Opinion: It’s time ratepayers stopped picking up the bill for tourists.

OPINION: If you've been to Europe or the US recently, or any number of tourist destinations around the world, chances are you've paid a tourist tax for the privilege.

New York and Chicago do it. France, Spain, Germany and Switzerland do it. They all have ways of allowing tourists to contribute to the funding of infrastructure and attractions they use.

And now the time has come to empower New Zealand's local authorities to be able to charge tourists to help pay for the localised infrastructure they use. Ratepayers pay more than their fair share. It's time that other users contributed, too. Read more

Council Environment