24 March 2004

Rates Rebellion Is Not Associated With Ram

An organisation known as RAM - Residents Action Movement has been reported in the media as being the 'political voice' of the rates revolt.

This group has also announced it is putting forward a team of candidates for the Auckland Regional Council elections in October.

We have had many requests from people asking if this group is the same as the Rebellion.

It is not.

We wish to clarify that RatesRebellion is the group which organised the collection of 40,000 signatures on two petitions when the Rebellion was launched last year and which has been actively involved in promoting a fairer rating system for residential ratepayers.

RatesRebellion will also be fielding candidates at the October ARC elections.

While we have some common aims with RAM we are not allied to any political group.

We have already announced the launch of our Legal Defence Fund to support the first ratepayer to be taken to Court by the ARC for non-payment of rates as a means of protest.

We have consistently reported to the public and our supporters on the consequences of withholding rates and we feel a moral responsibility to help with the defence of anyone of the 50,000 plus protestors who are still withholding all or part of their rates, or refusing to pay penalties.

We are also leading a campaign for a total review of the way local councils are funded - we are seeking alternatives to the current rating system which is simply a tax on property values with no relationship to an individuals ability to pay - or the benefits individual ratepayers receive.

It is the RatesRebellion campaign which has the support of most of the ratepayer associations in the Auckland region.

Ends

© Scoop Media