Category: Auckland Council

Source: Auckland Council

In 2026, New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project, City Rail Link (CRL), will be complete. Auckland will have an underground rail system that will transform the way people travel. 

Before we can enjoy this momentous occasion, we need to prepare our city centre for this important addition and the expected influx of people that will come with it.

Some of the most significant work is happening in midtown, surrounding CRL’s Te Waihorotiu Station, which is expected to be New Zealand’s busiest train station.

In 2026, alongside a new train station, midtown will also have:

• A dedicated bus interchange outside Te Waihorotiu Station, enabling better connections between bus and train.

• Wider streets with seating options and trees to seek shade under.

• Separated bike lanes.

• Stunning Māori artwork and design integrated into the new streets and spaces.

• An improved wastewater network to support more inner-city growth and jobs.

• More private developments, bringing more homes, shops, entertainment and workplaces to midtown.

Jenny Larking, Auckland Council Head of City Centre Programmes, describes the midtown that Aucklanders and visitors can expect and the work ahead to get midtown humming.

“It is hard to imagine what this new midtown will look and feel like, just as it was hard for us to imagine a Quay Street that wasn’t dotted with cones and fences a couple of years back. But look at Quay Street and our new waterfront now, they are world-class destinations, and midtown will be no different.

Quay Street mid-construction (photo credit Patrick Reynolds) and the finished street.

“Towards the end of this year, we will begin to see more construction fences coming down and spaces being opened back up for Aucklanders to enjoy.

“However, a number of focused construction areas will remain safely fenced off for a while longer on Victoria Street, Wellesley Street, and Mayoral Drive. Next month – that’s October – Watercare will also begin their upgrade of the wastewater network below Queen Street.”

“We recognise there’s a lot of work happening in midtown, but coordinating the projects means less disruption overall, and we avoid having to come back to do more work in completed spaces.”

“While construction will always be part of any modern city centre, we are getting a lot of the upgrades done now, so when CRL opens we can enjoy a regenerated midtown, free from significant public construction,” says Larking.

Map showing the projects in midtown.

Over the next 18 months the Auckland Council Group, Vector and City Rail Link Ltd will continue to work together to transform midtown, with exciting milestones to look forward to along the way:

October 2024

• Victoria Street will have 11 new native trees greening the fringes of the redesigned street, including: pōhutukawa, pūriri, taiaire and titoki, along with 900 new plants creating vibrant understories beneath the canopies. Find out more here.

• Watercare will begin their upgrade of the city centre wastewater network, under Queen St between Mayoral Drive and Victoria Street. This upgrade will unlock city centre growth to more homes and jobs and reduce the risk of overflows into the Waitematā. Read more about this work here.

End of 2024

• Victoria Street West between Elliott Street and Queen Street will open to the public, with widened footpaths and new places to sit.

Early 2025

• Victoria Street East between Kitchener Street and High Street will open to the public, with widened footpaths and new places to sit.

• The northern side of Wellesley Street West between Albert Street and Queen Street will be upgraded and open to the public.

Mid 2025

• Another critical cycle link on Victoria Street will be added, meaning people can safely cycle from the bottom of College Hill in Freemans Bay to Queen Street adding to the expanding cycling network in Auckland.

• A completely upgraded Albert Street from downtown to Mayoral Drive.

End of 2025

• Watercare finishes upgrading a critical part of the city centre’s wastewater network, under Queen Street.

• With the wastewater upgrades complete on Queen Street, Auckland Council will begin upgrading the last section of Te Hā Noa on Victoria Street East between Queen Street and High Street.

• Wellesley Street West will have four new bus shelters, wider footpaths, safer pedestrian crossings, and more places to sit, from Queen Street to Albert Street.

• Construction will be complete on Te Waihorotiu Station and the surrounding streetscape. Auckland Transport and City Rail Link will carry out the last of the required testing before they open the turnstiles on the new train system.

In 2026

• Our world-class underground rail system will be ready to welcome passengers for the first time.

• Te Waihorotiu Station will be open, welcoming people by train right into the heart of our city centre.

