Rates payment options

Four rates instalments are sent out during each financial year, between 1 July and 30 June. The due dates for the next instalments are:

• 19 August 2011 
• 18 November 2011
• 17 February 2012
• 18 May 2012

Payment options

EASYPAY

EASYPAY allows rates, debtor accounts and water meter accounts (but not dog fees) to be paid to the Hastings District Council by direct debit. EASYPAY allows a payment to be automatically deducted from your bank account.

The advantages include time saving, no hassle with postage, payments are made to suit you and there are no worries about penalty charges.

Contact the Council at any time to cancel or suspend the authority when you are paying current rates. You need to contact the Council if you want your EASYPAY to be changed when paying arrears.

• EASYPAY application form (PDF 254kB)

Cash, Cheque and Eftpos

Your rates can be paid at the following buildings:

• Hastings District Council main civic administration building, 207 Lyndon Road East, Hastings,
  Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm
• All Postshops throughout New Zealand

Credit card payments online

You can pay your rates via credit card online. To do so, please read the following important information then click the link below.

• Bank provider – this service is provided by the BNZ, in agreement with Hastings District Council. You do not have to be a BNZ customer to use this service. Visa or Mastercard only are accepted.
• Online convenience fee – BNZ charges a convenience fee of 2.49% per transaction for this service (with a minimum fee of $1.00 per transaction). Hastings District Council does not receive any part of this fee.
• Payment Details - please have your rates notice in front of you to ensure you accurately enter your rates property number and property address. Please note that a separate transaction is required for each property.
• Processing time – be sure to allow time before your instalment due date for processing of your payment. Payments made after 6p.m. New Zealand time will appear on your Hastings District Council rate account the following business day.
• After the transaction - you will be given a reference number. A receipt will not be provided, however you can print the screen or note down the details for future reference.
• Need help? – please phone the BNZ helpdesk on 0800 737 774 Monday to Friday between 8am – 5pm, or email BNZ.
• Refund enquiries – should be directed to Hastings District Council, phone 06 871 5000.

Telephone or Internet Banking

You can arrange with your bank to pay your rates by telephone or Internet banking. When you contact your bank to set up the payments you will need to give them your property number which is on your rates bill.

As the Council has several different functions, payments made must be specific to the account to which they are to be credited.

Details supplied for telephone or Internet banking to the Council must therefore be set out as:

Bank: Westpac Trust, Hastings
Account: 03 0642 0281000 00
Particulars: "Rates", "Debtors" or "Water" - no dogs
Reference: Name on rates or other council account, payee or ratepayer e.g. "Smith Carriers"
Code: Customer no: e.g. RTZ0012345 or WBZ 0000123 or debtors number.

Where one transfer is made for several accounts - for example 3 rate accounts, a water account and a building application - we can process these if a schedule is faxed the day the payment is made marked "Attention Accounting Officer". Our fax number is +64 6 871 5100 or email corporate@hdc.govt.nz.

Additional charges for late payments

An additional charge of 10% is added to each instalment which remains unpaid after the due date.  Previous years' rates which are unpaid will have a further 10% added, firstly, in October and, if still unpaid, again in April the following year.

If you are going to have any problems paying your rates on time, please contact Customer Services direct Rates line on corporate@hdc.govt.nz or phone 06 871 5000.

Payment plan

If you think you are going to have trouble paying your rates on time, please do not hesitate to ring Council's direct rates line on 06 871 5000, where our staff will provide you with the information and assistance where you need it.