The Queenstown Lakes District Council has become one of the first councils to send out rate notices via email, QLDC rating officer Judy Jackson said.

On January 13 the Council emailed 110 rates notices to those ratepayers who had indicated an early preference for the cyber option.

"We had received some requests for the service so we looked into it," Mrs Jackson said.

Several benefits came with the new option.

"It's convenient for the recipient, it saves on the paper war, it saves the Council on the cost of the mail out and those receiving their rates notice by email actually receive the notice a week ahead of those being mailed," she said.

Ratepayers had opted to have the notices sent to their home email address, work address or to an accountant or apartment manager.

Cyber recipients would not miss out on extra notices that were often inserted with rates to save on mailing costs.

"We will scan any notice and that will go out with the rates as an attachment to the email. It's a great system," Mrs Jackson said.

The Council had 19,000 ratepayers, each receiving a mailed invoice, four times a year.

"That equates to thousands and thousands of dollars. There is a real opportunity here to save ratepayer money and the odd tree," she said.

Anyone who wanted to change to the email system could email the council at services@qldc.govt.nz or send a request in writing.

ENDS

For further information please contact Judy Jackson 03 4410499

By: Sarah