• Victoria Street will have an uninterrupted cycleway on Victoria Street, all the way from the bottom of College Hill to Albert Park.

• Victoria Street will be a tree-lined oasis with wide footpaths, relaxing lunch spots, and an entrance to Te Waihorotiu Station.

• Wellesley Street will be an important centre city transport interchange, providing people with a seamless connection between trains and buses.

Jenny Larking describes the work Auckland Council does to support midtown businesses and residents during construction.

“While there is a lot to look forward to, we do want to acknowledge that this level of construction is challenging for neighbouring businesses and residents, on top of a tough economic environment.

“We will continue to work with businesses and residents to ensure midtown feels safe, clean and welcoming throughout construction, and provide clear wayfinding and business signage for people to get around as easily as possible.

“We will also continue our programme of events and activations in midtown, to keep bringing people to the area during construction,” says Larking.

Find out more about the midtown programme by visiting ProgressAKL/midtown.

Source: Auckland Council

The Kahika wastewater pipeline – part of a $22 million package to increase the resiliency in the wastewater network and cater for growth in Beach Haven and Glenfield – is now in service.

The new pipeline greatly reduces the risk of overflows and complex repairs around the southern tip of Kaipātiki Creek.

The 2-kilometre pipeline extends from Kahika Pump Station and travels up Kaipātiki Rd to connect into the existing wastewater network on Easton Park Parade.

It replaces a 50-year-old pipeline that has experienced four major failures since 2017, resulting in complex repairs and significant clean-up costs.

“The worry was that if a failure occurred at the northern side of Kaipātiki Creek or the bridge that carried the old pipeline over the creek, the cost of the clean-up and repairs – and ultimately to the environment – would be huge,” says Watercare project manager Alastair Stewart.

“This new pipeline addresses that risk.”

Stewart says that to help ensure the resilience of the pipeline, it has been built using 600mm polyethylene and 600mm fibreglass pipes.

“The new pipeline is more resilient to internal abrasion and can carry twice as much wastewater as the old one, enabling planned development for the area.

“It also goes directly underneath Kaipātiki Creek instead of across a pipe bridge to further reduce the risk of overflows into the environment.”

Stewart says that with the pipeline now installed underneath Kaipātiki Rd, crews are finishing off rerouting works for five local network sewers in nearby streets and within private properties.

“As part of this project, our contractors are diverting local networks away from the current wastewater pipeline to the Kahika pump station, which will pump wastewater directly into the new pipeline.

“We expect the diversion works will be completed by September, 2024.

“Work to decommission the old Kahika pipeline and network catchments will also begin later this month by in-filling them with grout to prevent water from getting into the old network.

“We want to thank residents, especially those affected by traffic and noise disruptions caused by these works, for their patience as we worked to get this critical infrastructure in place.

“We’re working to have the Kahika wastewater package completed by the end of October.”

Source: Auckland Council

A proposed plan change that acknowledges nine sites of significance to mana whenua has been supported by Papakura Local Board.

Board chair Brent Catchpole has been appointed to speak to the board’s view at any hearing and says the changes seek to recognise the association mana whenua have with outstanding natural features and historic places.

“The Pahurehure islands have been nominated as a site of cultural significance in our area,” he says.

“The developers, Karaka Harbourside Estates Limited and Pararēkau Island Limited, have made a submission in support of the scheduling, but have asked for some changes to the extent of the site, and to the Unitary Plan’s historic heritage schedule.

“The submission generally reflects an agreed position between iwi and the landowner before the plan change was notified, and we are very keen to see the site included.

“We think it’s critical that we get this right and that we have a sound way of working with mana whenua around which groups should be consulted on future development proposals on scheduled sites of significance.”

Determining the correct iwi to deal with was a theme of wider submissions to the plan change, with calls to include a requirement that only the ‘appropriate’ or ‘correct’ hapū, those recognised as ‘tangata whenua’, were engaged with.

“Across Tāmaki Makaurau there are 19 recognised mana whenua entities.” Catchpole says.

“We should do all we can to understand the cultural values of sites and places of significance to those groups.”

