Len Brown says he'll keep to his election pledge over rates rises - if he can get others to agree.

The Auckland mayor has backed a 3.5 percent rates rise each year for the next two years, instead of the 2.5 he'd previously proposed.

He says it's the only way to avoid the cutbacks local boards and communities have found impossible to swallow.

Len Brown told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking he's still holding out hope that rates won't have to rise.

"We're not quite there, but I'm confident that we can get there or there abouts with a lot of hard work and a lot more analysis."

Aucklanders are demanding spending on parks, and need the infrastructure to get to them.

That's Len Brown's reasoning, for backing a 3.5 percent average rates rise.

An increase of 2.5 percent was previously proposed.

Councillor Christine Fletcher says it's a major hike, and a higher Uniform Annual Charge could help share the burden more fairly.

"That is the only tool in the toolbox that we have to actually get some equitable outcomes across the region, in terms of those services that all Aucklanders use.

"In my area we're going to have double digit rate increases. It's going to force many of them out of their homes."

Auckland councillors are being told to think again after voting for a 3.5 percent rates rise.

Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett says the increase is more than three times current inflation of one percent.

He's urging councillors to look harder at what they're planning to spend ratepayer money on.

He says the people of Auckland need an assurance both spending, and the size of the council, are under control.

Councillors will debate the charges today.