Stop the Christchurch city council's 7.35% rates rise
The issue
The Christchurch City Council has adopted an Annual Plan that unfairly burdens its residents with a 7.35% increase in rates. This rate rise includes a staggering $15 million in funding towards the restoration of the Christchurch Cathedral. This initiative is highly controversial not just because of the rate increase, but due to the fact that the Cathedral is owned by the Anglican Church, not the Council or the ratepayers.
The restoration of the Cathedral is indeed an important cultural and historical project, yet it raises critical questions around funding priorities and equity, especially in an economic climate where many residents are already facing financial hardships. The decision to allocate $15 million of ratepayer money to a project that should arguably be funded by the Anglican Church sends the wrong message to the people of Christchurch who are directly affected by this rates increase.
We believe the Christchurch City Council must reconsider its decision to support this particular expenditure in light of its impact on local ratepayers. There are alternative funding solutions we can explore. For instance, the Church could consider raising funds through donations and grants specifically targeted at historical and cultural preservation. This approach would ease financial pressures on ratepayers while honoring the Cathedral's significance.
Additionally, Christchurch's infrastructure and public services are in need of investment. Allocating funds to essential services, community projects, and infrastructural improvements would more directly benefit our residents, providing social and economic uplift to all, rather than focusing on a single heritage project that does not serve the entire community equitably.
Please sign this petition to urge the Christchurch City Council to halt the rates rise tied to the Cathedral's $15 million funding, and to seek fair alternatives that respect both the cultural heritage and financial well-being of our community. Together, we can advocate for more transparent and equitable decision-making that makes sense for all of Christchurch.
1,466
The issue
The Christchurch City Council has adopted an Annual Plan that unfairly burdens its residents with a 7.35% increase in rates. This rate rise includes a staggering $15 million in funding towards the restoration of the Christchurch Cathedral. This initiative is highly controversial not just because of the rate increase, but due to the fact that the Cathedral is owned by the Anglican Church, not the Council or the ratepayers.
The restoration of the Cathedral is indeed an important cultural and historical project, yet it raises critical questions around funding priorities and equity, especially in an economic climate where many residents are already facing financial hardships. The decision to allocate $15 million of ratepayer money to a project that should arguably be funded by the Anglican Church sends the wrong message to the people of Christchurch who are directly affected by this rates increase.
We believe the Christchurch City Council must reconsider its decision to support this particular expenditure in light of its impact on local ratepayers. There are alternative funding solutions we can explore. For instance, the Church could consider raising funds through donations and grants specifically targeted at historical and cultural preservation. This approach would ease financial pressures on ratepayers while honoring the Cathedral's significance.
Additionally, Christchurch's infrastructure and public services are in need of investment. Allocating funds to essential services, community projects, and infrastructural improvements would more directly benefit our residents, providing social and economic uplift to all, rather than focusing on a single heritage project that does not serve the entire community equitably.
Please sign this petition to urge the Christchurch City Council to halt the rates rise tied to the Cathedral's $15 million funding, and to seek fair alternatives that respect both the cultural heritage and financial well-being of our community. Together, we can advocate for more transparent and equitable decision-making that makes sense for all of Christchurch.
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Petition created on 23 June 2026