Rates FAQ

ORC is our region’s lead organisation for environmental management. We set environmental policies and rules to protect Otago’s water, land and air. We also respond to pollution events and take a lead role in pest management. We have an active role in minimising risks from natural hazards, making sure you’re safe when on the water along our coast and on our lakes and rivers, and we provide public transport in Dunedin and Queenstown. We also provide support to community groups for environmental enhancement.

District and city councils focus on infrastructure like three waters (drinking water, storm water and wastewater) libraries, roads, parks and recreational facilities.

Yes. All property owners in Otago pay rates to ORC separately from the rates they pay to their local city or district council.

If you would like to know the options for how to pay your rates view our ways to pay your rates page.

The uniform rate is charged per property regardless of current value. 

Capital value, or CV, is the amount of rate calculated against the property's current capital value. Capital value is the value of your property including improvements as at 30 June.

We get most of our information from Quotable Value New Zealand (QVNZ).

All Otago local councils use QVNZ to maintain the District Valuation Roll. This provides an efficient one-stop source of information on Otago properties. Properties in each district are valued by QVNZ every three years.

Your annual rates assessment is sent out in September each year, with full payment due on the 31 October unless you have a formal alternative arrangement in place (such as a direct debit).

You are able to set up a direct debit with us and in doing so, it allows you to pay in instalments during the year. ORC has the following direct debit options:

• Annual
• Monthly
• Fortnightly
• Weekly
• Tri-annually

You can set up a direct debit online.

If you’re unable to set up a direct debit option and are experiencing financial hardship and having difficulties paying your rates, please get in touch with our rates team to discuss options. You can do this by calling 0800 474 082 or emailing rates.queries@orc.govt.nz.

If you do not pay your rates by the due date and you do not have an alternative payment option in place with us, then a 10% penalty will apply to unpaid rate balances on 1 November. A further 10% penalty will be applied to all rates from previous financial years unpaid on 1 May 2024.

Find out more about the different ways to pay your rates.

Not necessarily. It depends on how much the property value has increased. If your property value increase is the same as the average property increase in the district, then your rates will not be affected.

However, if your property value has increased substantially more than the average, then your rates may have increased to reflect this.

You can apply for the refund online through our property search.

Alternatively, you can apply for a refund by downloading the form, filling it out, and returning the completed form to our rates team (rates.queries@orc.govt.nz)

If you would like to suppress your name and address from the rating information database, you will need to complete the ‘Suppress your name and postal address’ form.
You can either complete this online via our property search, or download the form and return it to our rates team via post or email.

Additional details about the rates foundation and policies can be found in the latest version of the Long-term Plan or Annual Plan.

Otago Regional Council uses property records held by your district or city council. If you’ve changed your postal address, contact your local council with the new details. They will notify us of the change. Please see below for the contact details for local councils in the Otago region.

Dunedin City Council: (03) 477 4000
Queenstown Lakes District Council: (03) 441 0499 
Clutha District Council: (03) 419 0200
Waitaki District Council: (03) 433 0300
Central Otago District Council: (03) 440 0056

ORC is still able to change mailing addresses directly. You can either go into any of our offices to speak with a Customer Representative or email us: customer.services@orc.govt.nz.

If you feel you have been charged a late payment penalty in error, you can complete our Penalty Waiver form.

Here’s how to access the form:

• Online: You can access the form here, by first entering your property details, and then selecting ‘Penalty Waiver request’ from the list of forms.
• Hard copy: Please call our Customer Team on 0800 474 082 if you would like a hard copy form posted out to you – or come in to see us at our customer service points in Dunedin and Queenstown.