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Source: Auckland Council

With warmer weather just around the corner, weekend getaway spots will soon be booking out, but you don’t have to miss out. You don’t have to travel far either. Spring into action and book an affordable holiday escape right here in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Whether you’re interested in booking a couple’s getaway, a family friendly excursion, a group trip or a solo adventure, your ideal spot awaits! You can choose from a pet- friendly beachfront staycation, a unique coastal escape or a tranquil waterfront experience thanks to Auckland Council’s three holiday parks.

Consider your next weekend or mid-week plans sorted – just book using the links below and you’re off!

Ōrewa Beach Holiday Park

Situated a merely 30 minutes north of Auckland is the Ōrewa Beach Holiday Park. Located on the stunning Ōrewa beachfront, this holiday park has a range of accommodation options from regular and beachfront powered sites, standard to self-contained deluxe cabins, all the way to large eco-structure glamping tents.

It’s also pet-friendly for camping sites outside of peak period (conditions apply).

Here, there’s plenty to keep you entertained, such as:

• safe swimming with surf club patrolled all tide beach and water sports
• playground, basketball hoop pad, BBQ areas
• lounges, recreation or TV rooms and table tennis
• pedal carts available for hire
• boat ramp
• in adjoining reserves, younger to older play, fitness equipment to skate / scooter park and tidal estuary to explore
• local eateries, bars, grocery stores, shopping, farmer & artisan markets, walk / cycle ways, leisure entertainment and events.

For more information, visit Destination Ōrewa.

Click here to book your stay at Ōrewa Beach Holiday Park.

Martins Bay Holiday Park

You’ll find a unique tranquil coastal escape with a beautiful long sandy beach and grass and tree shaded embankment at Martins Bay Holiday Park, Martins Bay, Mahurangi East.

Only an hour’s drive from Auckland city, this holiday park offers amazing scenery, safe swimming and beach launching access ramp in the main Martins Bay Reserve for boating and fishing.

Accommodation options include regular, plateau with elevated view, second row to beachfront powered camp sites, caravans with awnings, standard, ensuite to fully self-contained cabins and an eco-structure glamping tent.

As a visitor to Martins Bay Holiday Park you also have access to:

• safe swimming beach with all tide pontoon

• 3 amenities blocks, 2 kitchens, BBQ’s and sheltered dining areas

• playground with tower tube slide, trampoline, recreation room, children’s games, toys and books to borrow to further enjoy your stay

• kayaks, stand-up paddle boards (SUP’s), pedal carts are available for hire at reception (BYO bikes)

• fish cleaning area, boat wash and casual trailer boat/pwc parking sites

• Scandrett and Mahurangi East Regional Parks.

Click here to book your stay at Martins Bay Holiday Park.

Whangateau Holiday Park

A similar distance from Auckland to Martins Bay, is the hidden gem of a waterfront holiday park on Whangateau Harbour between Matakana and Leigh.

Whangataeau Holiday Park is an ideal paradise spot for families and friends to group holidays.

Accommodation options include regular/waterfront powered sites, family cabins, budget to self-contained units and waterfront caravans.

A few of the many activities you can enjoy include:

• swimming, pontoon access, fishing or exploring the tidal harbour

• pedal carts, kayaks and SUP’s available for hire

• playground and next-door adjoining sports fields

• barbecue area, picnic tables, recreation room

• nearby Matakana, markets, Omaha, Tawharanui Regional Park, Goat Island Marine reserve, eateries, vineyards and breweries. For more information, visit Matakana Coast.

All Auckland Council holiday parks have a wide range of accommodation options and facilities to suit your needs. There’s also plenty of extra in and around each holiday park to keep everyone entertained for the duration of your stay.

So, if an overseas trip isn’t on the cards currently, it doesn’t mean you have to go without a holiday break, or that you must wait until Christmas for fun in the sun. Bookings are available now at any one of Auckland Council’s three holiday parks in the Ōrewa, Martins Bay and Whangateau areas – and for a lot less than a trip to Fiji!

