Valuations reviewed

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 504, 21 September 1993, Page 6

Valuations reviewed

Mr Mark Johannsen of Valuation New Zealand in Te Kuiti, presented the Ruapehu District Council with a three-yearly review of government valuations throughout the district when he spoke to councillors in Taumarunui last week. As a general trend he said that properties valued at under $40,000 had shown a slight decrease in valuation while properties in the middle and upper range had shown slight increases compared with 1990 values. In urban areas, Ohakune 's stable pattern was borne out by the fact that land and residential values remained fairly static with rises of only seven per cent for both capital and land values compared with capital and land values in the Northern sector of the District increasing by 64 per cent and 73 per cent respectively. Raetihi values showed an increase of 10 per cent for both commercial and residential properties but Mr Johannsen was at

pains to point out that these were overall averages so that variations could be expected between individual properties. In summarising values in the rural sector he said that remoter areas of the Waimarino have shown an increase (capital by 10 per cent and land by 30 per cent) while those on the Waimarino Plains have remained fairly stable with capital values increasing by seven per cent and land values showing a nil increase. Mr Johannsen said that all property owners would be advised by midOctober of the new valuations and said that any land or property owner who wishes to query or contest the assessment has a right of objection which must be lodged with Valuation New Zealand within four weeks of receiving their valuation notice. Valuation New Zealand plans to undertake a nation-wide publicity campaign in all newspapers to advise

property owners of their rights. This will be in addition to the obligatory notices and advertisements which Valuation New Zealand is required to place in the news media. Ruapehu District councillors expressed the hope that it would be made clear to property owners, through the planned campaign, that individual queries about the new valuations will be dealt with directly by

Valuation New Zealand and not the Ruapehu District Council. Councillors pointed out that the Ruapehu District Council was merely the 'messenger' or 'vehicle' through which the new rates will be set based on the 1993-96 valuations. Mr Johannsen confirmed that all valuation queries should be brought to the notice of Valuation New Zealand directly and not through the District Council.