Pay your rates

Like households and other organisations, we have been impacted by increases in things like inflation, interest rates and everyday products. These pressures have been a major factor in the 7.7% increase in total rates for this financial year, though this is still less than the 8.3% rise signalled in our long-term plan.

During April we consulted with the community on our proposed budget and in May we held 4 sessions over 2 days of hearings listening to our community. Elected members then spent a long day in the chamber attempting to find the right balance between keeping costs as low as possible, while maintaining the services you rely on.

Council adopted the rates at its meeting on 14 June 2023. The property values issued in 2021 were used to assess individual rates for the current rating year, which began on 1 July 2023. 

If you’re making changes to your rates payments, we’ll be asking you to make a minor change to the number you supply to us.  

From 1 July, we need you to be using the assessment number as a payment reference, rather than the valuation number. You can find your assessment number on your rates notice.  

Making this change will make it quicker for us to confirm you are up-to-date with your rates payments.  

If you’re making changes to your automatic payments, you’ll be prompted to use the new number when changing the amount you pay in rates each year.

If you pay via internet or phone banking, you will now need to use the assessment number as your reference.  

If you are paying at our Customer Service Centre, our team will be able to input the new number for you.  

With your new rates invoice you may notice the street address is different or wrong if your home or business is on the corner of two roads, or in a range of numbers eg: 120-160 Palmy Street. The new software we’re using for the rates database may assign you a street or number that is different to where you are. If this is wrong, give us a call and we can quickly change it in our system.

Pay by direct debit

Paying by direct debit is the easiest way to manage your rates bill. It enables you to spread your payments across the year. Choose the frequency of your payments to suit you: weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or quarterly. 

Pay online with your credit or debit card

If you are located in New Zealand, you can use our online payment gateway to pay with your Visa, Mastercard or debit card.

Pay your rates now

Pay by phone or internet banking

You can arrange with your bank to pay your rates by phone or internet banking, or set up a regular auto payment from your account to ours.

Palmerston North City Council should already be set up as a bill payee with your bank. In most cases you won't have to type it in manually, you can just quote "Palmerston North City Council". You'll also need your assessment number to use as a reference.

Please use the following details when making your bank transfer to ensure it will be receipted correctly.

Bank: Westpac
Account name: Palmerston North City Council
Account number: 03-0726-0330770-00

How to set up a bank transfer correctly

Enter the correct information in each of the 3 fields your bank provides for you: Particulars, Code, and Reference. This is important so we can identify the payment. 

If you sell your property and buy another, you will need to change the code and reference number on your autobank payment. It is your responsibility to ensure the payment is correctly referenced.

Pay in person

If you would like to pay by cash, debit or credit card at the Council offices, you are welcome to visit our Customer Service Centre at 32 The Square.

Please note: a 1.3% transaction fee will be charged for credit cards to cover the cost of this payment option.