Category: Auckland Council

Source: Auckland Council

The ancient trees of Albert Park watched over the arrival of four newcomers in Victoria Street East last week – between Lorne Street and Albert Park.

Completion of the greening of this section of Victoria Street is close.

Four trees were crane-lifted from trucks, taking their positions in new street-side seating areas. The trees – pūriri, pōhutukawa, titoki and rewarewa – are another visual symbol of the transformation Aucklanders are seeing in midtown’s station neighbourhood.

Auckland Council’s midtown regeneration programme is ensuring the area will be ready when the City Rail Link (CRL) and Te Waihorotiu Station open.

Widened footpaths, a dedicated cycleway, fewer traffic lanes, new art, new trees and landscaped resting places along the redesigned sections of Victoria Street are seeing the street reflect its te reo Māori name.

Te Hā Noa is a name gifted by mana whenua. Te Hā is about life’s essence – to breathe – and Noa is about being free in the journey to experience your surroundings.

Mana whenua also guided the design of the new terraced tree pits, referencing the geology and forms of Tāmaki Makaurau.

Tree pits are designed to support the city’s stormwater drainage system. Surface rainwater disperses into the pits, where it irrigates the trees and filters water before it flows to the sea. They are also designed to keep the trees safe from heavy equipment and vehicles and allow them to flourish for years to come.

By the end of May people will see the area finished, with uplighting of trees and almost 600 new plants greening the gardens at street level.

There are 16 benefits of trees cited in Auckland Council’s Urban Ngahere (Forest) Strategy.

Here are four:  

• The cooling effect of trees, as a result of evapo-transpiration, reduces the urban heat island effectand enhances resilience to an increasing number of hot days (>25°C), one of the projected impacts of climate change. In simple terms, it’s a process where a plant cools itself by sweating water vapour through the pores in its leaves, lowering the temperature of the air.

• Trees reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere through sequestering carbon in new growth. One tonne of carbon stored in wood is equivalent to removing 3.67 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere.

• Trees improve air quality by removing air pollutants. A 2006 study estimated that Auckland’s urban trees remove 1320 tonnes of particulates, 1230 tonnes of nitrogen dioxide and 1990 tonnes of ozone.

• Studies have shown that trees intercept around 15% of the rain that falls on their canopy, depending on a tree’s species and architecture.

In time, Te Hā Noa will form a green link across the city, linking two much-loved city parks – Rangipuke / Albert Park and Waikōkota / Victoria Park.

Read more about the completion of the first section of Victoria Street – between Elliott Street and Queen Street at OurAuckland.

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council has appointed Rukumoana Schaafhausen as director of Watercare Services Limited (Watercare).

Cr Maurice Williamson chaired the selection panel and welcomes Rukumoana to the Watercare board.

“Ruku brings a wealth of experience of relevant sectors and will bring an essential Māori perspective to the governance of Watercare. She was the stand-out candidate in a highly impressive field. She will be an exceptional asset to the governance of Watercare Services ensuring that the organisation continues to deliver, and deliver well for Auckland,” says Cr Williamson.

The appointment was approved by the Performance and Appointments Committee on 29 April 2025. The committee is responsible for all appointments to the boards of council-controlled organisations, in accordance with the council’s Appointment and Remuneration Policy for Board Members and the Local Government Act.

About Rukumoana Schaafhausen

Rukumoana Schaafhausen is trained commercial and property solicitor who has more than 20 years of board room experience leading iwi organisations, utilities (energy and water), banking, investments and property development.

Her current roles include the boards of Contact Energy, Kiwi Group Capital, Alvarium Limited and Tainui Group Holdings.

Source: Auckland Council

In the wake of a spate of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, including the most recent at Abilities’ North Shore recycling plant, Auckland Council supports the ruling by the Auckland District Court in the matter of Auckland Council v Sims Metal Industries Limited, following a significant fire at the Sims Metal scrap metal yard in Favona in July 2023.

