Find out when your rates are due, what discounts are available, penalties on late payments, ways to pay your rates and overdue rates accounts.
Instalment Due Dates
| Instalment | Due Date | Last Date for Payment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 August | 27 August |
| 2 | 20 November | 27 November |
| 3 | 20 February | 27 February |
| 4 | 20 May | 27 May |
Direct Debit (Rates Easypay)
Options available for payment by direct debit include weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly (instalment due date) and annual payment to claim discount. You will need to complete and sign a direct debit application form - this can be done online, downloaded and printed, and hard copies are also available from all service centres. Prior to payments starting, we will advise the amount of each payment, and the dates that payments will be debited. If you want to stop or change a direct debit, please contact us on 0800 965 468 (0800 WMK GOV) or email rates@wmk.govt.nz.
Online Payment
Payments can be made securely online using credit card (Visa or MasterCard) or POLi* through our eServices website.
A convenience fee of 2.2% of the amount paid applies for all payments made by credit card or debit card. The Waimakariri District Council does not receive any of this fee.
Please have your Valuation Number handy (on your rates invoice) and your credit card number or bank account details.
* POLi allows you to pay a bill using money straight from your bank account. POLi is safe and secure and lets you use your Internet Banking to make the payment.
Cash and Eftpos (Excluding Credit Cards)
Payments may be made in person at the Kaiapoi, Rangiora and Oxford Service Centres.
Council no longer accepts payment by cheque.
Internet or Phone Banking Transfer
Instalment payments or a regular amount may be transferred to the Council through phone or internet banking. The bank account for phone/internet payments is Account number: 01 0877 0129222 00. Please use the Valuation Number on your rates invoice as a reference.
Automatic Payment
Ratepayers may direct credit a regular amount from their bank account into the Council's account. To avoid penalties, automatic payments should be set to clear each instalment by the due date. If you have any questions please contact us on 0800 965 468.
If you are not able to pay your rates we encourage you to talk to the Rates Collection Team as soon as possible so we can help you set up a payment plan that will bring the account up to date before any collection action is taken. Email us at rates@wmk.govt.nz.
Collection of Rates from the Mortgagee
Following the end of each financial year, the Council may notify a mortgagee of rates owing on any property that a bank or finance company holds a mortgage over.
Three months after this advice, the Council can demand payment of rates arrears from the mortgagee.
If you have a mortgage on your property it is in your interests to contact the Council before an approach is made to the mortgagee. Once a demand for payment has been made to a mortgagee, there is no further opportunity for the ratepayer to make a payment arrangement with the Council for the payment of the arrears.
Court Proceedings
Where there is no mortgage on a property, the Council will begin proceedings in the District Court to recover unpaid rates. The cost of taking court action is generally added to the debt.
Court action can result in the property being sold with the proceeds being used to clear unpaid rates.
Penalty Charge for Late Payment
A 10% penalty is added to any part of an instalment which remains unpaid after the last date for payment shown above. If you have a reason to dispute a rates penalty charge, please use the penalty remission application form.
Discount for Early Payment of Total Rates
A discount, amounting to 4% of the general rate, roading rate and community services rate, is allowed if the total year's rates, including rates collected on behalf of Environment Canterbury (the Canterbury Regional Council) are paid in full before the last date for payment of the first instalment, i.e. 27 August.
Penalty Charge on Rates Arrears
A penalty charge amounting to 10% of the amount of unpaid rates from previous financial years, including any penalty charge imposed before 30 June in the previous financial year, will be added in July and January each year.