The message from ratepayers to Wellington’s Mayor Tory Whanau listen to what her constituents want, is very clear.

Whanau dismissed a Better Wellington–Curia poll  on Monday showing 53 percent of locals supported any future rates rises to be capped with inflation, while only 29 percent opposed.   

Whanau dismissed the poll ‒ commissioned by the group Better Wellington, which has been highly critical of the council and Whanau, and conducted by Curia Market Research ‒ as being funded by a “conspiracy-aligned group with a clear right-wing agenda”.

The Poll comes amid consecutive years of big rates rises for Wellington City, which peaked with an average 18.5% last year while another big one looms for next financial year. The city has been struggling under a tsunami of big costs such as pipes and insurance while there is widespread disagreement around the city about whether the council should be spending on projects such as cycleways and social housing.

“It’s really quite sad that Mayor Whanau is so dismissive of her constituents” said Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union.

“Under Whanau, rates increased by 18.5 percent, on average, last year alone.  Successive rates increases are still on the table to fund Whanau’s poor policy decisions.”

“Instead of listening to locals, Mayor Whanau has brushed off the poll as fake news. She instead remains committed to driving the city into the ground – literally rating people out of their own homes in the process.”

“Former Local Government Minister, Simeon Brown, was actively exploring rates capping as instrument to keep future rates increases reasonable – which the Taxpayers’ Union has long championed. We continue to push this as a key topic with local elections looming.”

“Our message to Mayor Whanau: Read the room, or locals will find someone who will.”