Community views are being sought on Southland District Council’s proposal to increase the Stewart Island/Rakiura visitor levy from the current $5 per visitor to $15.
The Empowering Act adopted by Parliament in 2012 enables Council to set and collect levies from passengers travelling to Stewart Island/Rakiura, to help fund services, facilities, and amenities for visitors while they are on the island.
The act is required because Stewart Island/Rakiura has a small resident population, which is unable to fund the facilities required by the large number of short-term visitors to the island.
Since the levy became operative in October 2013 the levy has remained at $5 per visitor. The levy is not collected from residents, visitors under 18 years old and in some other circumstances.
Since then more than $1.2 million has been collected and just over $1 million has been allocated for a wide range of infrastructure improvements, operational costs and other island projects.
The bylaw and policy were last reviewed in 2018/2019, when Council endorsed keeping the levy at $5 until a strategic review of service delivery to Stewart Island/Rakiura was completed. As a result of the review, it has been projected that the current visitor levy is unlikely to be sufficient to fund the future cost of visitor-related activities. Council is proposing a levy amount of $15 to ensure visitors contribute a reasonable amount towards these costs and to alleviate the rates burden of these costs on ratepayers.
Public feedback on the proposed increase is being sought before a decision is made.
The submission period runs from 8am on 1 March 2022 until 5pm 1 April 2022.
Information about the proposed changes and how to make a submission can be found online from 1 March 2022 at makeitstick.nz/visitorlevy