The incident, caused by the ignition of a lithium-ion battery within a large scrap metal stockpile released toxic smoke across parts of Auckland and highlighted a growing national and international issue surrounding battery disposal and fire risk.

Judge Smith, in his decision, recognised the unique challenges posed by lithium-ion batteries, noting there is currently no available technology capable of reliably identifying or detecting them within scrap material.

The judge described the situation as “a new and emerging issue,” which has led to fires not only in New Zealand but around the globe.

While acknowledging Sims Metal’s cooperation and the absence of any intentional wrongdoing, Judge Smith imposed a fine of $30,000, reduced from an initial starting point of $50,000, to reflect an early guilty plea, meaningful cooperation, and the agreement to enforcement orders.

Fire at the Sims Metal Scrapyard.

The enforcement orders issued require Sims Metal to implement several improvements at the James Fletcher Drive, Favona site.

These include the completion of a secondary access point to the site by May 2025, the development of a certified Fire Risk Management Plan and a Stockpile Management Plan. The orders are registered with the Environment Court and will remain in place unless superseded by conditions with a new resource consent.

Judge Smith noted, “There has been considerable difficulty in finding a technical solution to the problems with batteries catching on fire.

“This is not only a national problem but an international one; these orders form a workaround solution until more technical solutions, particularly for bulk disposal, are available.”

Auckland Council’s Field Operations Manager for Compliance, David Pawson, emphasised the importance of remaining vigilant despite the novelty of the issue.

“We recognise this is a new issue and we’re all finding our way with lithium-ion batteries and those handling them.

“But businesses still need to take responsibility for their disposal – this is their business. While we’re all working on solutions, consent conditions still need to be met.”

The council views this case as an important precedent in balancing empathy for emerging challenges with the necessity of regulatory compliance.

It also highlights the importance of proactive risk management and industry-wide collaboration to adapt to evolving environmental risks.

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland’s critically threatened reef heron (matuku moana) is in the spotlight after an initial summer survey, revealing concerning findings with numbers in the inner Hauraki Gulf worryingly low.

As part of their work to protect the biodiversity of bird species in the Auckland region, Auckland Council’s Environmental Services team, alongside a dedicated network of bird experts, boaties and volunteer conservationists, surveyed some of the likely key locations for a reef heron across the region between December 2024 and February 2025. While Auckland is likely a national stronghold for these birds, they have not been monitored previously.

The team’s mission: to uncover the secretive nesting habits of this elusive species and assess its population health.

The results?

A total of only 10 nests were identified, with sightings of two juveniles and three lone birds, where nationally there are estimated to be between 300-500 birds.

Critically threatened reef heron on sea shore.

Auckland’s coastlines are arguably under the greatest pressures in the country from coastal development, our growing population and the increasing uses of coastal spaces. As a consequence, Auckland’s local reef heron population could well be facing greater pressures than elsewhere in New Zealand.

Chair of Auckland Council’s Planning, Environment and Parks Committee Councillor Richard Hills, says the survey findings reinforce the need to ramp up protection efforts.

“The reef heron is a fascinating and rare bird that has quietly existed on our shores for centuries. With numbers this low, every nest and every bird count. Protecting them from human disturbance and predators is crucial if we want to ensure their survival for future generations,” says Councillor Hills.

Reef herons, often mistaken for their more common white-faced relatives, prefer rocky shorelines where they stealthily hunt small crustaceans and fish. They are rarely seen, avoiding humans and nesting in secluded caves, rock crevices, and under coastal pōhutukawa trees. Disturbance from boats, people, and pest species like cats and stoats have likely contributed to their decline, forcing them to retreat to small offshore islands.

Auckland Council’s Regional Biodiversity Advisor Jacinda Woolly notes that while the discovery of nine birds in the Manukau Harbour is encouraging, the low numbers in the inner Hauraki Gulf is concerning.

“These birds were once more commonly seen along our coastlines, but habitat loss, increasing human activity, and introduced predators have pushed them into hiding,” Woolly says.

