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Properties across Christchurch and Banks Peninsula have seen an average increase in residential property values of 47.3% since the last revaluation in mid 2019, according to an independent revaluation undertaken by Quotable Value Limited (QV). From Wednesday 1 February, property owners can check ccc.govt.nz/rates to see the new valuations, which have been determined by QV…
Councillors have been briefed today on Christchurch City Council’s efforts to keep 2023’s rates increase as low as possible – with the latest projected figure coming in at an average 5.58% across existing ratepayers. Work began last year on the Council’s budget for the coming 12 months, the Draft Annual Plan 2023/24. At that stage,…
International credit rating agency Standard and Poor’s has upgraded Christchurch City Council’s financial Credit Rating to AA (Stable outlook). The agency says that this upgrade is supported by the Council’s record of robust financial management and strong liquidity. The report goes on to say that the Council’s management is strong compared with its global peers,…
Councillors are considering the factors that will impact next year’s rates increase, as they come together on 6 December for the first public briefing on the Draft Annual Plan 2023/24. The Draft Annual Plan is Christchurch City Council’s yearly budget that sets out what it plans to achieve over the coming financial year, and how it…
Christchurch City Council has agreed to provide the organisers of the popular New Zealand Agricultural Show (formerly the Canterbury A&P Show) with a prudent financial safety net. It has approved a loan of up to $1 million for the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association (CAPA) so that it can meet its ongoing financial obligations if…
Former employees of Christchurch City Council can now register claims for pay they may have missed out on due to errors in calculating leave payments under the Holidays Act 2003. These errors were made by many employers, in both the public and private sectors, after an amendment to the Act. The Ministry of Business, Innovation…
The Christchurch Foundation will be receiving less Christchurch City Council funding moving forward. The Council has a legal obligation under a Support Agreement signed in December 2018 to pay the Christchurch Foundation up to $600,000 a year, through until 30 June 2023. However, following the findings of an independent review, the Council asked the Foundation…
Christchurch City Council will soon start paying staff money owed to them under the Holidays Act 2003, after leave entitlements and pay for some staff were inadvertently miscalculated. The Council’s Head of Financial Management Diane Brandish said the first payments would be to current employees. “We have reviewed leave entitlements and payments for current and…
Residents who pay for Christchurch City Council services by cheque will need to find other ways of paying from the end of this month. The Council will not be accepting cheque payments from 30 April 2021 because the three major New Zealand banks are phasing out cheques in May and June of this year. The…
Christchurch City Council is proposing changes to who pays for the city’s vital land drainage work, as part of its Draft Long Term Plan 2021–31. The land drainage targeted rate funds the operating costs of the Council’s stormwater drainage and flood protection and control works. At the moment this rate is only paid by ratepayers…
The policy that Christchurch City Council uses to help it recover some of the costs associated with providing the infrastructure needed to service new growth developments is being reviewed. The current Development Contributions Policy was adopted in 2016 and needs reviewing. The policy details the methodology the Council will use to recover a fair share…
Christchurch City Council has signalled it plans to reduce the amount of funding support it provides to the Christchurch Foundation. The Christchurch Foundation is the charitable organisation that was set up in 2017 to actively collect, manage and distribute funds for a wide range of activities and projects that provide betterment for Christchurch. Under a…
Christchurch City Council’s draft 10-year budget lays the foundation for the city’s continued growth and will ensure the core infrastructure that residents rely on is kept in good condition, says Mayor Lianne Dalziel. Today, the Council agreed in principle to adopt the Draft 2021-31 Long Term Plan and release it for public consultation. It will…
A proposal for a new targeted rate to help fund the restoration of some of Christchurch’s most prominent heritage buildings is included in Christchurch City Council’s 10-year draft budget. “We’re proposing to introduce a heritage targeted rate instead of including all funding for heritage building in the general rate,’’ says Mayor Lianne Dalziel. “This targeted…
A streamlining of opening hours at Christchurch libraries is among the cost-saving measures proposed in Christchurch City Council’s 10-year draft budget. “We’ve looked at when our libraries are at their busiest and when we can reduce opening hours with minimal impact on how, and when, residents like to use their local library. We have also…
