Posts by The Press
1328 days ago

'Weaponising rates': Debate over plans to spur on vacant Christchurch landowner

The Team Reporter from The Press

From reporter Steven Walton:

Is it an illegal policy, or the perfect deterrent to land-bankers?

That was the clash of perspectives in the Christchurch City Council chamber on Wednesday, as developers and residents presented to councillors about its controversial proposal to significantly hike the rates of vacant central city land.

Prominent developers, including Richard Peebles, Philip Carter, Dean Marshall, and Ernest Duval, told city councillors on Wednesday they were going after the vacant land problem the wrong way. Carter claimed the proposal was illegal.

But, a central city neighbourhood association says the plan will stop land-bankers.

What is the proposal?
- From mid-2022, the council wants to more than double the differential on the “general” component of the rates bill for central city vacant landowners.
- If a site has consented use happening on it, for example a consented temporary car park, it would not be pinged.
- Only sites in the Central City Business Zone or the Central City Mixed Use (South Frame) Zone are part of the proposed hike.
- Sites that are “improved and maintained” in line with the council’s vacant sites improvement guide could apply for a rates remission. - Whether a site is complying will be decided by the council.

Read more here.

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More messages from your neighbours
22 hours ago

Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

🎉 2026 is almost here!

We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?

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Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
  • 10.4% Yes! New Year, New Me
    10.4% Complete
  • 21.5% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
    21.5% Complete
  • 68.1% Nah - not for me
    68.1% Complete
376 votes
8 days ago

Poll: Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

🎁 Holiday Gift Chat!

Do you ever regift?
What’s your take on asking for a receipt if a gift doesn’t fit?

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Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?
  • 78.8% Yes! It's better to regift what I don't need
    78.8% Complete
  • 21.2% No. It's the thought and effort that matters
    21.2% Complete
1297 votes
6 days ago

Today’s Mind-Bender is the Last of the Year! Can You Guess It Before Everyone Else? 🌟🎁🌲

The Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

I dance in the sky with green and gold, a spectacle few are lucky to behold; I’m best seen in the south, a celestial sight—what am I, lighting up the New Zealand night?

Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!

Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.

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