“The fact that we found four nests in the Manukau suggests there are still some areas where they can thrive, but we need to do more to protect their habitats.

The findings from this initial survey will be used by Auckland Council to inform targeted protection measures, such as pest control, signage to reduce human disturbance, and advocacy for safeguarding critical nesting sites.

Despite their rarity, reef herons can still be spotted in the areas they regularly use. They are sometimes seen stalking the shallows, using their wings to create shaded areas that lure unsuspecting prey within striking distance.

With their population so precariously low, Auckland Council asks people to respect the birds’ habitats. Simple actions – such as keeping a safe distance if you see one, controlling pets near coastal areas and always following the relevant dog rules (especially on our pest-free islands), and supporting conservation initiatives can make a significant difference.

“The reef heron is a taonga of our coastal environment,” says Councillor Hills. “If we act now, we can give them the best chance of survival.”

More information is available on New Zealand Bird Online. 

Source: Auckland Council

The public consultation for Auckland Council’s Annual Plan 2025/2026 shows most Aucklanders want Government to enact legislative change to enable a bed night visitor levy.
The consultation summary shows 60% of individuals, 58% of organisations, and 13 out of 14 Māori entities support a bed night visitor levy. Many of those who supported the proposal indicated a desire for public event funding, for visitor contribution to infrastructure, and for reducing local resident costs, and the view that it’s common overseas.

The public feedback is consistent with the findings of a poll commissioned by the mayor’s office in August last year which found that 64% of Aucklanders support a bed night levy of 2.5%.

The poll was conducted by Curia Market Research between 25-29 August 2024 and has a sample size of 2,000 Aucklanders. The results are weighted to reflect the regional population in terms of gender, age, and ward.

“Despite the Government’s sheepishness towards a bed night levy, a clear majority of Aucklanders want it. They want visitors to contribute to the funding of the activities and services they use. It shouldn’t impact hoteliers’ profit margins but rather add to their bottom line. I think that’s fair, and common in many world-class destinations.”

“Equally if the industry wants more events here, they need to do their bit to support these events happening. Ratepayers climbing out of a recession should not be burdened with these costs,” says Mayor Brown.

He says Government would be wise to listen to the feedback.

“Aucklanders are enjoying a better relationship with Wellington because I’m making sure they realise the powerhouse that we are.
I’m telling the government to be wise and do the obvious and easy thing here.”

Submissions also showed a majority support for the overall direction of the council’s annual plan. Of individuals, 72% support all or most of the overall plan. Of organisations, 81% and 11 out of 13 Māori entities support all or most of the overall plan.

“This tells me that we’re on track with delivering what we said we would in the LTP. We are investing in every area we said we would while keeping rates as low as possible. In fact, the lowest for any metropolitan city in NZ.”

Mayor Brown says the annual plan is a small but crucial step in moving Auckland in a progressive direction.

“My vision is for Auckland to lead New Zealand on a path to prosperity. That means lifting productivity and real incomes so that every New Zealander – not just Aucklanders – can enjoy a higher standard of living.

“As the powerhouse of our national economy, and our gateway to the world, Auckland is New Zealand’s biggest asset. But the council is just one player and that’s why it is important for all Aucklanders to participate in this conversation,” Mayor Brown says.

I’m pleased to see we had the second largest number of submissions for an Annual Plan, we have high engagement and that’s good.”

The final Mayor’s Proposal for the Annual Plan 2025/2026 will be available in the coming weeks. The council’s Budget Committee and Governing Body will then make final decisions at the end of May.

Source: Auckland Council

Three options for the future use of Western Springs Stadium will go out to public consultation this month, before the council makes a final recommendation later this year. 

Auckland Council’s Governing Body agreed to invite Aucklanders to give their feedback on the future use of Western Springs Stadium before determining a preferred direction. 

Max Hardy, Director of Group Strategy and Chief Executive’s Office, says Western Springs Stadium is a valued venue with a long history in Auckland. 

“Western Springs has served as an important venue for sports, large-scale outdoor festivals and concerts. 

