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Waikato District Council
Te Kaunihera aa Takiwaa o Waikato

Nama waea 0800 492 452  
Poutaapeta Mahi: Private Bag 544, Ngaruawahia 3742 
Waahi Mahi: 15 Galileo Street, Ngaruawahia

[1]www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz ■ [2]Like us on Facebook

References

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1. http://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/
2. http://www.facebook.com/WaikatoDistrictC...

By email:  [FOI #34346 email]

Our reference ADM0534/26

 

 

Dear Mr John Britton,

 

RE:  REQUEST FOR INFORMATION UNDER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL
INFORMATION AND MEETINGS ACT 1987

 

We acknowledge receipt of your information request dated 2nd April 2026. 

 

In accordance with the Local Government Official Information and Meetings
Act 1987 (“the Act”), Council will, as soon as reasonably practicable, and
in no case later than 20 working days after the day on which the request
is received: -

(a)           decide whether the request is to be granted and, if it is to
be granted, in what manner and for what charge (if any); and

(b)           email to you notice of the decision on the request.

Please be aware that sometimes for large requests or those requiring
consultation, we will seek an extension which the Act allows.  If so, we
will let you know and give you a specific due date; or

we may seek further information from you if we feel your request is not
clear, or we may seek to refine your request if the scope is very broad.

 

If you require any further information regarding your request please
contact Alison Baxter, Official Information and Delegations Advisor,
telephone 027-3075354 or email [email address] 

 

Yours faithfully,

Records Management Officer - Enterprise Optimisation & Services (EOS)

 

Waikato District Council

Te Kaunihera aa Takiwaa o Waikato

” Waea puukoro: 0277706090  ” Nama waea: 0800 492 452 
Pouaka Poutaapeta: Private Bag 544, Ngaaruawaahia 3742 
Waahi Mahi: 15 Galileo Street, Ngaaruawaahia

 

 

Good morning Mr Britton

I refer to your request for information received by the Waikato District
Council (Council) on 2^nd April 2026. Your request has been processed in
accordance with the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act
1987 (LGOIMA), under which Council must communicate a decision within 20
working days, and I am able to respond to you today.

 

For clarity, Council does not use the term “unrated occupiable structures
(UOS)”. Instead, for rating purposes, Council applies the concept of a
Separately Used or Inhabited Part (SUIP). A SUIP is a part of a rating
unit that is capable of being used or inhabited independently, such as a
self-contained dwelling with kitchen and bathroom facilities. Only
structures that meet this definition are separately rated.

 

It is also important to note that the Rating Information Database (RID)
reflects information at a point in time. Newly established or identified
SUIPs may not appear until the next update cycle following valuation and
statutory processes. Accordingly, a structure not currently showing in the
RID is not necessarily “unrated”.

 

Response to your questions:

1. How many councillors have UOS on their properties?
Council does not hold information in this form. Elected members are
required to declare certain interests; however, there is no requirement to
disclose whether a property contains a structure of the type you describe.
To provide this information would require surveying each elected member.
Accordingly, this part of your request is refused under s17(e) of the
LGOIMA, as the information is not held.

 

2. For those councillors that have UOS on their properties, how is council
going to manage conflict of interest in any debate about rating UOS?
While no specific information is held regarding councillors and such
structures, any potential conflicts of interest are managed in accordance
with statutory obligations and Council’s governance processes. Elected
members are required to declare conflicts where they arise and may be
excluded from discussion or decision-making where appropriate.

 

3. Is council actively pursuing rating the UOS?
Council is actively undertaking a structured review to ensure that all
SUIPs are accurately identified and rated. This includes reconciling
information held by Council’s valuation service provider with properties
recorded in the RID.

 

4. What is the program and timeframe for getting them into the rating
database?
This review is currently underway, with completion targeted by 30^th June
2026. Where additional SUIPs are identified, they will be incorporated
into the rating system in accordance with statutory processes, generally
through the next valuation update cycle rather than retrospectively within
the current rating year.

 

5. If council is not actively pursuing rating the UOS, then why not?
As outlined above, Council is actively pursuing the identification and
correct rating of SUIPs. Accordingly, this question is not applicable.

 

6. Has council performed any estimation of uncollected rates and carried
out a cost-benefit analysis of identifying these UOS?
No. Council relies on existing consent, notification, and valuation
processes to identify rateable SUIPs and considers these processes
effective in capturing the majority of relevant structures.

 

8. What work has council done to identify such entrances?
Council has not undertaken specific work to identify vehicle entrances
associated with structures of the type you describe. Accordingly, this
part of your request is refused under s17(e) of the LGOIMA, as the
information does not exist.

 

9. What, if anything, is council doing to get the entrances removed or
changed to a safe standard?
As no such entrances have been specifically identified, no targeted
programme of work has been undertaken. Where safety concerns are brought
to Council’s attention through normal channels, they are assessed and
addressed in accordance with standard transport and safety processes.

 

While I appreciate you have an interest in this matter, the LGOIMA
obligates us to provide only information held by this Council. I
understand this may not be the response you were hoping for, and I
apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

 

Therefore, I consider this concludes my response to this request and now
intend closing this file. If you believe this decision requires further
review, you have the right to contact the Ombudsman. They can investigate
and review the decision. You can find information about this process on
their website at [1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by calling them
toll-free at 0800 802 602.

 

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if there is anything further
I can assist you with.

 

With many thanks

 

Alison Baxter
Official Information and Delegations Advisor
Waikato District Council
Te Kaunihera aa Takiwaa o Waikato

Nama waea: 07 824 8633 |  Waea puukoro: 0800 492 452
Poutaapeta Mahi: Private Bag 544, Ngaruawahia 3742
Waahi Mahi: 15 Galileo Street, Ngaruawahia
[2]Logo, company name Description automatically generated

 

References

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1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/