Wellington Rates Unaffordable for Seniors

Wellington Central Grey Power president Colleen Singleton said it had members in central Wellington living “hand to mouth”. as they struggled to keep up with the rates increases.

Even Wellington City’s Affordability Metric in the latest Long Term Plan acknowledges that rates will remain unaffordable for the next 4 years. This is the second year in a row that the rates increase has exceeded their own affordability benchmark, with many households facing a 21% increase in rates when combining City rate increase of 16.9%, sludge treatment plant 1.6%, and the Regional Council Rates increase.

Grey Power has lobbied to raise the income threshold for the rates rebate, as well as the annual increase to be more aligned with Council increases, than pegged to the CPI as is the current practice. For the 40% of those retirees fully dependant on NZS the current spate of double figure rate increases are simply unaffordable. Prompt government action to alleviate the burden for retirees is essential if the numbers of seniors living in poverty is to be reduced. “The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped”. Hubert Humphrey.

To read more about the Wellington situation read the NZ Post article in full Click Here