“Through this process, we are seeking Aucklanders’ views on the future opportunities for the site and how it could continue to contribute to the city’s sports, entertainment, and community life. 

“We encourage people to consider the options and tell us what they think,” he says. 

This follows an expression of interest (EOI) process carried out by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU), which owns and operates Western Springs Stadium with funding from Auckland Council. Two redevelopment proposals emerged through that process. There is also a third option of doing nothing or exploring other ideas.  

A report presented to the Governing Body summarised the EOI process, the three options, and the recommendation of the TAU Board. 

A majority of the Governing Body supported asking the public for feedback on all three options, to help inform decision making on the future use of Western Springs Stadium.  

The three options that have been identified for public consideration are: 

• ​Option 1: Auckland Arena – a multi-purpose sports and entertainment precinct centred on a football-focused 12,500-seat stadium (25,000+ capacity for concerts), including high-performance facilities, 8 indoor basketball courts, 4 padel courts and related commercial activity (hospitality and sports/health-related services). This option would be funded by private investment (in the range of $200-300 million as the initial investment, with all ongoing operational and capital costs covered, with no upfront or ongoing costs to the ratepayer) in exchange for a long-term discounted or community lease. 

• ​Option 2: Western Springs Bowl – multi-purpose sports and entertainment facilities including permanent music/festival infrastructure (50,000 capacity), a broadcast-capable boutique stadium (5000+ seats) and a multisport community hub. This option would be funded by a mix of private investment ($30 million) and ratepayer funding ($18-20 million upfront investment and ongoing operational and capital costs), as well as long-term discounted and/or community leases.  

• ​Option 3: neither option above; do nothing or explore other ideas – under this option, TAU could retain existing arrangements with Ponsonby Rugby Club whose lease runs until 2027, or explore other ideas for the venue.  

Consultation will run from 19 May until 15 June 2025. Feedback can be provided through the council’s AKHaveYourSay website and other engagement activities. 

Following consultation, the findings will be presented to the council’s Governing Body. A recommendation will then be provided to the TAU board and TAU will make the final decision, as the venue owner and operator.  

Any future redevelopment would remain subject to detailed due diligence, business case preparation, and commercial negotiations.

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council has been working with landowners and residents on an operation to restore native forest on Kawau Island by removing wallabies and possums. After years of planning and preparation, the first stage of the project, Working towards a pest-free Kawau Island, is now under way.

The project is a ground-based operation, primarily carried out by hunters, trained indicator dogs and thermal drones. Subject to permit approval and necessity, targeted toxins are proposed to be used in a second phase of the project to support hunting in areas where monitoring has revealed a high number of wallabies and possums.  

The first stage will begin at the southern end of the island, targeting pest populations in that area before moving to the northern side. The entire programme is expected to take 18 months, with monitoring continuing for a further six months.

From 1 May 2025, hunting will start in the public conservation land of Kawau Island Historic Reserve and nearby private properties (block 1 in the map below), targeting wallabies and possums.

A map of Kawau Island showing the treatment areas.

Towards a pest-free Kawau Island

The complete removal of pest animal species, starting with wallabies and possums, will make Kawau Island one of the largest inhabited pest-free islands in New Zealand –and a legacy for generations to come.

This collaborative environmental programme is part of the Auckland Regional Pest Management Plan 2020-2030, and works with, and builds on, the Pohutukawa Trust’s conservation efforts by seeking to eradicate mammalian pest species from Kawau Island to benefit nature, residents and visitors.

Auckland Council is working in partnership with Manuhiri Kaitiaki Charitable Trust, Department of Conservation, a ground-based delivery consortium led by Island Conservation, as well as actively engaging the island’s community to achieve a pest animal-free Kawau Island.

The project is collaboratively funded, thanks to Predator Free 2050 Ltd, Auckland Council (through the Natural Environment Targeted Rate), the Ministry for Primary Industries (through the Tipu Mātoro National Wallaby Eradication Programme), Department of Conservation and the Kawau community.