Source: Auckland Council

Eleven trees – two close to five metres tall – have been crane-lifted into waiting tree pits in Victoria Street this week, marking another milestone in the emergence of Te Hā Noa.

The maturing trees selected for this project have been grown and nurtured in Auckland nurseries, some for more than a decade.

Te Hā Noa will be a high quality accessible public space, welcoming people who are arriving into Victoria Street from Te Waihorotiu Station from 2026.

The name Te Hā Noa was gifted by mana whenua, conveying thoughts about the freedom to breathe and enjoy the experience of the sights and sounds around you.

Mana whenua have also guided the terracing design of the tree pits, referencing the volcanic geology and forms of Tamaki Makaurau. Visitors will be able to sit on the natural stone terraces under the shade of native trees, with uplit foliage in the evenings. Widened footpaths will provide improved amenity for people enjoying the space.

The opening of this first stage of Te Hā Noa – from Elliott Street to Queen Street – is not far away. The project team anticipate this section to be publicly accessible from late October, with the second stage from Lorne Street to Albert Park opening around the end of summer.  

People will see pōhutukawa, pūriri, taraire and tītoki greening the fringes of the redesigned street, with 900 plants creating understories beneath the canopies by the end of September. The 11 native trees are the first of 20 of varying sizes being planted by Auckland Council in Victoria Street.

Councillor Richard Hills is looking forward to seeing the trees arrive in Victoria Street this week.

“We see the massive benefits the great new trees on Quay St, Te Wānanga and Wynyard Quarter are making. Te Hā Noa will add to Auckland’s healthy and diverse network of green infrastructure, which is critical across the region,” he says.

Trees provide shade and shelter, attract birdlife, cool the city centre and absorb carbon. With hard concrete surfaces and heat from reflective glass high rises, it can be a challenge in an urban setting to create an environment where trees and vegetation thrive.

The tree pits for Te Hā Noa are designed to keep the trees safe from heavy equipment and vehicles and allow them to flourish. Some are also a sustainable part of the city’s stormwater drainage system. Surface rainwater from the road and paved surfaces is dispersed into the tree pits.

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

The trees are another visual symbol of the step-change locals are seeing in the station neighbourhood. The trees arrive as the Auckland Council group announces the next series of construction milestones.

Complementary streets

Victoria Street is one of three east-west streets in the Te Waihorotiu Station neighbourhood undergoing a major transformation to create a new gateway for the city centre.

Before the regeneration of midtown, Victoria Street, Wellesley Street and Mayoral Drive were dense traffic routes carrying more than four lanes of cars, trucks and buses, with cyclists hugging the edges, pedestrians vying with scooters along narrow footpaths and a noisy environment for businesses.

The new station means thousands of people will arrive directly into midtown by train, boosting foot traffic for businesses in the area. The neighbourhood upgrade will see Wellesley Street become an important central city bus interchange, and the upgraded Victoria Street will make connecting between walking, cycling, high frequency bus routes, and the train station easier and safer.

Councillor Richard Hills says Aucklanders have a lot to look forward to once the delivery of these complex integrated works is complete. He says the area will flourish as a commercial, hospitality and residential community with Te Waihorotiu Station at its heart.

“I’m looking forward to our new streets and spaces, an underground rail network, better bus routes, billions of dollars of private sector investment in the area, and a thriving arts quarter, bordered by three beautiful city parks – Myers, Albert and Victoria.

“It’s great to see that residents and visitors can now walk on brand new pavement all the way along Albert Street to the waterfront. We are still working on big infrastructure upgrades in the city centre, but large areas of our new public realm are now complete,” Councillor Hills says.

Vision and delivery

Visionary urbanist Jane Jacob comments on the vital role public spaces play in the life of a city. “A city’s streets and their sidewalks – the main public places of a city – are its most vital organs,” she says.

Jenny Larking, Auckland Council Head of City Centre Programmes, echoes this sentiment when speaking about the station neighbourhood her team and the wider Auckland Council group are delivering in midtown.

“We recognise that beautiful public spaces encourage social interaction, creating a strong sense of community and belonging. These spaces become the stages where city life unfolds, memories are made, and a city’s identity is forged.

