The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by ratepayers against a High Court ruling on rates levied for the Mangawhai sewerage scheme in Northland.
The ruling, released today, found in favour of the Kaipara District Council and ordered the Mangawhai Ratepayers' and Residents' Association to pay the council's costs.
The association had applied to the High Court in 2013 for a judicial review of the legality of rates levied to fund loans the council failed to consult ratepayers about.
The High Court found the borrowing was unlawful but could not find the rates were also illegal, because Parliament had passed a special bill to validate them.
