Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown’s renewed push for a ‘bed tax’ has been met with strong opposition from the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance, which says the city’s problems won’t be solved by adding another levy.

A bed tax (also called an accommodation levy) is a fee added to the cost of staying in hotels, motels, or other paid accommodation.

It’s usually charged per person, per night, or as a percentage of the room rate, with the money going to the local council to help fund tourism services and infrastructure.

Alliance spokesman Sam Warren says the Government was right to reject the idea, warning that the proposal would only create more headaches for the city’s already struggling hospitality sector.

“The last thing Auckland needs is another tax, and adding more problems isn’t going to fix the ones we already have,” Warren said.

“Taxing visitors to try and draw in more visitors is backwards logic.”

He says the Mayor should be focused on delivering on his original promise to untangle the bureaucracy that has bogged down the Supercity since its creation.

According to the Alliance, the city needs to prioritise efficiency and core services, not distractions.

“Auckland desperately needs to dig itself out of the malaise it finds itself in. The focus needs to be on cutting through the noise and getting back to basics,” Warren said.

For Hibiscus Coast locals, the debate matters because any new tax targeting visitors could impact tourism and hospitality businesses across the region.

Many rely on Auckland’s visitor market and worry an extra charge could deter domestic and international travellers.

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