“This project wouldn’t be possible without our project funders, including landowners and residents of the island. We’ve seen generous donations and pledges through the New Zealand Nature Fund by the Kawau Island community. We know landowners, residents and those who frequent Kawau Island are invested in this project, the decisions we make and the outcomes,” says Samantha Hill, Auckland Council General Manager, Environmental Services.

“We will continue to engage with user groups, landowners, occupiers and stakeholders about the operation. We are also working closely with our iwi partner, Ngāti Manuhiri and agencies like the Department of Conservation and the Ministry of Health.”

The impact of introduced pest animals

A large island, Kawau has an extensive canopy of native forest. It is home to threatened and at-risk indigenous species including the North Island weka, kororā/little blue penguin and pāteke/brown teal, as well as many other species of shore and forest birds, including the North Island brown kiwi and kākā.

“Browsing species like possums and wallabies put pressure on our forests which, if left unmanaged, can lead to long-term damage and changes to the natural environment. This is especially evident on Kawau Island, where the selective browsing of wallabies and possums has changed the forest composition, increased fire risk and destroyed potential habitats and food sources for indigenous species,” explains Samantha Hill.“

“Additionally, Kawau Island continues to be the only place where wallabies are found in Tāmaki Makaurau and their continued presence is a biosecurity risk to primary industry and the natural environment in mainland Auckland and Northland,” she says.

“A successful programme will enable the forest to recover, potentially attracting new species from nearby pest-free islands and sanctuaries. It will also allow us to preserve habitats for threatened and at-risk species that make Kawau unique.”

Important information

• Stage one of the programme begins on 1 May and involves hunting.
• Residents and visitors to the island should follow all warning signage.

Signage will be in place during the operation and will remain for the duration of the caution period. For more information on the Working towards a pest-free Kawau Island project, including FAQs and further factsheets, please visit the project website or phone us on 09 301 0101. To support this project and ongoing conservation efforts, visit New Zealand Nature Fund.

Source: Auckland Council

Etched into the walls of our city, street culture never grows old.

This arts season, discover some exciting and mysterious art that you might never have noticed before.

Auckland Council Head of City Centre Programmes Jenny Larking calls it a hidden collection of our art history.

“Standing in a single spot in Durham Lane West it’s possible to take in the city’s oldest existing piece of graffiti culture, a mid-1990s view of place, and a contemporary portrayal of what our feet stand on beneath the central city.

“Some of these artworks are a celebration of Te Waihorotiu stream, which flows underground, a treasured stream that’s also honoured in the name of the new station taking shape in the area,” she says.  

Here’s more about this unique urban experience:

Durham Lane West

Lane Change by John Radford 1995 – in Durham Lane West.

Artist John Radford’s Lane Change, on the wall of an underpass off Durham Lane West, remembers a slice of Auckland’s history. The artwork cements a replica façade of an 1880s building, which was in Shortland Street, into the wall.

Directly opposite Lane Change is a John Radford mural ‘…that was then, and that was then…’ completed in 1994 in this backstreet shrine to street culture.

This artwork also explores themes of buildings past. Both artworks were funded from a donation by a property development company responsible for a large development in the area at the time, part of Auckland City Council’s incentive scheme for the creation of public art and public spaces by private companies.

In ‘…that was then, and that was then…’ words and phrases overlap and intersect to represent the passage of time. The words draw from Auckland’s history and include the names of Māori pā sites, natural features, and local businesses that have been built over and around in the landscape of Tāmaki Makaurau.

In 2010 an unknown contractor inadvertently painted over the mural. The artist, John Radford, restored the work leaving some of the grey paint to add to the evolution and meaning of the artwork.

“I think it adds to the look of the work. There are now more traces of layers on the wall,” the artist told The Aucklander at the time.

Walk further into the underpass and discover the Queen Street City Beat mural created in 1986 by Opto & Dick Clique (Otis and Dick Frizzell).   

