Figures released by the Dunedin City Council show Dunedin is well down a list showing the mean annual residential rates take of New Zealand local authorities.
Mayor Peter Chin noted the Dunedin rates figure when responding to Local Government Minister Rodney Hide's suggestion rates could be capped.
Mr Chin said the proposal lacked any detail, including the amount of rates paid, something he said the Government should take into account.
When he released the figures, council chief executive Jim Harland said some of the local authorities on the list lacked anything like the level of infrastructure enjoyed in Dunedin.
A refrain of some opponents of the proposed Otago Stadium has been that they will leave Dunedin if the stadium is built, preferring to live elsewhere than pay the inflated rates the stadium would impose upon them.
An example, one of many stadium opponents commenting on the Otago Daily Times website, said: "I'm off now to cancel my rates payment . . . and to look for a new job somewhere outside Dunedin."
The bad news is unless people are keen on Opotiki, Timaru, Upper Hutt, South Wairarapa or Christchurch, they will struggle to find locales with lower rates than Dunedin.
While Dunedin rates are expected to rise 69% in the next 10 years, the city is not alone in facing steep increases.
Mean residential rates for New Zealand local authorities. -
Far North District Council: $2526
Thames Coromandel District Council: $2252
Franklin District Council: $2152
Waitakere City Council: $2140
Manawatu District Council: $2140
Auckland City Council: $2095
Waipa District Council: $2082
North Shore City Council: $2070
Nelson City Council: $2031
Waitaki District Council: $1981
Manukau City Council: $1947
Grey District Council: $1891
Marlborough District Council: $1867
Matamata-Piako District Council:$1800
Waikato District Council: $1751
South Taranaki District Council: $1744
Kapiti Coast District Council: $1741
Selwyn District Council: $1738
Waimakariri District Council: $1732
Whangarei District Council: $1689
Palmerston North City Council: $1645
Hamilton City Council: $1533
Kawerau District Council: $1525
Dunedin City Council: $1466
Opotiki District Council: $1436
Timaru District Council: $1429
Upper Hutt City Council: $1425
South Wairarapa District Council: $1421
Christchurch City Council: $1365
