Financial assistance available for ratepayers
In the current period of uncertainty, we appreciate that many Aucklanders are facing financial hardship. The following information outlines some of the financial assistance measures that are available to help ratepayers.
Deferment of rates payment without penalties
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Under normal circumstances if your recent rates invoice was not paid in full by 28 May 2020 a penalty payment would be applied to any outstanding balance. However, if you are experiencing financial difficulties, contact the council to arrange payment by smaller installments, or defer payment of the full amount, until 31 August 2020 without attracting penalties. All registered ratepayers who require financial assistance and support at this time may apply. Here are some examples of how you can demonstrate that you are experiencing financial hardship:
Business ratepayers
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In receipt of government wage subsidy
In receipt of government-guaranteed business loan
Tax payments deferred by IRD
Residential ratepayers
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Is a participant of the mortgage repayment holiday scheme
Has lost their job or had a substantial reduction in income
To apply please go online here or call us on 09 301 0101.
You will need your name, full address of the property for which you are applying and your rates assessment number.
You will not need to upload evidence of your financial hardship in order to apply, but we may request this from you at a later date.
If you pay your rates by direct debit, you can apply to suspend your payments until 31 August 2020.
Please note this deferment scheme:
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is in addition to existing payment plans already offered to ratepayers.
does not include any outstanding payments and penalties incurred prior to 25 March 2020. In addition, the following support is available for residential ratepayers:
Rates postponement policy
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The council has a rates remission and postponement policy allowing residential ratepayers who meet certain criteria to postpone payment of their rates until a specified event such as the sale of their property. Detail on eligibility and conditions available in this document.
Rates rebate scheme
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Rates relief of up to $640 is available for those on incomes below a specified level through the government’s rates rebates scheme. Go here for details of eligibility and conditions.
Accommodation Supplement
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The Accommodation Supplement is the Government’s primary assistance for accommodation costs, including for homeowners seeking help with their rates payments. People do not need to receive a main benefit to be eligible for the accommodation supplement. For information on eligibility and to apply for the accommodation supplement you can contact Work and Income either its website at or call 0800 559 009.
More information
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If you are facing difficulties paying your rates, call us on 09 301 0101 and staff will be happy to provide further information on these options.
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The Gospel’s Relevance Today**
The Gospel, meaning ‘good news’, is the cornerstone of the message contained in the Bible’s first four books—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. While these records were written approximately 2,000 years ago, a natural question arises: why is this Gospel still relevant and vital for us today? This analysis seeks to explore what the Bible itself defines as the Gospel and to understand its enduring significance.
**Defining the Gospel: Core Biblical References**
The Gospel is not a vague concept; Scripture provides clear descriptions of its content and focus.
* **The Gospel of the Kingdom:** In Matthew 4:23, as Jesus begins his ministry, he is described as “preaching the gospel of the kingdom.” This immediately establishes that the good news is centrally about a kingdom—the Kingdom of God. His accompanying miracles served to validate the authority of this message.
* **The Gospel of Jesus Christ:** Mark 1:1 opens with, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Here, “Christ” is a title meaning ‘anointed one’. Thus, the good news is intrinsically about Jesus: his identity as the Anointed One and his unique status as the Son of God.
* **The Gospel of God’s Grace:** In Acts 20:24, the Apostle Paul speaks of his mission to “testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Grace signifies an undeserved gift. This reveals that the Gospel involves a gift from God, offered not because it is merited, but out of His benevolence.
* **The Gospel of Salvation and Peace:** Romans 1:16 declares the Gospel is “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,” breaking down barriers between Jew and Gentile (Greek). Furthermore, Romans 10:15 calls it the “gospel of peace,” pointing to a future state of peace brought about by this message.
* **The Gospel Summarised:** 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 provides a foundational summary. Paul reminds believers of the gospel he preached, “by which also you are saved.” He then states its core historical facts: “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” The Gospel is therefore rooted in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus.
In synthesis, the Gospel is the good news of **salvation and future peace in the Kingdom of God**, made possible by **the grace of God** and **the obedient sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ**, and offered to all who believe.
**Old Testament Foundations: The Gospel Preached to Abraham**
A crucial question is whether the Gospel is confined to the New Testament. Scripture shows its foundations were laid much earlier. Galatians 3:8 states explicitly that “the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’”
This reference points back to Genesis 12:1-3, where God made profound promises to Abraham: to make him a great nation, to bless those who blessed him, and that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” These promises—later reaffirmed to Isaac and Jacob—form the bedrock of the Gospel hope. The good news of salvation through Christ is the fulfillment of how **all nations** would be blessed through Abraham’s “seed.”
**The Gospel’s Personal Relevance: Good News for You Today**
How does this ancient message become “good news for you” today? The application is clearly outlined in Galatians 3.
* **Access through Faith in Christ:** Galatians 3:26 declares, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” The promise made to Abraham is now extended to anyone with faith in Jesus.
* **The Role of Baptism:** Verse 27 explains, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Baptism is the God-appointed act of faith that identifies a believer with Christ’s death and resurrection.
* **Unity and Inheritance:** Verses 28-29 reveal the glorious outcome: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Through the Gospel, all barriers are removed; believers become spiritual descendants of Abraham and heirs to the promises of the Kingdom.
This Gospel was once a mystery hidden in God’s purpose (Ephesians 3:3-9). Now, it has been revealed: the unsearchable riches of Christ, offering salvation to all who heed the call, believe the message, and are baptised into him.
**Conclusion: An Enduring and Open Invitation**
The Gospel is far more than a historical account; it is the living, powerful good news of God’s plan for salvation. It is rooted in promises to Abraham, accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and open to all people without distinction. It offers a tangible hope—the hope of resurrection, peace, and an inheritance in the coming Kingdom of God. This is why the Gospel remains profoundly relevant. It is an invitation to listen, believe, and stand firm in this hope, linking our lives today to the eternal purpose of God.
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