As an Otago Regional Council ratepayer, your contribution plays a vital role in making this region a great place to live, work and visit.

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ORC rates are set by a Rates Resolution passed annually by Council. 

The 25-26 ORC rates were passed in the Council Meeting held on 25 June 2025.

ORC’s budget and rates come from the work identified in our Long-Term Plan or annual plan.

Every three years a Long-Term Plan is developed with the community to set out the work we will do in the years ahead. In the years between, we use an annual plan to do this. These plans help to informs the work we do as well as the budgets and rates required to do it.

You can find out more about the decisions and rates implications in 2025/26 in the current annual plan. 

Around half of Otago Regional Council’s funding will come from rates payments in 2025/26. The rest comes from:

• Fees and charges
• Grants and subsidies
• Port Otago dividends
• Interest and investments
• Other funding, including reserves

The due date for all current year rates is 31 October.

All rates unpaid on 1 November will have a 10% penalty applied.

A further 10% penalty will be applied to all rates from previous financial years which remain unpaid on 1 May. Further penalties will continue to be applied in accordance with Council resolutions.

Make sure your details are up to date. Late arrival of your payment due to incorrect addressing, postal service timing or any other reason is not the responsibility of Otago Regional Council. You can also choose to receive your rates invoice via email.

Don’t wait until the penalty date before raising inquiries; get in touch because we’re here to help. Be sure to have your rates assessment number handy.

The rates assessment number is at the top of your rates invoice.