Some councils already grant rates remissions for developments they see as economically beneficial for their district. Currently, each council develops its own remissions policy, so there is no national consistency in approach to development remissions, but there needs to be. This bill will provide a consistent set of criteria and considerations that each council must take into account when dealing with an application for rates remissions for the development of Māori land. Owners of Māori land have particular difficulties accessing capital for development, as the nature of their land titles creates difficulties in securing mortgages. Granting rates remissions or postponements during the development stage recognises this issue and is an investment for a council in obtaining future rating streams from productive utilisation of whenua Māori.