The Mayor of Auckland says the Government's planned rates cap is a silly idea that won't save households much money

Under the change, rates rises above four-percent would need Government approval.

Wayne Brown says his plan - with an average 7.9 percent rates rise - is needed to fund things like the City Rail Link.

Brown's compared the savings provided by the rates cap, to the price of one can of baked beans a month.

He says there's better ways of getting re-elected than rates caps, and he's proven that.