The rates-cap trap is set, but we can avoid it – Nick Clark

Opinion byNick ClarkNZ Herald·11 Nov, 2026 11:25 PM5 mins to readNick Clark is a Senior Fellow at The New Zealand Initiative.The bill caps annual increases in average rates per property at 2-4%. Photo / 123rfThis year’s election was full of ideas that were considered good politics, but poor policy. One of these was rates capping. Whichever parties form the next Government, the Rates Capping Bill will sit near the top of its local government pile. It was introduced just before the old Parliament dissolved