pick up a rates rebate application form at any Council Service Centre, the New Zealand Government website, or by mail if you received a rebate last year.

Applications can be submitted any time between 1 August 2025 and 30 June 2026, but if you apply by 19 September and your rebate is approved, you’ll go in the draw to win a $100 New World voucher.  

Once your application is returned, we assess it. If approved, the rebate is applied to your account and your direct debit is reduced.  If it’s declined, your payments stay the same. In both cases, you’ll get a letter confirming the outcome.


Changes for this rating year (1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026)

Central Government sets the rules for who qualifies for a rates rebate - mainly based on your total household income. For the 2025/26 rating year, the income thresholds have increased, meaning more people may now qualify for a rebate, or be eligible for a larger rebate.

From 1 July 2025, the income thresholds to be eligible for the maximum rebate have increased to:

  • SuperGold Cardholders - $45,000
  • Non-SuperGold Cardholders - $32,210

The maximum rebate has also increased from $790 to $805.

Make sure you're using the updated application form for 2025/26 rating year.

Download an Application Form


Change to the way Council processes rebate applications

Starting 1 July 2025, Council will apply your rebate amount to your rates after you have applied and been approved for a rebate.

In the past, if you had received a rebate in previous years, Council assumed you would get one in the current year, and applied the rebate amount to the direct debit payments for the coming year.

If you pay your rates by direct debit, your direct debit payments will initially increase to cover your new rates amount for 2025/26.

After your rebate has been approved, Council will adjust your direct debit payments to take the rebate amount into account.

This change means you need to be prepared for the increase in your direct debit payments. The sooner your rebate application is approved, the sooner your direct debit payments will reduce.

When you're managing your own payments, you need to ensure you are paying each instalment in full by the instalment due date (otherwise, late penalties could apply):

Due Dates & Penalties | Tararua District Council

When you're managing your own payments, you need to ensure you are paying each instalment in full by the instalment due date (otherwise, late penalties could apply):

Due Dates & Penalties | Tararua District Council


Frequently asked questions

In the past, if you had received a rebate in previous years, Council assumed you would get one in the current year, and applied the rebate amount to the direct debit payments for the coming year.

In 2024, Council found and corrected an error that was causing some people who paid by direct debit and received rebates to have incorrect payments taken. This had been happening since 2018 so some had accrued a credit on their rates account, while others owed Council money.

To stop this from happening again, starting 1 July 2025, Council will only apply a rebate after you send and get approval for your rebate application – it won’t be automatic like before.

If you pay your rates by direct debit, your payments will initially increase to cover your new rates amount for 2025/26. This change means you need to be prepared for the increase in your direct debit payments.

Once your rebate has been approved, your direct debit payments will be adjusted to cover your reduced rates amount.

The deadline for a rebate application for the 2025/26 rating year is 30 June 2026.

The earlier you apply, the earlier we can process your application, apply your rebate to your rates account and adjust your direct debit payments to keep them as low as possible.

Applications received between 1 August and 19 September 2025 will go in the draw to win a $100 New World voucher (where a rebate is granted).

Yes.  The application deadline set by the Department of Internal Affairs is 30 June 2026.

Council is promoting 19 September a target date to get as many rebate applications submitted as possible so that we can help people who pay by direct debit keep their payments as low as possible, from as early as possible.

Once we receive your application, it could take us up to four weeks to process it, however we will do our best to process it sooner than that.

Once your rebate has been approved, we will adjust your direct debit payment in time for the next scheduled payment.   We will send you a letter confirming this change.

Your rebate application could be declined if you earn more than the threshold amount, if you have already received a rebate in the current rating year, or if you do not qualify for some other reason. If it is declined, we will contact you to let you know why.

From 1 July 2025, the maximum rebate amount is $805.

Even if you are not entitled to the full amount, you may get a partial rebate.

How much you actually get depends on your income, how much you pay in rates (to Tararua District Council and Horizons), and the number of dependents you have.

From 1 July 2025, the income thresholds to be eligible for the maximum rebate have increased from $31,510 to:

  • SuperGold Cardholders - $45,000
  • Non-SuperGold Cardholders - $32,210

Your rebate is based on your income in the previous rating year. This means that you will need to have received superannuation for a full 12 months before the SuperGold Card eligibility criteria kicks in.

You need to fill out a form authorising Council to make regular withdrawals from your bank account for the amount required to clear the rates up until the end of the rating year, at the specified frequency of either:

  • weekly or fortnightly payments (either a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday)
  • monthly payments on the 20th;
  • quarterly payments on the due date; or
  • annually on 31 August of that rating year.

Direct debit is the Council's preferred payment method. Please contact us for a form to be mailed to you or download below:

Direct Debit Authority Form (PDF file, 94.6 KB)

Council updates your direct debit payments at the beginning of a new rating year to cover your new rates amount.  We will send you a letter to let you know what the new payment amounts are at least 30 days before the change takes place.

If you wish to cancel or change the details of your direct debit, you can supply us with the details in writing or by email, or phone the Rates and Revenue Team on 06 374 4080 or 06 376 0110. We must have this notification at least one day before the direct debit is due to be actioned.

If you need to change your bank account details, you will need to complete a new direct debit form and return it to Council.

More information can be found on our How to Pay Your Rates webpage.

The most efficient way for council to communicate with you is by email.  If you have not already done so, please register to receive your rates by email.