1 December, 2025

Milford landlords okay further business district rate hike

Milford commercial landlords have agreed to a two-year increase in Business Improvement District (BID) rates of nearly 70 per cent heading into 2026.
The Milford BID rate increased 42 per cent last year ($74,550) for total BID funding of $250,000, and was hiked again by 25 per cent ($62,500) for total funding of $312,500 at the recent Milford Business Association AGM.
Milford BID manager Murray Hill said another unspecified increase was also in the offing for the 2027-2028 financial year.
Milford Town Centre had gone with a 25 per cent increase “as part of a strategy to get on a level playing field with our competing centres on the basis of BID income to sales”, Hill said.
Lifting the rate was already proving the right strategy, with Milford taking the top performer spot in the September Marketview data of sales increases for Auckland shopping centres.
All the main-street shops in Milford were tenanted – another indication of its strong performance, Hill said.
“The Milford Centre has added about another 16 to 20 stores in the redevelopment they completed this year, with over half the stores already opened or leased before Christmas.”
Milford had traditionally been behind Browns Bay in commercial performance figures but had now moved ahead, Hill said.

Under Milford’s 2026-2027 business plan, the extra money would be spent on continuing to invest in more community events such as Christmas in Milford, Viva La France, Foodies Month, the Milford Fashion Show, and monthly Sunday markets.
Increased promotions and competitions were planned as well as more digital marketing initiatives.
By comparison, the neighbouring Takapuna Beach Business Association increased its BID rate for the 2025/26 year by 4 per cent ($21,331), bringing its targeted rate grant to $554,622 for the year. At its recent AGM it voted for another 9 per cent increase ($50,000), bringing the total rate to $604,622 for 2026/27.
The Devonport BID area has had no increase for the past two years but at its last AGM said it would need to raise the rate in 2027-28.
• BID rates are paid to Auckland Council by landlords, with council then passing a lump sum back to business associations. Landlords generally pass on the costs of the rates to tenants.

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