The day-to-day costs of providing the services and activities needed to keep Christchurch running are primarily met through rates. In this financial year, rates – the levy that is placed on property owners in the district – accounted for almost half (48 per cent) of Christchurch City Council’s revenue. How much each property owner pays…
Like many of our ratepayers, Christchurch City Council has been hit hard financially by the COVID-19 pandemic and we’re facing very challenging times ahead. We need to support our city as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic after a decade of rebuilding from the earthquakes. We must also prepare for the impact of climate change…
Christchurch City Council is reminding residents, businesses and organisations who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 crisis that they can apply for more time to pay their rates. Ratepayers will soon receive their first quarterly rates demand for the 2020-21 financial year. Get your rates invoice by email Ratepayers can opt…
Mayor Lianne Dalziel explains how the COVID-19 crisis has impacted on Christchurch City Council’s finances and invites public feedback on the organisation’s new draft budget. The world has changed dramatically over the past few months and we have all been affected in some shape or form by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many businesses and individuals have…
Christchurch City Council has approved a new draft budget that takes into account the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the organisation and on ratepayers. The revised Draft Annual Plan 2020–21 proposes an average residential rate rise of 2.23 per cent, which is an overall average rate increase of 3.5 per cent. For an…
Christchurch City Council staff are recommending a revised budget that provides for an average residential rate rise of 2.23 per cent and an overall rate increase of 3.5 per cent. For an average house with a value of $508,608 that would mean paying an extra $1.19 a week, or $62.05 a year. Read the report…
Christchurch City councillors have this morning adopted a landmark draft plan for the rebuild of the quake-hit central city and will open it for public consultation. The plan is expected to cost about $2 billion. Light rail, a smaller central business district (CBD) and a new swimming centre are among features of the draft plan adopted…
I am sorry for the lack of content that I have been posting on this blog for the past 12 months. The reasons for this are a number of things. Firstly I left the real estate and housing industry full time and only kept this blog website up for the pure passion I have for…
Sustainable living is not only a growing business and news trend, it is also the direction home design and construction must move towards as valuable, limited resources become increasingly sparse for our growing population. Energy efficiency in the home building industry will remain the focus of some progressive, forward thinking companies, but not all of…
During the colder times of the year dampness, draughts and a lack of insulation make our homes more difficult to heat. The World Health Organisation recommends that houses are heated to a minimum of 18 degrees celsius to provide a healthy and comfortable environment. Indoor temperatures below 16 degrees increase the risk of respiratory disease. Insulation study The University…
The property market last year left a lot of amateurs and professionals scratching their heads in puzzlement as the expected failed to happen. Real estate agency heads give their reading of the housing market in the first quarter of 2011 – their predictions cautious but optimistic, with rising rental prices seen as a positive indicator…
If you were forced out of your earthquake-damaged home you are set to get financial assistance and help finding accommodation from the Government. Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee this morning announced an assistance package for those displaced from their homes due to severe earthquake damage. It includes financial assistance of up to $330 a week…
Householders such as myself with mortgages partly floating will be happy at the news today that the OCR is unlikely to be jumping up a huge amount over the next two years. This means that we are likely to see maybe .5 – 1% increase this year and maybe the same next year as the…
I wish to say that 2010 has been a challenging year for most people in Christchurch. What is for most people the biggest asset they own the Canterbury Earthquake of September 4th Damaged many to a point where it starts to hurt peoples wealth which makes it hard for anyone to move forward with real…
Timing is everything in negotiation. A negotiation can be made or unmade by the time at which it takes place. When buying or selling anything in life it becomes important to learn the art of the timing as this can make or break the deal. It all comes to when you make your move. There…