“We are creating streets and spaces that are authentic, safe, sustainable and reflective of our place in the world, with mana whenua-led expression woven throughout, while continuing to support the operations of a busy city centre.

“By 2026, this regeneration programme we’re leading will transform midtown. I am pleased we can encourage Aucklanders to come and see the first batch of trees we’ve planted for Te Hā Noa. There is a lot for everyone to look forward to,” she says.

Read about the multiple projects being co-ordinated in midtown here and the wide-ranging benefits of trees here.

Read more about the city centre’s transformation here.

Source: Auckland Council

Anyone wanting to buy or rent a home is encouraged to look at all available natural hazards information in this time of increasing climate uncertainty.

Auckland Council says there are a number of resources to help ensure buyers and renters are aware of potential flooding and landslide risks at a property.

Research from insurer IAG earlier this year found more buyers are considering climate risks when looking at a potential new home. Its research found house hunters rank weather and natural disaster risk as the second most important factor after price when looking to rent or buy.

But Mace Ward, who is leading Auckland’s recovery from 2023 storms, says most people don’t know where to find this information.

“For many, their home is their most significant asset. Making a rushed decision could get people stuck with a home that has major safety, insurance and resale challenges,” says Ward who is the Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Office Group Recovery Manager.

“There are some fantastic resources available to understand flooding, landslide and other natural hazard risks at a property and in the neighbourhood. These are all publicly accessible, and in this time of climate uncertainty are essential tools for anyone looking to buy or rent.”

Available resources include flood risk maps, information on past claims, council documents and talking to expert advisors.

Essential hazard risk tools:

• Your property lawyer who will help guide you through the buying process with advice on understanding any risks.
• Auckland Council Flood Viewer – enter the home address into this free map to understand any flooding risks at and around a property. The map identifies flood plains (areas predicted to be covered by flood water during heavy rain), flood-prone areas (low-lying areas where water can become trapped and collect during heavy rain), overland flow paths (natural water routes during heavy rain), and coastal inundation (coastal areas predicted to be covered by sea during large storms).
• LIM report – a summary of information about the property, including identified flood and landslide hazards, along with emergency placard and risk categorisation information. It is standard practice for buyers and their property lawyers to request a Land Information Memorandum (LIM) from council ahead of proceeding with a purchase.
• Auckland Council property file – a record of activities and communications undertaken by the council regarding the property. This will include information on any damage and work involving council where consents were needed. If a property was given a Category 1, it will be recorded here.
• Property landslide and flood risk category – if the property was signed up to council’s property categorisation programme following 2023 major storms, and received a final risk category, information about any unresolved ‘intolerable risk to life’ will appear on its LIM report and property file.
• Natural Hazards Commission claims map – a free to access map of settled NHCover (previously known as EQCover) claims in the area from past natural hazard events. These claims mostly relate to landslides.
• Hazard Viewer map – a free-to-access collection of flooding, severe wind, coastal inundation, tsunami, volcanic and earthquake risk maps.
• Insurance companies – talk to insurers and ask them to confirm if the property can be insured, the annual premium, the excess and any conditions. They will also have information about previous claims made. Banks typically require a home to be insured before they approve a mortgage.

We would also recommend checking out Auckland Council’s GeoMaps tool – maps to find out different aspects of Auckland’s geography and planning zones.

Source: Auckland Council

The Auckland Future Fund’s inaugural board is in place, with three experienced directors confirmed to lead the new regional wealth fund.

The future fund trustee’s board of directors includes Chair Christopher Swasbrook and Directors David Callanan and Craig Stobo. They will be formally inducted as a board this month for a three-year term.

Auckland Future Fund lead councillor and Performance and Appointments Committee representative, Councillor Christine Fletcher, chaired the selection panel and is pleased with the board’s calibre.

“The Auckland Future Fund is an investment for current and future Aucklanders. Once formally established, the fund will be an enduring asset for Auckland – enhancing our region’s resilience and helping fund services and infrastructure, while reducing our reliance on rates,” said Mrs Fletcher.

