Would you like to receive your rates invoices by email? Whakatāne District Council has launched an e-invoice service to save money and save time. Anyone who signs up before 5 July will go in the draw to win one of a raft of locally-sourced prizes. Alongside this promotion, ratepayers can also use a new function to sign up for direct debit online and go in the draw to win grocery vouchers.
Whakatāne District Council CFO & GM Business Partnering, Rob Trass, says the move to digital invoices will benefit the Council and ratepayers.
"Sending rates and water rates invoices by email will drastically reduce the amount of paper we use, save money on handling and postage and make life easier for our ratepayers," he explains. "We know there’s been a desire for digital invoices, so it’s great to now be in a position to offer the service."
Mr Trass also says that the Council was able to gather a prize pool worth over $1,600 to help incentivise the move for people to go paperless - a process that is free, secure and straight-forward.
Please note this prize draw has finished.
"Anyone who signs up to receive their rates or water rates invoices by email before 5pm on Friday, 5 July will automatically go in the draw to win one of the prizes," he says. "There's some fantastic prizes up for grabs."
Prizes include:
- Trip for four to Moutohorā with Moutohorā Island Tours valued at $476
- Ōhiwa Explorer guided kayak tour with KG Kayaks valued at $440
- Two family passes with Awakeri Rail Adventures valued at $190 each
- Four A:M Clothes T-shirts valued at $160
- Four-person pass for the EPIC Escape Room valued at $128
- 20 x Whakatāne Aquatic and Fitness Centre family passes valued at $15 each
Sign up online for e-invoices today »
Anyone interested in receiving their rates invoices by email should visit whakatane.govt.nz/rates and complete the simple form, with their customer number at the ready. This number is printed on the most recent rates invoices or available by emailing us or calling 07 306 0500.
Alongside the e-invoice promotion, ratepayers are also encouraged to take advantage of a new function to sign up online to pay their rates by direct debit. With cheques no longer accepted as a payment method, Mr Trass says it is an opportune time to consider direct debit.
"Direct debit is a safe and convenient way to pay your rates, and you can decide whether you pay weekly, fortnightly, monthly, per quarterly instalment or annually," he explains. "Anyone who uses the online direct debit registration form before 5pm on Friday, 5 July will go in the draw to win one of three $200 grocery vouchers."
To sign up for direct debit online, visit whakatane.govt.nz/direct-debit. Details required include bank account details and the property’s valuation number.
Mr Trass points out that both the e-invoice system and direct debits are safe in terms of IT security, and are intended to help make life simpler for ratepayers.
"We've carried out thorough testing of these new digital functions and are pleased with the results," he says. "By all accounts, it's a straight-forward process that will create efficiencies, save money and contribute to reducing our environmental impact. I really encourage our ratepayers to sign up for one, or both, of these options and of course, enter the draw for one of the fantastic prizes."