How to Pay Your Rates

You can pay your property and water rates in a variety of ways:

• Do it online by credit card or account-to-account transfer
• Cash, EFTPOS or credit card at Council service centres
• Direct debit
• Internet and phone banking

Due dates for rates instalments, 2024-25

Late payment penalties

Any part of the instalment that has not been paid by the due date will incur a 10 percent penalty. A further 10 percent penalty will be added on 1 October to any rates arrears as at 1 July that were unpaid on 30 September.

Discount for prompt payment

The Council sets a discount on an annual basis for ratepayers who pay the total rates levied on the rates assessment by the due date for the first instalment. The discount rate for 2024/25 is 2.5%.

Receive your invoices by email

We now offer digital invoices so you can receive your rates or water rates invoices by email. Opt-in to receive your invoices by email »

Rates Resolution for 2024/25

Our rates resolution outlines the setting and assessment of rates under the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002 for the 2024/25 financial year. Please note all figures are GST exclusive.

View the Rates Resolution for the period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025  - (PDF, 720 KB)

 Paying by cash, EFTPOS or credit card

Civic Offices (Commerce St, Whakatāne)

Pay by cash, EFTPOS, or credit card, and a receipt will be issued. 

Council Service Centre (Pine Drive, Murupara)

Pay by cash, EFTPOS, or credit card, and a receipt will be issued.

NZ Post Shops

Payments can be made using cash or EFTPOS at any Post Shop or Books and More outlets.

 Paying by Direct Debit

With this option, you are granting limited authority to the Council to debit your bank account on specific dates.

Direct debit payment options include:

• Weekly
  On a Thursday Council will deduct the required amount from your nominated bank account.
   
• Fortnightly
  On a Thursday, Council will deduct the required amount from your nominated bank account.
   
• Monthly
  On the 20th of each month, Council will deduct the required amount from your nominated bank account. If the 20th of the month falls on a non-business day, the payment will be processed the following business day.
   
• By Instalment
  The amount of the instalment due will be debited from your nominated bank account on the instalment due date.
   
• Annually
  This option takes your full yearly amount of rates out on the first instalment due date and allows you to take advantage of any discount offered.

How to set up direct debit

You can now sign up to pay your property and water rates by direct debit online.

You'll need your bank account details and valuation number from the front of your most recent rates invoice.

Online Direct Debit Payment Authority Form

Or, print out and complete a direct debit form, then send it to us at:

Whakatāne District Council
Private Bag 1002
Whakatāne 3158 

• Rates direct debit form - (PDF, 534 KB)
• Water rates direct debit form - (PDF, 154 KB)

Or you can email us, and we will send you a form.

Once we've received and processed your direct debit application, you'll receive a letter confirming your bank account details, commencement date and frequency of your payments.

Your rates invoice will inform you of your rates balance and the rates due dates.

On payment days, the agreed amount will be automatically deducted from your nominated bank account. All transactions will show on your bank statements.

We will amend the amounts debited from your account each year as the rates change to ensure that your rates are paid by the end of the rating year; you don’t need to do a thing. We’ll notify you of all rates changes in advance via your rates invoice.

Changing your direct debit

Once you are set up on direct debit, you can make changes by contacting us. The most common reasons for altering direct debits are:

• Change of bank account - even if only the suffix details are changing, a new direct debit form needs to be completed, signed and sent to us, no later than seven working days before the next payment is due.
• Cancelling a direct debit - contact us no later than four working days before the next payment is due.
• Changing the frequency of your payments - contact us and we can set up a new direct debit.

 Paying by Automatic Payment, Phone Banking and Internet Banking

You can pay your rates by automatic payment, phone banking or internet banking. It is your responsibility to ensure the full amount of the installment is paid by the due date.

Rates are generally struck by mid July each year. We recommend that you recalculate your payment at this time to ensure that you are paying the correct amount to clear your rates by due dates.

You can keep track of what you owe by checking your rates invoice each quarter when you receive it.

To set up an automatic payment

• Rates automatic payment form - (PDF, 157 KB)
• Water rates automatic payment form - (PDF, 157 KB)

Complete the automatic payment form above, then send the completed and signed form to your bank.

Whakatāne District Council banking details:

The information you need to enter, which will appear on our bank statement:

Please indicate if you are paying for rates or water rates. This information is required to ensure that the payment is credited to the correct rates account.

It is important that your valuation number is entered in the "Code" area as shown above. This can be found on the top right-hand corner of your rates invoice.

The valuation number relates to the property, so if you sell and purchase a new property, the valuation number needs to be changed before you next pay rates.

Find out more

To find out more, contact our Rates team online or phone 07 306 0500.