It is in Christchurch that the pressure on rates is at its most acute. Despite the billions from the Government and insurance, the earthquakes have scarred not just the earth but also the city finances.
The latest predictions, from the city's proposed draft long term plan are for successive rates increases of 8% and then 8.5% and 8.5% again. That is a compound increase in three years of 26.5%. With annual inflation about 1%, the figures are frightening.
At the same time, charges for various services will increase, other services will be reduced and the asset rich council is proposing selling assets worth $750 million. All this is to try to cope with a $1.2 billion shortfall.
Interestingly, the council is led by Mayor Lianne Dalziel, a former Labour member of Parliament. Although she is no doubt philosophically opposed to asset sales, being in power forces her and the council to make hard decisions.
There are also warnings that such is the state of the backlog of work that Christchurch residents could have to put up with rough roads and footpaths for another 30 years. About 1000km (45% of the streets) were significantly damaged, needing 50,000 repairs. Of course, basic infrastructure of water and sewerage and main roads have to come first.
Christchurch, with help from income from the port, the airport and other council owned companies, had among the lowest rates in New Zealand. Predictions are that by 2025, it will be behind only Auckland in rating levels among this country's larger cities.
Not only has Christchurch suffered grievous damage, it has also lost thousands of ratepayers across the red zones. Many of these now add to the tally in Waimakariri or Selwyn districts as settlements spring up and grow beyond the city borders..
The fate of Christchurch ratepayers should be viewed sympathetically. Just about every council, in one way or another, faces similar challenges, all be they less stark. Dunedin increases, after years of profligate spending, are bad enough.
Last month's draft long term plan deliberations settled on a 3.8% increase for 2015 16, also well above inflation. The outlook for subsequent years, while not as bad as Christchurch, is not promising.
Both cities face hard choices about which worthy projects they have to continue to postpone, big issues in Dunedin being the South Dunedin community hub and a new Mosgiel pool. Christchurch has always been well served with community facilities and seems determined to return to close to that situation. It might, simply, not be able to.
Most increases around Otago are not as steep as Dunedin, although increases in charges can be large, for examples a proposed 25% increase in landfill user charges and 20% in building consent fees in Clutha.
Councils can increase income through rates or charges but need to be careful not to rob Peter to pay Paul. They can increase loans to ease short term issues but that builds up interest charges and long term debt which has to be serviced and repaid. And they can cut costs and/or services and find savings. Other options _ despite local government lobbying _ like regional petrol taxes, a share of income tax or whatever, are not going to be agreed to by central government.
Tight fiscal pressure on public institutions, which are not constrained by profit and loss and which have captive income sources, is healthy. Otherwise, it is too easy to spend other people's (ratepayers' money).
But councillors everywhere, including Christchurch, also know they have to balance frugality with progress, strong concern for the burden on ratepayers with the health of their cities and districts.