“On that basis, we have selected Christopher, David and Craig based on their extensive experience in business, finance and investments. They were chosen from an impressive pool of over 80 candidates, which also reflects the high interest and support for the fund.

“We know how important the inaugural board is in setting the Auckland Future Fund on the right path and realising Auckland Council’s vision for a fund that will provide for Aucklanders now and into the future.”

The future fund was confirmed in June through the council’s Long-term Plan 2024-2034. It is estimated to provide the council with around an additional $40 million of cash returns per year from 2025/26.

The fund will initially be capitalised with the council’s remaining Auckland International Airport Limited shares.

As a Council-controlled Organisation (CCO), the Auckland Future Fund will operate under the high-level direction of the council, but through an independent structure.

This means the board will make all key decisions on how the fund will operate, once in place. Detailed governance arrangements for the Auckland Future Fund will be confirmed once the board have formally met.

Mayor Wayne Brown welcomed the new board and the value their expertise in business and investing will bring to the new Auckland Future Fund.

“The fund is a way for us to deliver greater physical and financial resilience for Auckland, protect the value of council’s intergenerational assets and enhance cash returns. I am really pleased to see this board in place and progressing the fund, which is a new strategy that will help us better deliver for Aucklanders.”

The Auckland Future Fund board’s appointment was confirmed at the council’s Performance and Appointments Committee on 27 August 2024.

The Performance and Appointments Committee is responsible for 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 the board

Chair – Christopher Swasbrook

Christopher Swasbrook is the Founder and Managing Director of Elevation Capital and Co-Founder and Director of NZX-listed New Zealand Rural Land Company. He is also a Director of Bethunes Investments and McCashins Brewery.

Previously, he was Chair of NZX-listed Allied Farmers, Director of NZX-listed Mowbray Collectables, Director of NZX-listed Satara Co-Operative Group, and Director of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts.

Early in Mr Swasbrook’s financial markets career he became a Foundation Broker of the New Zealand Exchange (NZX) after having been a Full Member of the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZSE). He became Partner and Co-Head of Institutional Equities at Goldman Sachs JBWere (NZ) in 2003.

Mr Swasbrook is currently a Board Member of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA), having previously served as a Member of the NZX Listing Subcommittee (2008-2023) and a Member of the New Zealand Markets Disciplinary Tribunal (2013-2023).

Since graduating from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) in 1996, he has undertaken Executive Education courses at Columbia University (New York), New York University (NYU), London School of Economics (LSE) and the Harvard Kennedy School in Boston, Massachusetts.

Born in Auckland, he has been a long-time supporter of business and arts communities and is an Inaugural Member and current Chair of the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Advisory Board.

Director – David Callanan

David has over 20 years’ experience in the financial services sector, including more than a decade in senior executive roles specialising in risk, compliance, legal and governance.

Before coming to New Zealand, he spent four years at PwC in Australia and the UK, and six years at the Citibank-State Street fund administration joint venture, CitiStreet Australia.

David joined Public Trust in 2019 and is currently the General Manager, Corporate Trustee Services. In this role David and his team oversee many of New Zealand’s leading managed investment scheme fund managers and KiwiSaver providers as supervisor and/or custodian, as well as fulfilling the responsibilities of trustee, security trustee, or statutory supervisor for various financial products and services.

David holds a Bachelor of Laws and holds post-graduate qualifications in risk management, assurance and governance. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, the global professional body for governance professionals.

David has lived in Auckland for almost 10 years and is raising three primary and intermediate school-aged boys on the North Shore.

Director – Craig Stobo

Craig Stobo is currently an independent Chair of the Financial Markets Authority, the Local Government Funding Agency and NZX-listed NZ Windfarms Ltd. His previous independent directorships included NZX-listed Precinct Properties and Fliway Group, and AIG Insurance NZ. 

Craig has executive and governance experience in foreign policy, economics, investment banking, central and local government advisory, aquaculture, viticulture, wealth management, funds administration and funds management, including as co-founder and CEO of BT Funds Management.