In 1986, 15-year-old Otis Frizzell recruited his well-known artist father as free labour to help him with this historic graffiti mural painted in the alleyway. Otis recalls the council of the time wanted to brighten up the inner city and he was commissioned to create the mural.   

The only real graffiti art reference available at the time was the movie Beat Street, so the artist wrote QUEEN STREET CITY BEAT. The mural depicts a characterisation of Queen Street at the time featuring recognisable buildings – the Classic Cinema, Auckland Town Hall, Keans Jeans, the neon cowboy and McDonalds. 

Otis Frizzell says: “I’m stoked to get a chance to breathe some new life into this old mural. Of course when I painted this with my Dad back in ’86 I had no idea it would last so long, and eventually become one of the oldest existing Street Art pieces in Aotearoa.”

Opposite the Frizzell work is Holly Mafaufau’s Tāmaki Makaurau completed in 2024.

Holly enjoys the conceptual, problem-solving aspect of design and takes a similar approach to the walls she paints. She says that words are weapons, and public walls are an opportunity to speak to people.

“This artwork acknowledges the historic bodies of water of the area and their importance in the provision of kai (food). It was created with the intention to soften a hard urban space while contributing to the collection of existing artworks in this space,” Holly says.   

Airedale Street  

Artist Poi Ngawati.

Exciting new artworks curated by Ross Liew for Auckland Council have transformed the Airedale Street steps, a popular pathway between Auckland University of Technology and Queen Street.

A mural has been created by artist Poi Ngawati (Waikato Tainui, Ngāti Patupo, Ngāti Whawhaki, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine). 

Titled Te Huinga Tai – The gathering of tides, this vibrant piece of street art talks about the meeting of tides from all around the world. Depicted via a modern Māori stylised pūhoro design, the work reflects five key values; people first, pursue excellence, embrace change, act with integrity and serve our world. 

The north facing walls are painted in shades of violet purple and the south facing walls shades of teal. This colour combination speaks of day and night, light and dark, and how the waters of Te Waihorotiu continue to flow beneath the streets.

Accompanying the mural is a new collaborative light work suspended in the tree above, created by Poi Ngawati and Angus Muir to complete the transformation of this space. The design speaks to the connection between the stars, ocean, and iwi guiding our journeys and shaping our stories.

The flowing forms represent rain, linking Ranginui and Papatūānuku. By day, it moves with the environment; by night, it connects to the stars above. 

Midtown street parties

On the way to or from the next midtown street party – on the third Thursday of each month – Aucklanders are encouraged to stroll to Durham Lane West and Airedale Street to witness street art they might never have noticed before.

Midtown street parties are enabled by Auckland Council to build vibrancy and support local businesses in the newly-emerging neighbourhood around Te Waihorotiu Station, with funds from the city centre targeted rate.

Read the midtown street party schedule at OurAuckland.

Source: Auckland Council

Aucklanders have had their say on the 2025/2026 Annual Plan, with more than 13,000 pieces of feedback received during the recent consultation, and council hearing from individual Aucklanders, groups and organisations.

This continues a trend of increased engagement with Auckland Council plans in recent years, with the latest feedback coming from a wide range of Aucklanders by age, ethnic group and parts of the region.

The consultation, held in March, invited all Aucklanders to share their views on Auckland Council’s proposed Annual Plan 2025/2026.

The draft plan focuses on delivering the second year of the Long-term Plan 2024-2034 and included an opportunity to consider the funding of events and destination marketing, and the priorities of local boards.

The feedback shows support for the overall plan, including the bed night visitor levy concept and extending the refuse targeted rate to Franklin and Rodney areas. Feedback on each local board’s priorities will also be shared with those boards.

Mayor Wayne Brown said submissions showed a majority support for the overall direction of the council’s annual plan.

“This tells me that we’re on track with delivering what we said we would in the LTP. We are investing in every area we said we would while keeping rates as low as possible. In fact, the lowest for any metropolitan city in New Zealand.”

