Residents in Auckland's poorest suburbs will pay extra rates from this week to get free access to public swimming pools.
Auckland Council began charging adults entry to council-run pools in April in order to allow free access for children under 16 years old.
But pools in Mangere-Otahuhu and Otara-Papatoetoe had always been free for everyone and the local boards opted to keep it that way by introducing a targeted rate.
Ratepayers in Mangere-Otahuhu will pay an additional $13.64 a year and residents in Otara-Papatoetoe will pay $31.16 in extra rates for their two pools.
The Auckland Council says the rates have not yet been finalised but are likely to come into effect on 1 July.
