Your rates explained
As your regional council, Horizons is dedicated to safeguarding the natural environment, supporting resilient communities, and managing the region’s resources responsibly. The rates you contribute are essential to delivering the services and infrastructure that underpin our collective well-being – now and into the future.
Your rates help us
Resilience
Invest in flood resilience, erosion control, and emergency response planning to help communities adapt to more frequent and severe weather events.
Management
Manage key regional assets such as river management infrastructure, public transport networks, and environmental monitoring systems that support both safety and sustainability.
Sustainability
Support sustainable land management practices that protect soil health, reduce sedimentation in waterways, and enhance biodiversity across our landscapes.
This work is critical to maintaining the health of our environment, the strength of our economy, and the safety of our communities. Every dollar you contribute through rates is an investment in a more resilient, sustainable, and thriving region. Thank you to those who took the time to provide submissions to this year’s Annual Plan. Council took all feedback in mind when considering where to prioritise the budget for the upcoming year.
This year our total rates increase is 5.9%. This is because we’ve allowed for some extra funding for some areas. However, we have looked at the big picture and adjusted activities to alleviate cost-ofliving pressures where possible. This means the total rates increase has not reached the 9% which was planned for in the 2024-34 Long-term Plan.
This year, Council has focused on reducing rates pressure as much as possible at a time of economic instability and pressure. However, Council also recognises the need to maintain levels of service, provide new services as and when appropriate, and address levels of uncertainty with central government proceeding with simplifying local government across the country. There are risks that come with deferring projects and investment, such as not being able to meet performance targets or having insufficient resourcing to respond to significant weather events. We’ve done our best to strike a balance between being able to continue our work without impacting ratepayers with a significant rates increase.
Below, you’ll find:
an explanation of how our rating system works, and
highlights of key work programmes and initiatives happening across the region.
Thank you for your contribution towards caring for our vast and varied region. Together, we’re working to make our region a place where people and the land are nourished.
Your rates explained
How are rates decided?
Each year, Council sets rates through the Annual Plan process. This involves considering the work and services it wants to deliver for the community, along with the cost of providing them. Budgets are then developed to support Council’s priorities and goals. Factors such as inflation, changes in property values through revaluations, and the cost of maintaining and improving infrastructure also influence rates.
While the region’s overall rate increase is 5.9%, targeted rates will vary depending on property revaluations and specific services provided to each property.
District and city councils revalue at different times across the region. These revaluations affect the capital value of properties and, therefore, how much general rate they pay. Each year we get an equalisation certificate from Quotable Value that shows the estimated value for each district if they had all been revalued in the same year. This information is used to apply the rates allocated by capital value across the districts. Whanganui, Manawatū and Horowhenua were revalued this year, while Rangitīkei saw a reduction in their equalised capital value due to property use changes across the district. Instead of increasing rates in one go when your property is revalued, we have spread the increase across the three years and throughout the region with the intent to lessen the impact on ratepayers.
Other reasons for significant rate changes include new bus services in Whanganui, changes to work programmes and loan levels in individual river and drainage schemes, and new subdivisions changing what rates people are charged across their district.
How rating works per property
Each property will have different rates depending on where you live and the services you receive. Your rates invoice is made up of targeted rates, common rates and general rates.
Targeted rates are the ones that relate to certain work being undertaken in your area, but not somewhere else. For example:
Ruapehu – the district-wide river scheme to protect people and property.
Whanganui – increased levels of service on the public transport network to provide wider coverage of the city, more frequently.
Rangitīkei – ongoing management of the pest plant Old Man’s Beard which is a threat to native biodiversity.
Manawatū – management, including pest control and biodiversity, of Tōtara Reserve Regional Park, our region’s only Regional Park.
Palmerston North – improvements in flood resilience through the lower Manawatū Scheme to keep people and property safe.
Tararua – district-wide river and drainage scheme for maintenance and improvements to flood resilience assets to protect productive land.
Horowhenua – Arawhata wetland construction to improve water quality of Punahau Lake Horowhenua, and Waikawa Beach dune restoration.
Common rates also known as Uniform Annual General Charge, are charged out the same for all properties across the region. These go towards:
The Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) which improves water quality and flood resiliance for the whole region.
