A Stewart Island landowner has been trying to fight a 500 percent rates hike - from $348.68 to $1743.95 in a single year.
On the other end of the country, Auckland councillors agreed to send an invoice to the Government for a GST refund on council rates and new-build houses.
Local Government New Zealand says Councils' share of overall tax revenue has remained at two percent of GDP for the last fifty years, despite ever-increasing responsibilities.
So what are the alternatives? More of the GST take? Land value-based rather than capital? Or a completely new system altogether?
Chief Economist at The New Zealand Initiative and regular Nights contributor Eric Crampton joins Emile Donovan.
A street view of the empty section taken in 2015. In an email sent to the council, the land owner said the section had not been altered: "no buildings, no caravan, nothing" Photo: Google Maps
