We want to be transparent with our ratepayers about an issue that affected how General Rates were calculated for the 2025/26 rating year, what it means for you, and how we are fixing it.

What happened?

In December 2025, a concern was raised after rates revenue was tracking higher than expected. This happened due to the way Council loaded updated property valuations (supplied by Quotable Value (QV) into its rating system.

While residents’ rates bills included the updated property valuations, the way in which the Council calculated the General Rate factor did not include the updated property valuation.

You can read more in our media release here. You can see the Council report here where the Council considered how to remediate the issue.

As a result, some ratepayers were charged more than they should have been, through instalments 1, 2, and 3 of the 2025/26 rating year.

  • Most residential properties were overcharged by an average $85 for the full year, and
  • Rural properties, which generally experienced larger valuation increases, were overcharged by an average $500 for the full year.

The exact amount varies by property.

What do I need to do?

You don’t need to take any action.

The Council will correct the overcharges by applying a credit adjustment to your rates account. This means that if your account was affected, you’ll see a lower amount due for instalment 4 of the 2025/26 rating year.

  • Instalments 1, 2 and 3 will remain the same on your invoice
  • Instalment 4 will be adjusted to include a credit that offsets any overcharges from earlier instalments

Sold your property during the rating year?

If you have sold your property during the rating year (from 1 July 2025), you will need to complete the 'Rates remediation due to sale of property, partway through the year’ form here. You can also download a printed form here.

I have more questions. Who can I contact?

Read our frequently asked questions below. If you need more information you can call 0800 SELWYN (735 996) or email ratesremediation@selwyn.govt.nz.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the issue about?

An issue was identified in how General Rates were calculated for the 2025/26 rating year after updated property valuations were loaded into Council’s rating system.

When was the issue identified?

The issue was identified in December 2025 when rates revenue was tracking higher than expected.

What caused the issue? 

The Council loaded updated property valuations (supplied by Quotable Value (QV)) into its rating system. While residents’ rates bills include the updated property valuations, the way in which we calculated the General Rate factor did not include the updated property valuation.

Who was affected?

Some ratepayers were overcharged through instalments 1, 2 and 3 of the 2025/26 rating year.

How much were people overcharged?

For most residential properties the full year impact is an average of $85. For rural properties it’s an average of $500. The exact amount varies by property.

What is Council doing to fix this?

Council is correcting the overcharges by applying a credit adjustment to affected rates accounts.

When will customers see the adjustment?

The credit will be applied to instalment 4 of the 2025/26 rating year.

Will earlier instalments be reissued?

No. Instalments 1, 2 and 3 will remain the same. The credit will appear in instalment 4.

What year does this effect? 

This issue only effects the 2025/26 rating year.

Do I need to do anything? 

No. The adjustment will be made automatically.

See examples below:

I sold my property during the rating year. How do I receive my share of the adjustment?

Please complete the ‘Rates remediation due to sale of property, partway through the year’ form here. You can also download a printed form here.

How was the General Rate factor calculated? 

For the whole year, your General Rate is calculated by your CV multiplied by a General Rate factor. We calculate the General Rate factor by figuring out what our total General Rate requirement is, then we divide this by the total CV of all properties in the district. We did not update the total revaluation CV in this calculation.

Will I get interest on the rates overcharge? 

The Council has decided not to apply interest to these credits. While ratepayers were temporarily overcharged, the amount of interest that would apply to each account would be very small. Adding interest would also require a separate and complex calculation process, increasing administration time and the risk of further errors.

Instead, Council is focusing on correcting the overcharges accurately and efficiently by applying a credit to instalment 4, which fully offsets the earlier overcharge.

How can Council ensure this won’t happen again?

Council has reviewed the rating calculation process and strengthened checks to ensure required safeguards in the Financial Strategy are applied in future rating years.

I have a periodic direct debit (weekly, fortnightly or monthly). When will my deduction change?

Once instalment 4 is loaded to your rates account and the remediation work is complete, your direct debit will be recalculated. We will provide at least 10 calendar days’ notice before the new deduction amount takes effect. We expect this to occur in early May 2026.

I pay my rates by automatic payments. What do I need to do?

You don’t need to do anything. Automatic payments will continue as usual. Any overcharge/credit will be reflected through the instalment 4 adjustment.

How will I be notified of my instalment 4 amount due on 15 June 2026?

You’ll be notified in the way in which you normally receive your rates, either email or post.

I paid my rates in full for the year. Will I receive a refund?

The overcharge will show as a credit on your rates account. This can be used against future rates invoices.

I paid my rates in full due to subdividing my property. What happens to my credit?

This will be refunded as part of Council’s standard yearend process for subdivided properties. We will be in touch with the owners of the subdivided properties in June.

I pay reserve rates on leased land. How am I affected?

If you are invoiced quarterly, instalment 4 will include the adjustment. If you are invoiced annually, your account will show a credit that can be offset or refunded on request. Ownership changes will be assessed case by case.

What impact does this have on my rates rebate? 

There will be no impact on the Rates Rebate (DIA) applied on your property.

How can I see my instalment 4 amount?

All four instalments will be shown on your rates invoice on 15 June 2026. You can compare instalment 1, 2, and 3, with instalment 4 to see the adjustment.

Why does my invoice show an amount due that is higher than the instalment 4 amount?

This is likely to be because you have purchased this property partway through the rating year. The difference has been paid to the old owners, for the time when they were the owners of the property.

Why have my revised direct debit payments changed?Why have my revised direct debit payments changed?

If your revised direct debit payments have decreased, this is due to the correction for the overcharge. If your revised direct debit payment has increased, this may be due to:

  • One or more previous direct debit payments were dishonoured because insufficient funds were available at the time of payment; and/or
  • Changes to refuse, organic, or recycling bin charges where an additional bin was ordered, swapped, or replaced during the rating year