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Budget 25
The Ruapehu District Council is preparing to once again sell off sections it considers “abandoned land” – where the owner has not paid rates for at least five years.
The process came under fire last year, although the council claims research on the ownership of the land has been “thorough”.
The council posts notices on the properties, makes inquiries with the neighbours, and checks with the Waitangi Tribunal before applying to the court for permission to sell the land.
Rates range from $680 to nearly $2000 and in some cases, have not been paid for 10 years.
The council’s website says the sell-off is part of a “statutory process” involving a public tender, including at least two public advertisements.
The successful buyer will of course need to be particularly careful to pay rates on time in future.
The tender opens tomorrow and closes April 7.
The tender includes 18 properties in the Ruapehu district, in locations such as Raetihi, Owhango and Ohura. Such properties can often be rather sought-after, due to their proximity to the Ruapehu ski fields, Whakapapa and Turoa.
A full list of the properties is available on the Ruapehu District Council website.
Hazel Phillips
Mon, 07 Feb 2011
Mon, 07 Feb 2011
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Ruapehu rate-dodgers to meet their maker
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