Overall, the Annual Plan 2025-2026 consultation showed – of those individuals who addressed the plan overall – that 27 per cent support all of the proposed plan; 45 per cent support most of the plan; 15 per cent did not support most of it; 7 per cent do not support any of the plan and 6 per cent don’t know.

A possible bed night visitor levy to help fund destination marketing and events was supported by 60 per cent of individuals who responded on the issue; 27 per cent did not support it; and 13 per cent submitted ‘other’ or ‘don’t know’.

The majority of organisations and Māori which responded on the bed night visitor levy also supported it.

Budget Committee chair Greg Sayers says it is great to see such a wide range of Aucklanders getting involved in giving feedback.

“It’s positive to see Aucklanders taking the time to read our plans and give feedback on the aspects that are important to them. That can now be included in the decision-making process,” said Mr Sayers.

“The feedback is a good representation of our communities – participation was spread across our local board areas and demographics, such as age and ethnicity.

“While the Annual Plan 2025/2026 is all about delivering on the second year of our long-term plan, with no significant changes to investment or services, we wanted to check in with all Aucklanders to ensure the plan and priorities are on the right track.

“We had 13,000 pieces of feedback, which is our second highest for an annual plan and the highest ever for the first year after a long-term plan. It’s the equivalent population of Oamaru or Te Awamutu having their say.”

General feedback provided

Many Aucklanders also took the opportunity to provide general feedback on other issues on their minds.

Extending the refuse targeted rate to Franklin and Rodney saw 57 per cent of individuals who responded on this issue supporting it, 21 per cent not in support and 22 per cent submitting ‘other’ or don’t know.  The rate funds waste collection in most local boards.

Many individual submitters in support of the overall plan offered additional feedback. Of those, 24 per cent of those individuals who submitted in favour of the overall plan and provided a comment cited the need for improved public transport and its funding; 19 per cent shared concerns on rates increases; and another 19 per cent highlighted the need to invest in core infrastructure.

Organisations emphasised fairer community funding (including support for the fairer funding model for local boards and concerns about its redistributive effects), investment in infrastructure, and suggested greater community involvement in planning for the annual plan.

So what’s in the proposed annual plan?

The plan sets out the council’s proposed services and investments for the 2025/2026 year and how Auckland Council intends to pay for these, including a 5.8 per cent rates increase for the average value residential property, which is in line with the long-term plan.

Feedback was also sought on major events and destination marketing for the region. To help cover a shortfall in funding that was outlined in the long-term plan, the council has been seeking a bed night visitor levy.  The levy would meet the shortfall and fund even more destination management, marketing and major events activities in Auckland.

A fairer funding approach will begin to be phased in for the Annual Plan 2025/2026 to enable local boards to better respond to their communities, by addressing funding imbalances between the 21 local boards. Each local board’s priorities for the year were included in the Consultation Document.

Proposed changes to targeted rates, fees and charges were set out in the consultation. This included extending the targeted rate for refuse to Franklin and Rodney. There are also some changes for fees relating to additional council services, such as dog adoption, cemetery and cremation, and bach fees.

Information on the Annual Plan 2025/2026 is available at akhaveyoursay.nz/ourplan.

The council’s Budget Committee and Governing Body will consider the Annual Plan in May and June, with the plan to be implemented for the financial year beginning July 1.

Consultation feedback

Summary of statistics:

• 13,016 pieces of feedback:

  • 3001 at in-person events
  • 222 organisations
  • 13 mana whenua
  • 9 other Maori entities.

• 9006 individual responses on the overall plan:

  • 27% support all of the proposed plan
  • 45% support most of the plan
  • 15% do not support most of the plan
  • 7% don’t support any of the plan
  • 6% don’t know.

• 131 organisation responses on the overall plan:

  • 15% support all of the proposed plan
  • 66% support most of the plan
  • 12% do not support most of the plan
  • 2% don’t support any of the plan
  • 5% don’t know.

• 13 mana whenua responses on the overall plan:

  • 2 support all of the proposed plan
  • 3 support most of the plan
  • 2 did not support most of the plan
  • 6 did not provide a clear stance on the plan overall.

