Gore district councillors are pushing for public meetings at "farmer friendly times" in rural communities after modelling in the council's rates review showed rural ratepayers facing increases of 18 per cent or 28 per cent, depending on the option chosen.

The council opened consultation on the review on 21 October. It is the first comprehensive look at how rates are shared across the district in many years, and the council says the exercise is not about collecting more money overall but about who pays what.

The urgency comes from water. Water charges are due to come out of the council's rating structure from July 2027, and the remaining system must be adjusted so that it complies with the law. The proposal looks at three levers: shifting more cost from targeted rates into the general rate, which is based on capital value and land use; moving the uniform annual general charge from a fixed 25 per cent to somewhere between 22 and 28 per cent; and changing the differentials that set each property category's share of the general rate.

Modelling released with the consultation shows the rural sector carrying the heaviest increases, at 18 per cent under one option and 28 per cent under the other.

'Not scared of public meetings'

Councillor Donna Bruce called for a public meeting to be added to the consultation programme, which so far has relied on drop-in sessions outside supermarkets, online information and meetings with stakeholder organisations.

Mayor Ben Bell said the council was "not scared of public meetings".

Councillor John Gardyne suggested meetings in Waikaka, Pukerau and Waimumu, held at farmer-friendly times, because those communities would be affected most.

The push reflects frustration left over from this year's annual plan, adopted on deadline day with an average increase of 10.83 per cent. Councillors complained at the time that the timetable had left no room to talk through complex rating shifts with rural neighbours, and the rates review has revived that concern.

How to have a say

Submissions close at 5pm on Wednesday 18 November. Hearings are scheduled for 3 and 4 December, deliberations for 10 December and a final decision on 15 December.

Ratepayers can test the effect on their own property through an online rates options dashboard on the council's Let's Talk website, which the council stresses provides estimates only. Paper copies of the statement of proposal, a list of frequently asked questions and submission forms are available at the Gore District Library, Mataura Library, the council's Bowler Avenue reception, the Gore multisports complex and the Gore Visitor Centre.

The review comes days after the council's annual results summary showed only 23 per cent of residents satisfied with its decisions, with spending and rates the top concerns. How the rural share of the bill is settled in December will go a long way to deciding whether that number moves.