Increased valuations predicted, more for better land

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 7, Issue 353, 11 September 1990, Page 3

Increased valuations predicted, more for better land

Mr Mark Johansen, District Valuer of Valuation New Zealand from Te Kuiti, was invited to address Ruapehu District councillors on the subject of re-valuation of properties at their monthly meeting Friday 31 Ausgust. He outlined the likely effects of the 1990 valuation exercise and explained it is now a three year cycle after the previous five year cycle was abandoned two years ago.

He said that the value of rural properties is based on location, stock numbers carried, top dressing applications,

state of the pastures, productivity, improvements, access and general state of the property compared with others in

the same and adjoining areas. "We have to compare like with like and on the principle that market value is determined largely by the willing seller/willing buyer concept," he said. Potential production is another element which has to be taken into consideration, but this is just one factor among a whole range of others. As a result of answers to questionaires which had already been sent out

as well as inspections which had taken place, Mr Johansen estimated there would be a reasonable increase of value in the better properties but only a slight increase in the value of the poorer ones. These valuation inspections are expected to be completed by the end of November and results made available in February next year. Asked if it was fair that property owners

who made the most of their assets and maintained their properties in good order should be the most heavily penalised by having higher rates imposed because of higher valuation, Mr Johansen said that "quite a lot" of valuations are questioned, re-assessed and then amended when objections are received and appealed. Asked how many objections and appeals his office would receive each time a revaluation was done he

replied: "sixty or seventy per cent but half of these are for increased values and half for reduced values depending on the motives of the property owners, whether they were buying or selling." Councillor Eddie Turley observed that if up to seventy percent of valuations were amended on appeal "you only get thirty percent of them right in the first place." Mr Johansen agreed with Councillor Margie Snow that unlike former times

when government valuations were well below market values they were now much more in line with market values. Councillor Doug Bennett proposed that a representative of the Ruapehu District Council be available in the Waimarino on a regular basis, "say on a Saturday morning" to hear complaints, and answer questions about rates and other council matters. General Manager Cliff Houston replied "It's a good idea, we should implement it."