The Green Party has announced it will ensure councils get the tools they’ve been asking for, including a bed levy, to fund the infrastructure visitors use.
“Councils and the communities they represent want a bed levy to reduce the pressure on ratepayers and support the tourism they’re asked to absorb. The Greens will make it happen,” says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.
“From Auckland to Queenstown, Mayors don’t care about central government politicians’ squabbles about whether a levy is a tax. They want the tools to fund the infrastructure tourism requires and we will ensure they have them.”
“We will give councils the ability to set the rate and design the levy best to fit their local circumstances. We’ll also establish a nationally supported register for Airbnbs and other short-term accommodation, enabling a fairer distribution of the rates burden, and allowing communities to better shape their local housing economy.”
The Green Party will:
• Pass enabling legislation allowing councils to put in place a bed levy on visitor accommodation, with the rate and design set locally
• Allow councils to charge a higher levy rate on Airbnbs and other short-term accommodation
• Establish a national register of Airbnbs and other short-term accommodation so every council can see where short-term rentals are and apply the levy
“A bed levy is so common sense and well-supported because it changes with visitor numbers. When more people stay, councils have more money for the services those visitors use.”
“No council should have to build a local register and run its own system when it’s central government who still disproportionately benefits from tourist spending.”
“The Greens understand central and local government politicians are elected by the same New Zealanders, and that we need to work together to address our local and national issues.”
"We’re not interested in patronising local Government as Luxon’s Government so consistently does. We mean it when we say we believe in localism,” says Swarbrick.
