Auckland's mayor says says residents shouldn't be complaining, with the council set to deliver its biggest-ever rates hike.

Councillors voted to back Wayne Brown's 7.9 percent increase - 15 votes to 7, with one abstention. 

A last-ditch amendment hoping to reduce it to 5.9 percent was voted down. 

Brown says this is the responsible thing to do to achieve their budget. 

"This is basically zero rate rise, plus the cost of Auckland City Rail Link - which has been coming for a long, long time."

LISTEN ABOVE

Auckland's mayor says says residents shouldn't be complaining, with the council set to deliver its biggest-ever rates hike.
Councillors voted to back Wayne Brown's 7.9 percent increase - 15 votes to 7, with one abstention.&nbsp;
A last-ditch amendment hoping to reduce it to 5.9 percent was voted down.&nbsp;
Brown says this is the responsible thing to do to achieve their budget.&nbsp;
"This is basically zero rate rise, plus the cost of Auckland City Rail Link - which has been coming for a long, long time."
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Wayne Brown: Auckland mayor addresses planned rates increase for the city

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d4c46ccd-51f7-470c-a2e1-b456006ffbcc/transcript