The Western Bay of Plenty Council's intention to continue rating kiwifruit properties on their capital value has met with opposition from growers.
The council is hearing submissions this week on its draft annual plan for the 2011-2012 year.
New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers chief executive Mike Chapman says there are anomalies with rating rural properties on their capital value which work against kiwifruit growers.
He says the value of vines and structures are included in capital rating value, whereas the value of herds are not included in dairy farms capital rating values nor annual crops for arable farms.
Mr Chapman says the kiwifruit industry wants the council to do away with a capital rating system for all rural properties.
It also wants the council to consider rates relief this year for kiwifruit growers, whose incomes have been hit due to the vine killing disease PSA.
