Local Tauranga resident Jan Gyenge (pronounced Jen Ga), organised a rates rally for concerned Tauranga residents on Sunday 18th of May, 2025. The rally started at 1.00pm at Memorial Park, with a speech by local ACT MP Cameron Luxton. Thanks Cameron for a very good speech.
Jan led an orderly march up Devonport road, stopping outside the new Council building, and finishing on the strand waterfront. Approximately 300 people attended, including Deputy Mayor Jen Scoular, and councillors Rod Taylor, Kevin Schuler, and Glen Crowther. Glen Crowther joined the march down to the strand. Thank you to the elected members for coming along.
Local Mount Maunganui Lawyer Garth Mathieson spoke to the crowd at the strand. Thank you Garth for a very good speech.
Rates are due to increase by 10-12% for the coming rating year (2025-26). There is a lot of concern by local residents that they are being rated out of their homes, and will be forced to sell up and leave Tauranga. Even for renters, increases in rates are passed on as rent increases.
Tauranga is becoming unaffordable for many residents. The big shock will come when ratepayers receive their rates bills in September. Proposed changes to water, will also mean big increases in our water bills.
Here I am after the event having a chat with Michael O’Neill, president of Mount Maunganui Ratepayers, Residents and Retailers (MRRR). I am chairman. By coincidence, orange is Jen Scoulars favourite colour. The event went really well, so all credit to Jan. I was one of the two main gofa’s beavering away behind the scenes. Garth Mathieson is also on the MRRR committee.
So what’s next Tauranga?