Environmental initiatives which part-fund biodiversity and biosecurity work that benefits everyone.
Finally, general rates are also applied to all properties but are calculated off capital value.
Horizons receives its income from a number of sources including grants and subsidies, investment income, user fees and charges, loans and reserves, and rates.
Understanding the rate increase
Council has worked hard to ensure that the rates increase this year has been kept lower than the 9% increase planned in our Long-term Plan (LTP).
This year will see us maintaining the current levels of service despite rising costs – fuel being the most obvious - while keeping costs down where possible. This does mean deferring some projects to later years of the LTP, such as the implementation of new bus services for Horowhenua.
The total rates increase is 5.9% for the region for the 2026-27 financial year. As we’ve noted elsewhere in this publication, your targeted rates invoice may differ to this total rate increase as rates change between districts and neighbours. This is because some areas have targeted rates for activities such as public transport or flood resilience. This allows us to do our core business alongside some other key work programmes including:
Increased possum control in areas no longer serviced by OSPRI.
Improvements to the Whanganui Passenger Transport service.
Implementation of the Ashhurst school bus service.
Leasing a comfortable space for passengers and drivers to use between buses at the Main Street Bus Hub, which is being co-funded with Palmerston North City Council.
Changes to work programmes for various river schemes.
Allocating $100,000 to provide for Regional Spatial Planning as required by central government’s Resource Management Act reform.
Council has had to account for the implementation of Plan Change 2, after we received news of the decision from the Environment Court. The plan change is designed to provide consenting pathways for existing intensive farming land use activities (IFLU) in the region. This will be a significant body of work for our Regulatory Activity, as about 250 farms across the region will need to apply for consents for IFLU.
What every $1 of general rates is spent on
Search property rates
Welcome to the Horizons Regional Council Rating Information Database. To view rating details for a property, enter either the property address (excluding the town/city) or the valuation number and hit the 'Search' button.
Pay Property Rates
There are several ways to pay, allowing you to select the option that best suits. These options are also listed on the back of your rates invoice. If you’d rather receive your invoice by email in the future, that’s not a problem. In your invoice you will find a unique code (and a link) you can use to sign up online.
Policies on Remissions and Postponements
Our polices on rates remissions and postponements are set out in the Long-term Plan, the policy is outlined on this page with corresponding forms.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Who decides Horizons' activities?
Horizons has certain responsibilities mandated from Central Government. Council also actively consults with our communities through the Long-term Plan and Annual Plan processes to ensure we represent the wishes of our ratepayers, and utilise ratepayers’ money in ways the community will benefit the most from. You can read our plans and strategies here.
Have rates changed this year?
For the 2026-27 financial year there is a 5.9% total rate increase across the region. This rate increase is lower than the 9% signalled in the Long-term Plan( LTP) 2024-34.
Is the 5.9% increase the same for everyone?
No. It’s important to note that the average rate increase does not mean the same for everyone’s rates.
This variance is because Rangitīkei has recently seen changes in property valuations. It’s also important to note that other areas in our region may see a rates decrease for this very same reason. Targeted rates for activities such as river management schemes and passenger transport services also mean your rates invoice may differ from your neighbour’s or those in neighbouring districts.
Why have you increased rates when the cost of living is so high?
Council is aware that rates increases aren’t ideal and has worked hard to ensure the increase doesn’t reach the 9% we forecast in our LTP.
We’ve brought the increase down by deferring new roles, delaying new public transport services in parts of the region, removing or reducing additional spend in some areas, and using reserves to fund work.
We have invested in select areas where we see real need: more possum control, funding Ashhurst school bus services, improvements to the Whanganui Passenger Transport service, allocating $100,000 to provide for Regional Spatial Planning as required by central government’s Resource Management Act reform and accounting for the implementation of Plan Change 2.
Was any consideration given to a lower rates increase?
This year, Council has focused on reducing rates pressure as much as possible at a time of economic instability and pressure. However, Council also recognises the need to maintain levels of service, provide new services as and when appropriate, and address levels of uncertainty with central government proceeding with simplifying local government across the country. There are risks that come with deferring projects and investment, such as not being able to meet performance targets or having insufficient resourcing to respond to significant weather events.
