Regional council digests interim judgment on rating process

16 Sep 2016, 8:57 AM

Northland Regional Council has received an interim judgment today relating to the judicial review in the matter between the Mangawhai Ratepayers and Residents Association, and Mr and Mrs Rogan; against Northland Regional Council (NRC) and Kaipara District Council (KDC).

The interim judgment released earlier today [15 September 2016] by the High Court declares: "The NRC's rates for the KDC region have not been lawfully set or assessed for the rating years from 2011/2012 to 2015/2016 inclusive." However, the legal implications of this are not clear until the Court makes a final decision.

Northland Regional Council CEO, Malcolm Nicolson says, "The judgment and the findings are complex and it will require time to digest them and understand what this means for the regional council. The judgment potentially has significant consequences for the local government sector in New Zealand."

He says, "The council intends to respond to the Court's request for further evidence and submissions, which the Court has asked for by no later than 21 November 2016."

Mr Nicolson can provide no further comment at this stage as the judgment is still in the legal process.