Review reveals second rates error for Wellingtonians

Wellington City Council has found a second mistake in its rates bill calculation – but this time it is good news for ratepayers.

Late last year, Wellington City Council discovered an error, which meant it had undercharged the household and commercial sludge levy in the quarterly rates invoices sent in August and November 2025.

At the time, the council said it would review its billing system to discover how the mistake happened.

That review has shown Wellington City Council has invoiced its own rates correctly – but Greater Wellington rates have been overcharged by an average of $10 per residential account.

The city council’s strategy and finance officer, Andrea Reeves, said the impact of the error over the year was small, but it was “still a mistake that should not have happened”.

“We want to sincerely apologise for these errors,” she said.

“We are fixing the sludge levy error and Great Wellington rates error in the rates invoices people will receive in the week beginning 3 February 2026.

“Ratepayers will see a credit to reverse the overcharge, and an amount for the sludge levy undercharge – so ratepayers will have a lower catch up than we initially expected.”

The council would not be charging any penalties or interest as a result of either error, she said.

Meanwhile, ratepayers can expect a detailed apology and explanation letter with their rate invoices sent next week.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.