We have adjusted activities to alleviate cost-of-living pressures where possible. This means that the total rates increase has not reached the 9% which was planned for in the 2024-34 Long-term plan.
What are rates calculations based on?
Regional councils’ general rates may be made on either a land value or capital value basis. Horizons rates calculations are based on a property's capital value.
Other councils in our area (and the rating system they use):
Palmerston North City Council Land Value/Capital Value
Manawatū District Council Capital Value
Whanganui District Council Land Value
Horowhenua District Council Land Value
Tararua District Council Land Value
Ruapehu District Council Capital Value
Rangitīkei District Council Capital Value
(Part) Waitomo District Council Capital Value
(Part) Taupō District Council Capital Value
(Part) Stratford District Council Capital Value
Which areas are in the Horizons Region?
Horizons encompasses the Ruapehu, Rangitīkei, Whanganui, Manawatū, Palmerston North, Tararua and Horowhenua districts, and also some parts of the Taupō, Stratford and Waitomo districts.
Revaluations
All properties in the region are revalued on a three-yearly cycle. If your property has been revalued this year, the value on which your property is rated will have changed. For example if your rates were previously calculated on a capital value of $300,000, however your property has been revalued to $327,000, then your rates will have been calculated on the $327,000 this time.
We recognise that setting rates based on capital value is not ideal. However, it is the blunt tool that we have inherited. Ideally, all of our seven districts would be revalued at the same time to avoid one or two districts being affected more than its neighbours in any one year. Unfortunately, QV do not have the capacity to do this.
Whanganui, Manawatū and Horowhenua were revalued this year.
What is meant by equalisation?
District and city councils revalue at different times across the region. These revaluations affect the capital value of properties and, therefore, how much general rate they pay. Each year we get an equalisation certificate from Quotable Value that shows the value of all districts as at the last revaluation date. This information is used to equally spread the rates allocated by capital value across the districts.
Whanganui, Manawatū and Horowhenua were revalued this year, while Rangitīkei saw a reduction in their equalised capital value due to property use changes across the district. Instead of increasing rates in one go when your property is revalued, we have spread the increase across the three years and throughout the region with the intent to lessen the impact on ratepayers.
What do the charges on my invoice mean?
Each rates invoice is made up of a combination of charges.
Uniform Charges are the same amount for every ratepayer across the region and include things such as enviromental initiatives.
Other Common Rates are the same activity charged for every ratepayer but at a slightly different rate for each district. These are based on a property's captial value.
There are property specific rates that are charged based on the type, size and location of the property and are a combination of capital value, targeted and area based charges that can differ from property to property and neighbour to neighbour.
On average an estimated 60% of the total rates invoice is based on captial value, however again this varies for every ratepayer within the region.
Other factors that can effect a rates invoice include specific district rating inputs, such as an urban passenger transport rate, or special river protection rates. For example, this could include river management flood protection schemes, passenger transport services including total mobility services, pest plant and animal control and biodiversity enhancement.
What is a Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC)?
The UAGC funds a large range of activities that benefit every ratepayer equally. It is a fixed rate that is applied to every rateable property in the region. The UAGC in 2026-27 is set at $53.74 per SUIP.
What is a SUIP?
A SUIP is a Separately Used or Inhabited Part of a rating unit and is only recognised when there is a unique valuation number for that part of the rating unit. A SUIP could be applied to a property more than once in a situation such as having multiple dwellings.
What is a Uniform Annual Charge (UAC)?
This is a fixed rate applied to ratepayers who benefit from a specific type of work. It is not assessed on capital value like the other general rate. Uniform annual charges per Separately Used or Inhabited Part (SUIP) of a rating unit throughout the region include:
Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI)
Environmental initiatives
For Palmerston North and Manawatū properties - Tōtara Reserve our only regional park.
Where is Tōtara Reserve?
Tōtara Reserve is a regional park in the Manawatū District that sits in the foothills of the Ruahine Ranges in the Pohangina Valley.
Many people use it as a recreational area and it’s a valuable piece of native bush (and the only regional park) in the Horizons Region.
We took over management from Manawatū District Council in 2012 and continue to enhance its forest and wildlife, and improve camping facilities, tracks and signage.
