Priority Biodiversity Sites (PBS) are pieces of land identified for their proactive biodiversity management. This means they are ecologically important sites that may include the full range of native ecosystems (e.g., wetlands, forests, sand dunes, geothermal) and threatened species in the region.
They’re prioritised based on their environmental significance and the level of threat they face. Some PBS land is already non-rated through legislation, for example conservation areas, reserves, land with Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Open Space Covenants and unused Māori freehold land.
The remission is based on the site meeting the remissions criteria.
- Be identified as a Priority Biodiversity Site by us
- Be actively managed to promote biodiversity.
- Have an approved management plan in place.
- Be legally protected to provide a level of protection proportionate to the rates relief offered.
If you’ve already been working with our land management team to protect and manage this area on your property, we can work with you to determine whether it meets the criteria. If the criteria are met, a valuation of the PBS area will be made to calculate the remission portion of the rates.
The amount of the remission will be limited to the General Rates (land value component) and will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Eligibility will be decided by both our rates and the land management teams considering:
- The land value for the covenanted land must be valued by an approved valuer.
- The ecological importance of the land.
- The impact that any rates remission would have on promoting biodiversity.
- The relativity of relief offered compared to relief available through other options, such as QEII Open Space Covenant.
For more information contact your local land management officer to discuss your potential eligibility for this rates remission.