Most people know that rates help pay for the council to collect rubbish, maintain roads and look after our parks. But did you know that rates also help fund many other things that make Auckland a great place to live?
Auckland Council has recently agreed on $62 million worth of funding over the 2017/2018 financial year for some of our most popular attractions, services and cultural institutions.
Here are 12 things you might not have known your rates help fund.
1. Auckland Museum: $30,735,000
Auckland War Memorial Museum is New Zealand’s first and largest regional museum. The collections are of national and international significance and it is the responsibility of the museum to care for these collections and share them with the world.
In 2016, 890,000 people visited the museum. Entry is free for all Aucklanders.
2. Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT): $15,222,110
MOTAT uses New Zealand’s heritage, Kiwi ingenuity, transport, technology and associated stories in a creative, interactive and hands-on way to educate and inspire the innovators of tomorrow.
3. Auckland Festival Trust: $3,337,000
The Auckland Arts Festival is an annual arts and cultural festival that celebrates our city.
It offers unique experiences for audiences and artists, and reaches more than 180,000 people a year.
4. Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra: $3,112,000
Auckland's full-time professional orchestra provides a programme of concerts, education and outreach activities, and supports the New Zealand Opera and the Royal New Zealand Ballet in their Auckland performances.
Each year, 100,000 people hear the orchestra live, with many thousands more reached through special events, recordings and other media.
5. New Zealand Maritime Museum: $2,139,500
The NZ Maritime Museum is the only museum that deals with New Zealand’s maritime history as a whole. It provides a unique discovery experience through the preservation and presentation of our maritime heritage.
The museum receives more than 120,000 visitors a year.
6. Auckland Theatre Company: $1,520,000
Auckland’s premier professional theatre company and one of the leading theatre companies in New Zealand.
The company presents a main bill season of seven to eight plays to over 80,000 people each year.
7. Surf Life Saving Northern Region: $1,266,000
Surf life savers aim to be the leading providers of water safety services on Auckland's beaches and coastlines.
They work to prevent drownings and injury and are dedicated to the safety and wellbeing of our people and communities in and around the water.
8. Stardome Observatory: $1,239,000
A place of exploration and research to promote the science of astronomy, Stardome houses the largest and most advanced planetarium theatre in New Zealand and an observatory for viewing the night sky.
Visitors to Auckland Stardome exceed 150,000 each year.
9. WaterSafe Auckland Inc: $1,050,000
The lead agency for regional water safety coordination and education in the Auckland region. The WaterSafe vision is an Auckland free from drowning.
10. New Zealand Opera: $1,025,000
New Zealand Opera is the face of professional opera in New Zealand and aims to bring human stories, music and the passion of opera to all.
Every year the opera produces three main stage productions in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington as well as open days and community events.
11: Coastguard Northern Region: $712,000
As the charity saving lives at sea, the coastguard looks after Aucklanders at harbours, gulfs and coastlines. Volunteers respond to more than 3000 calls for help in Auckland each year, from fires to sinking boats, flat batteries and medical situations.
They also provide a range of safety information, services and boating education courses.
12: Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust: $450,000
The Auckland Rescue Helicopter ensures that the communities of the greater Auckland region have the security of a professional emergency air ambulance and search and rescue service available to them any time.