Craig graduated BA Hons (First Class) from Otago and completed the Advanced Management Programme at The Wharton School, Philadelphia. He is an Associate Member of CFA Society NZ, a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors, and a member of the NZ Initiative.

His pro bono work includes Chair of the Finance and Risk Committee of Cancer Society Auckland and Northern, Chair of the Waitaki Boys High School Foundation and is a Taumata of the University of Otago Business School.

Note: The selection panel was comprised of Councillor Christine Fletcher (panel chair); Mayor Wayne Brown; David Taipari – Houkura Independent Māori Statutory Board chair; Phil Wilson – Chief Executive and Jazz Singh – Chief of Staff, Mayoral Office.

Source: Auckland Council

Marae are a critical cultural connection hub not only for mana whenua and mataawaka, but also increasingly for wider communities throughout our region – which is why Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau has approved more than half a million dollars toward marae development projects.

The support and guidance provided by marae and their tight-knit networks throughout the Covid pandemic and in the 2023 weather events often made the difference for communities’ resilience and their ability to find ways to thrive in the face of adversity.

With this in mind, Auckland Council has an increasing focus to ensure that marae infrastructure, capability and support systems across the isthmus are robust, efficient and resilient. The council’s Planning, Environment and Parks Committee has recently allocated funding from its 2024/2025 Cultural Initiatives Fund to seven specific marae development projects (see below), of which three marae are first-time recipients.

Councillor Richard Hills, chair of the committee, says that the funds approved on 25 July for grants in this financial year reflect a continued commitment in the Auckland Plan and Long-term Plan to ensure marae are self-sustaining and prosperous.

“Safe, healthy and warm marae, and papakāinga housing are two of the 10 mana outcomes identified by Māori as key priorities in Kia Ora Tāmaki Makaurau, our Māori Outcomes Performance Framework.”

“The grants approved will support mana whenua and mataawaka marae to manage the costs associated with their growth and connections into their communities. These projects range from technical feasibility and design planning for Otakanini Haranui Marae in the Kaipara, to supporting Ngāti Ōtara Marae in South Auckland with remedial repairs and project management costs.”

The Cultural Initiatives Fund allocates limited pūtea/funding each year in the form of contestable grants for capital costs that support marae and papakāinga / Māori housing in Tāmaki Makaurau. This sits alongside and complements our Marae Infrastructure Programme, which allocates non-contestable grants to more significant infrastructure projects, drawing from the Māori Outcomes Fund specified in the council’s Long-Term Plan 2024-2034.

A total of 20 marae across the region have been allocated Cultural Initiatives Funding over the past 10 years, including Ngāti Wai o Aotea Kawa Marae Trust on Aotea / Great Barrier Island who were supported last year to become more self-sufficient by installing solar panels and a new hot water system. Thanks to the fund, Rereteewhioi Marae in Waiuku was also supported in 2023, and a new wharenui building is now under construction.

Houkura / Independent Māori Statutory Board member Glenn Wilcox emphasises the value of the Cultural Initiatives Fund for our communities.

“It’s great to see Auckland Council addressing a previously forgotten group of buildings and institutions that are particularly Aotearoa New Zealand and unique to our landscapes and communities. Marae are not just buildings – they’re about people and our relationships with those people.”

As part of the council’s ongoing focus on improvement, a review of the Cultural Initiatives Fund, the Marae Infrastructure Programme and the overall Māori Outcomes Fund is planned for later this year to ensure that all mahi in this area is aligned and delivering for mana whenua, mataawaka and all of Tāmaki Makaurau.

2024/2025 Cultural Initiatives Fund grants approved:

CIF Marae Development
Te Herenga Waka o Orewa	$33,000
Kaipātiki Community Facilities Trust – He Oranga Wairua Marae	$170,000
Ruapōtaka Marae	$170,000
Otakanini Haranui Marae	$70,000
Omaha Marae	$20,000
Ngāti Ōtara Marae	$45,000
Te Hana Community Development Charitable Trust	$80,000
Total amount:	$588,000

Source: Auckland Council

Māngere-Ōtāhuhu local construction waste champions are leading the charge in eco-friendly site practices.

