Veteran activist Penny Bright has lost her case against Auckland Council over her unpaid $35,000 rates bill.

The mayoral candidate wasn't aware the judgement had been made until Newstalk ZB called her for comment on the council's announcement of its win, yesterday.

Bright refused to pay rates for nearly nine years, calling for greater transparency over council spending.

In a statement, the council says it's given her ample opportunity to resolve the matter outside court through a rates postponement, but she didn't complete necessary paperwork.

The council says if Bright continues to refuse to pay her rates, it can apply to the High Court for a ratings sale of her property.

In 2007, Ms Bright declared she would not be paying her rates until she knew where her money was going.

She called on the council to reveal publicly exactly what ratepayers' money was being used for - down to the last dollar.