Up to $830 off your rates — if you put your hand up by 30 June

The rates rebate has existed since 1973 and thousands of eligible households miss it every year, mostly older homeowners. Two reasons: nobody tells you, and the deadline is genuinely hard — apply through your council by 30 June or that year's rebate is gone, no exceptions, no backdating. People who wait for their rates invoice or assume a March deadline lose the lot.

Sixty seconds of arithmetic below. Free, nothing leaves this page, and if the answer is "no rebate", that is worth knowing too.

Step 1 of 4

Were you living in the home, as the ratepayer, on 1 July 2026?

In a retirement village or a company-share flat? Answer yes — you apply with a special declaration on the same form.

The traps, named

The income year is last year. The 2026-27 rebate is assessed on income from 2025-04-01 to 2026-03-31. If you retired or your income dropped this year, you might still qualify next year even if you miss out now.
SuperGold changes the threshold. A cardholder household has much more income headroom — and a cardholder whose only income is NZ Super, with rates over about $2,000, gets the full rebate.
It goes through your council, on paper. The official form, proof of income, a signed declaration, to your own council. They credit your rates; nobody sends you cash.
Retirement villages count. Residents apply with a special declaration on the same form — village operators can confirm the rates portion.

Sources: Beehive — 2026/27 rates; govt.nz — rates rebate.