National U-Turn on Accommodation Tax | Auckland News

Auckland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 27, 2026 · 1m

National Party’s sudden U-turn on the Otago Central Lakes accommodation tax has left local councils furious and in limbo, prompting three South Island councils and Auckland to pause regional deals they’d already negotiated. Mayors blast the move as betrayal, stressing the deal was finalized after months of hard work — and communities deserve certainty. The Local Government Minister vows to find alternatives, but councils say it’s too little, too late — and they’re ready to meet ministers to salvage the vision. Meanwhile, Auckland’s mayor blames politicians for creating chaos, as the fate of…