I live in the Rangitīkei District and I want to understand what I am paying for to get rid of Old Man's Beard?
Old Man’s Beard has been identified as a particular problem by the local Rangitīkei community and as result a Differentiated Uniform Annual Charge of $37.53 has been applied to properties over four hectares in size and a $9.74 charge for those under four hectares.
Why does Horizons put out a rates brochure with the invoice?
We believe it's important that you have a clear understanding of what your rates pay for and the benefits you receive, and we've had feedback that more communication is desired. Every council in the country does this and it's part of our philosophy of being transparent about what we do. We encourage you to recycle this brochure if you don't want to keep it for future reference.
Why do I get a rates invoice from my city/district council and Horizons?
Horizons is a completely separate organisation to your city/district council. City and district councils are responsible for community services in your area, such as road maintenance, libraries, recreation areas and land use.
Regional councils manage the natural resources, such as land, air and water, across several city and district council territories. We’re also responsible for emergency management, in conjunction with Civil Defence, and provide public transport services to many of our communities.
We’ve been sending out rates directly to ratepayers since 2002. Prior to this, Horizons rates were collected on our behalf by the city and district councils. We made the change to direct rating because we believe that you need to know more about how your money is spent.
Where can I find out about rates classifications
For a full list of classifications, please refer to our Long-term or Annual Plan, which can be found on our website, or at any of our service centres for a hard copy to read.
If you would like to check your specific property and the rate classifications, please use our rates search tool by entering your property's address or valuation number.
River Management FAQs
Why am I rated for river and drainage schemes?
The river management team at Horizons is responsible for maintaing the river and drainage systems in the region to minimise erosion and ensure optimum flood protection for our communities.
Flood resilience is funded through general and scheme rates based on the amount of protection benefit each ratepayer receives. Horizons currently manages 34 River and Drainage Schemes across our region, maintains over 500km of stopbanks, 509 floodgates, over 800 km of river channel, and more than 1,100 km of drains.
What is a river or drainage scheme rate? How are they calculated?
A Scheme Rate varies according to the benefit received from stop banks, pump stations, drainage systems and other flood protection facilities. The higher the risk of flooding to your property, the higher the rate you pay as you receive greater benefit from the protection facilities. If you live further from a waterway, you still pay for the benefits of flood-protected roads, shops and services, but at a lower rate.
Why do I pay a House Flood (HF) rate ($683) when my neighbours don’t and we both pay rates towards the Lower Manawatū Scheme (LMS)?
The LMS rating system was adopted in June 2009. Since the rate has been applied, there have been a few changes to ensure we’re rating those affected fairly. These changes include:
All those rural houses that receive flood protection from the LMS but where the depth of inundation in a 100-year flood would be less than 50 mm have been exempted from the HF rate.
The Feilding urban flood protection rating boundary has been modified to include an area immediately to the North of Feilding that is presently being developed as an extension to the urban area. By being shifted into the urban category, houses in that extension area will no longer pay the HF rate, but will now pay the lesser Feilding urban (FG) rate.
The Palmerston North urban flood protection rating boundary has been modified to include an area to the west of the City between Longburn-Rongotea/Shiriffs Road and the Mangaone Stream and between No. 1 Line and the Manawatū River. That area is rapidly developing as an extension to the present City urban area. By being shifted into the urban category, houses in that developing area will no longer pay the HF rate but will now pay the lesser Palmerston North urban (PN) rate.
All other rural houses will continue to be rated in the HF category.
What is the Manawatū River Leaders' Accord?
Led by Horizons, the Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord brings together leaders from community, industry, interest groups, iwi and local government in their efforts to improve the state of the Manawatū River and its catchment. It enables groups to work in partnership with one another, sets clear goals and provides accountability around clean-up actions and activities. Horizons is committed to contributing $8.51 per separately used or inhabited part of a rating unit this year to this clean-up effort under the Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord. This is funded by ratepayers in the Manawatū Catchment. More information about this work can be found at www.manawaturiver.co.nz.
What is the Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI)?