• 9 Maori organisations’ responses on the overall plan:

• 6 support all of the proposed plan
• 3 support most of the plan
• 3 did not provide a clear stance on the plan overall.

Source: Auckland Council

From late April to December 2025, parts of Hayman Park in Manukau will be temporarily closed for work to further enhance its green spaces.

This will finish the full upgrade of the park and go well with the much-loved playground, which was upgraded in 2023.

Upgraded Manu-kau Noa Iho / Hayman Park playground, completed in 2023. Image: Eke Panuku.

Once a thriving wetland that filtered water before it reached Waipuhinui (Puhinui Stream), and the Manukau Harbour, Manu-kau Noa Iho / Hayman Park was a vital hub for native fish, birds, insects, and plants.

Working alongside Te Ākitai Waiohua, Ngaati Tamaoho, and Ngaati Te Ata Waiohua, Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters and flood resilience teams, the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board and Eke Panuku Development Auckland are bringing this natural taonga (treasure) back to life. Rejuvenating the land and its ecosystems, preserving it as a thriving, living space for future generations.

The Manu-kau Noa Iho / Hayman Park Wetland project is a part of the Puhinui Regeneration Strategy, this project is led by Eke Panuku and proudly supported by the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board.

Manukau Ward Councillor Lotu Fuli says, “This incredible project, over a decade in the making, would not be possible without the hard work of our Mana Whenua, Eke Panuku, Healthy Waters and Flood Resilience, the design team, and the wider Auckland Council whānau. A special thanks to the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board for their ongoing advocacy and leadership. As we restore the land to its original wetland form, we ask for the community’s patience and understanding. Some areas of the park will be closed, so please respect the barriers for safety during this important work.”

Manu-kau Noa Iho / Hayman Park Repo (wetlands) project will rejuvenate the land and its ecosystems – keeping Manukau’s green heart healthy for future generations. Image: Eke Panuku.

Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board Chair Apulu Reece Autagavaia adds, “Currently there is a stagnant dead pond located on the park. It serves no purpose. Under this project, the wetlands will be revived, and we hope a habitat for our flora and fauna to live and thrive in. This is whakaoranga – bringing back to life.”

A whakaawatea karakia (blessing) in action. Image: Eke Panuku.

Manu-kau Noa Iho / Hayman Park holds deep cultural significance, particularly for local iwi Te Ākitai o Waiohua, Ngaati Te Ata Waiohua, and Ngaati Tamaoho.

A stunning shot of the whakaawatea karakia (blessing). Image: Eke Panuku.

Richard Davison, Priority Location Director at Eke Panuku says “This project has been a long time in the making, and it’s incredibly special to see it come to life. Hayman Park has always been the green jewel at the heart of Manukau, and now we’re helping it shine even brighter.”

From the park to the Auckland Botanic Gardens and beyond, new walking and cycling connections are being strengthened, along with deeper ties to nature.

Artist impression of the revived wetlands at Manu-kau Noa Iho. Image: Eke Panuku.

Why does this work need to be done?

Manu-kau Noa Iho / Hayman Park’s stormwater ponds were originally built in 1975 as part of the former Manukau City Council’s development of the city centre.

Over time, issues with sediment build-up, bank stability and litter have begun to cause problems with the ponds. It was agreed that a natural treatment process in the form of a wetland and installing a litter-capturing device would deliver the most effective solution for a cleaner, healthier environment.

What features are planned?

• A new repo (wetland) filled with native planting and rich in wildlife habitat that will improve water quality before it flows into Te Puhinui and the Manukau Harbour

• Replacing the existing ornamental pond with a new grass area for people to rest, enjoy or that can be activated through small events

• Build wider footpaths, boardwalks, and viewing platforms to help people reconnect with nature.

These features will help to clean stormwater before it flows into the Puhinui Stream and Manukau Harbour.

A nice view of the park featuring a calm pond area. Image: Eke Panuku.

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