How is an Auckland rates bill built?
Three parts: a fixed charge, a value-based charge, and targeted rates.
Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC)
A fixed charge per separately used property. Same for everyone.
Value-based general rate
Capital value × a rate-in-the-dollar. Different for residential and business. Higher value pays more.
Targeted rates
Specific charges for specific purposes. Full list below.
Where does every $100 of Auckland rates go in 2026/27?
Proportions shift slightly each year. Transport and Community consistently take the largest shares.
What does the general rate fund?
How much have Auckland rates increased over time?
The 2026/27 jump is an outlier driven by City Rail Link costs.
| Rating year | Avg increase | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 | 7.9% | Largest in over a decade. Driven mainly by City Rail Link costs (~$235m/yr). |
| 2025/2026 | 5.8% | - |
| 2024/2025 | ~6.8-7.5% | First year of the 2024-2034 Long-term Plan. |
| Longer term | ~4.5% avg / yr | Typical household rates rose ~85% from Super City (2010) to 2024/25. |
- From 2027/28 the Long-term Plan 2024–2034 forecasts average increases of no more than 3.5% a year (a forecast, not a legal cap).
- Is 3.5% a cap on Auckland rates?
- Rates revenue has nearly doubled since 2010; the typical bill rose ~85%.
What are Auckland's main targeted rates?
Specific charges for specific work. Tap to expand.
What are the key facts about Auckland rates?
- Rates are roughly 40% of Auckland Council's total income.
- Business properties pay 31% of general rates plus WQTR, NETR and CATTR.
- The 2026/27 jump is driven mainly by owning and operating the City Rail Link.
- Watercare water and wastewater charges are separate from rates.
- Rates have risen faster than inflation over the Super City period.
How can you engage with the decisions behind your bill?
Frequently asked questions
What are the three parts of an Auckland rates bill?
An Auckland rates bill has three parts: the fixed Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC), a value-based general rate (business properties pay 31% of general rates), and targeted rates for specific purposes.
What is the average Auckland rates increase for 2026/27?
The 2026/27 average rates rise is 7.9%, the largest in over a decade, driven mainly by City Rail Link costs of about $235m per year. From 2027/28 the Long-term Plan 2024–2034 forecasts average rises of no more than 3.5% a year (a forecast, not a cap).
What does the general rate fund?
The general rate funds libraries, pools and leisure centres, parks and reserves, sports fields, public transport, local roads and footpaths, stormwater, and community facilities.
What are targeted rates?
Targeted rates are specific charges for specific purposes, separate from the general rate. They include the business sector targeted rates (WQTR, NETR, CATTR) and other purpose-specific charges.
How much have Auckland rates increased since the Super City was formed?
From the formation of the Super City in 2010 to 2024/25, the typical household rates bill rose about 85%. Rates revenue has nearly doubled over the same period.
What is the UAGC?
The Uniform Annual General Charge is the fixed part of the general rate. It is the same amount for every separately used or inhabited part of a property, whatever its value. Most houses pay one UAGC; a property with more than one separately used part, such as an attached granny flat, can pay more than one. Source: OurAuckland, 'Annual Plan: what's happening with rates?', updated 9 Jul 2026, checked 23 Oct 2026.
Which targeted rates are in an average Auckland rates bill?
For an average-value home ($1.28 million capital value), the 2026/27 bill of about $4,378 includes the Water Quality Targeted Rate, the Natural Environment Targeted Rate, the Climate Action Transport Targeted Rate and the Waste Management Targeted Rate charges, alongside the UAGC and the value-based general rate. Some properties also pay local targeted rates, such as Business Improvement District rates. Source: OurAuckland, updated 9 Jul 2026, checked 23 Oct 2026.
What share of general rates do businesses pay?
31%. Under the rates policy, businesses contribute 31% of revenue from the general rates, WQTR, NETR and CATTR. In 2026/27, rates for an average-value business property ($3.869 million) rise 10.47%. Source: OurAuckland, updated 9 Jul 2026, checked 23 Oct 2026.
Based on Auckland Council Annual Plan 2026/2027 and Long-term Plan 2024-2034. Always check your own rates notice for exact amounts.