The Queenstown Lakes District Council has made good its promise to review its rating and funding system every three years, seeking feedback from the community and "anyone who has queried" the rates structure since the last review in 2005.
QLDC finance general manager Stewart Burns said the rates review would be done by the funding and rating review working party, comprising members of the council's finance and corporate accountability committee.
Issues to be covered in the review were the revenue and financing policy; the independent inquiry into rates (the Shand Report); targeted rates; differential rates - particularly the roading rate; and funding tools and how rates were apportioned to various categories of ratepayers.
As part of the annual plan process, the full council decided the review scope would not include the overall level of rates payable, Mr Burns said.
Eight public meetings, to be held in Queenstown and Wanaka, began yesterday and will continue until October 17, he said.
"Existing policy and any legislative requirements will be dealt with first."
The first 30 minutes of each meeting would be set aside for the public to address the working party directly, or written submissions could be sent to the council.
The working party intended to present its recommendations to the full council on November 28, Mr Burns said.
Further information, including a schedule of meeting dates, is available from www.qldc.govt.nz.