Building green just got easier thanks to the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board’s new initiative the Construction and Demolition Waste Leadership and Enforcement programme.

Funded by the board, the programme introduces a part-time advisor to guide builders and developers in reducing construction waste and boosting environmental benefits.

This forward-thinking programme was introduced in 2023 with $45,000 allocated in 2023/2024 and $50,000 for 2024/2025.

Board chair Tauanu’u Nick Bakulich shares, “This initiative forms a cornerstone of our local environmental programme, reflecting our dedication to sustainability and environmental wellbeing.

“We were concerned about construction materials contaminating our streams and stormwater drains and their significant role in Auckland’s landfill, and we needed to find actionable solutions.

“The outcome is this dynamic programme, designed to work closely with local builders and developers. By enhancing site practices, boosting compliance, and minimising waste from construction and demolition activities, we aim to drive significant improvements in our environmental impact and workforce.”

Key areas of focus are weekly surveillance and reporting of breaches, engaging builders and developers to boost waste minimisation, and using relocatable security cameras to catch illegal dumpers and alert enforcement teams.

Construction and demolition materials, like timber, concrete, and plastics, make up 40-50% of New Zealand’s landfill waste. Excessive waste from current practices and rising disposal costs are increasing illegal dumping rates.

In June, Chair Bakulich and Member Christine O’Brien, along with Wilkinson Environmental staff Cushla and Claude, toured development sites with site manager Cam Tocker, to observe the board-funded service’s impact, including a large project with 188 townhouses.

Bakulich adds, “A strong and resilient South Auckland is key to Auckland’s – and Aotearoa New Zealand’s – bright economic future.

“By adopting this approach, we not only advance our environmental initiatives, strengthen local partnerships, but also prioritise the health and wellbeing of our people (like James’s featured below), and contribute to the development of a highly skilled, contemporary workforce.”

L-R: Claude Dewerse, waste saving champion James Wu, board chair Tauanu’u Nick Bakulich and board member Christine O’Brien.

For local board funded advice on construction material recycle and diversion opportunities email claude@wenz.co.nz  

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Source: Auckland Council

A temporary change to Auckland Council’s dog walking rules will help endangered shorebirds breed and rest safely at the northern end of Snells Beach.

With Snells Beach a hotspot for threatened and at-risk shorebirds, a temporary rule change will protect them, and applies from 13 September to 24 March.

During this time dogs are:

• prohibited from all beach and intertidal areas, north of the Sunburst Avenue boat ramp

• on leash at all times on all reserves, north of the Sunburst Avenue boat ramp.

Rodney Local Board Chair Brent Bailey says the beach’s northern end is a breeding site for the New Zealand dotterel which has a threatened and nationally increasing conservation status.

“It’s encouraging that dotterel pairs are increasing and protecting nesting birds is important. And equally exciting is the fact that several juvenile New Zealand fairy terns, have visited the area over the past six years, as they are our rarest bird species.

“It’s down to the volunteer groups who spend many hours getting ready for the birds’ arrival, planting the wetland and dune areas, and safeguarding the birds’ habitat.”

Other shorebird species present in the area include bar-tailed godwits, variable oystercatchers, South Island pied oystercatchers and red-billed gulls. Signs advising people of the temporary rule change are being installed.

Bailey says that for the most part, the need for this temporary change to the dog rules is respected by the community. People walk their dogs elsewhere, so they don’t disturb the shorebirds, and that supports locals’ conservation efforts.

Dog access rules for all other beach and reserve areas south of the Sunburst Avenue Boat ramp are unchanged. These rules can be found in the Auckland Council Policy on Dogs 2019 document available on the council website at aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.

Nearby places for dog walking include:

• South of the Sunburst Reserve boat ramp until 30 November, and from 1 December to 1 March before 10am or after 5 pm

• Goodall Reserve (behind Mahurangi East Library)

• Te Whau Esplanade Reserve (Dawson Road end)

• Dawson Road Reserve.

For enquiries about the temporary change to dog access rules, email biodiversity@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

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