Our region’s problems with hill country erosion were sorely exposed during the February 2004 storm event. In response, representatives from our region’s communities and stakeholder organisations have joined together and formed the Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI), which seeks to implement whole farm plans specifically tailored to manage each area of highly erodible land. The aim is to help insure against having to recover from the effects of massive-scale hill erosion in the future. This assists in preventing the silting up of rivers downstream, helping to reduce flooding, and improving water quality.
Why have my river scheme rates changed this year?
River scheme rates change from year to year. For some, loans may get repaid which means the charge will drop. Some may increase due to additional works being planned or a loan being taken out.
This year there are a few schemes that will see change. Some have decreased due to loans being repaid.
However, there are a few to note that have increased:
Makirikiri scheme – previously this wasn’t rated for as it was using reserves. We are now rating for this, which is why residents will see a new line on their rates invoice.
Pohangina- Oroua scheme – This year we have planned some additional works, which is why residents will see an increase in their scheme rates.
Lower Whanganui – Te Pūwaha has taken out a loan for work which will see an increase in rates.
Where can I find out more about flood resilience?
Find out more in the Flood Protection section of the Horizons website.
Transport FAQs
Why is Horizons involved with public transport?
We provide public passenger transport services and coordinate regional transport planning:
Chair the Regional Transport and Regional Passenger Transport Committees,
Develop and implement the region's Public Transport Plan,
Subsidise passenger services in areas where they cannot be provided commercially,
Coordinate a community road safety programme,
Manage the Total Mobility service that provides discounted transport for people with disabilities.
Considering our geographical size and low population density, our region is relatively well served by public transport and our buses carry a higher ratio of passengers per head of population than some other similar regions.
Why do I need to pay the passenger and Total Mobility rate?
Having a bus service available gives people without private transport an option for travel. It also means fewer cars on the road and an environmentally friendly transport solution. It can be a cost-effective way of getting to and from town or work, or between towns.
The Total Mobility Taxi Subsidy Scheme is a scheme for people with disabilities. The scheme is funded by the New Zealand Transport Agency/Waka Kotahi and Regional Councils across New Zealand, to provide funding options to people with disabilities or mobility issues.
What types of public transport does Horizons provide?
We have contracts with bus companies to provide urban bus services in Palmerston North, Whanganui, and Feilding and regional commuter services for Marton, Levin, Whanganui, Palmerston North, Taihape, Ohakune, and Raetihi.
Also included is the Capital Connection, which is the passenger rail service between the Horizons and Greater Wellington Regions.
Why are you investing more in public transport when no one catches the bus?
For much of the last decade, public transport use in the Horizons Region was steadily declining. This is despite the population of the region growing.
Much of the investment in public transport has been about changing the model of networks. Previously, we focused on ‘converage networks’ – networks which aim to service as large areas as possible. While this model aims to get the bus as close to every house in a city/town as possible, it means trips take too long and are inconvenient. Now, we are focused on ‘patronage networks’ – networks which aim to get as many people on board buses as possible by being fast, frequent and convenient.
Moving to a patronage network in Palmerston North and introducing a patronage service in Whanganui (Te Ngaru The Tide) has seen public transport use grow significantly. Since the introduction of The Tide, public transport use in the city has more than doubled. In Palmerston North, the new network saw patronage jump by about 41% on weekdays and nearly double on weekends. Patronage in both cities continues to grow.
When we consulted on our 2025-26 Annual Plan, we asked if people wanted us to invest in Whanganui and Horowhenua public transport improvements. The overwhelming response was yes – it was a clear majority who wanted improvements.
Why has the public transport rate changed on my invoice?
Whanganui
As a result of consultation Whanganui saw some improvements to their bus service earlier in 2026. When we consulted we asked the community about the service improvements they would like we indicated that two options (more frequency and more coverage would require an investment to undertake this work. This is what you will see reflected in your rates this year.
Feilding
Feilding recently had some improvements made to the bus services. However, what’s really changed rates for Feilding residents are the new subdivisions. People who live in town and have been paying a public transport rate, are likely to see a decrease in their rates as the amount is now shared between more households as more new houses are added in subdivisions. Some households will see an increase though. This is mostly due to being zoned rural and previously not charged a public transport fee, but now that they are classed as residential they are likely to see a new public transport line added to their invoice.