Hibiscus Coast residents are questioning Auckland Council’s transparency after receiving rates bills far above the promised 5.8 per cent average increase. News releases from Mayor Wayne Brown told homeowners to expect an average increase of 5.8 per cent this year. We purchased our house with the idea of what rates would be, and having heard that council will increase rates on average 5.8 per cent, we budgeted accordingly…Came as quite a shock. It’s a 13.5 per cent increase, and the couple say there appears to be zero information with the bill to justify the massive increase. “We’re already facing rising costs across the board, supermarket prices are soaring, fuel and insurance premiums continue to climb, and now this steep rates increase adds even more pressure.