Category: Auckland Council

Source: Auckland Council

The new multi-million-dollar sports and recreation park taking shape at Hobsonville will give locals and sports clubs access to several new facilities that will open soon at Te Kori Scott Point.

There are also plans to build a pedestrian crossing at Clark Road using some of Upper Harbour Local Board’s Transport Capital Fund.

Staged delivery of the park

Board chair Anna Atkinson says progress has been steady and the significant investment of $36 million matches the high level of growth in the area. With the first stage of the build now complete, the next stage will see most of the park’s green spaces open to the community.

“With the park being built in several stages as funds become available, along with the challenge of escalating construction costs, and higher costs caused by unforeseen ground conditions early on, the project has been impacted.

“Unfortunately, everything planned for this stage can’t be delivered, and the project team’s focus has shifted to finishing projects to a standard that enables the park to open for both sport and recreation purposes.”

This stage sees the park boundary along Squadron Drive finished, berms and footpaths completed, the two sand carpet sportsfields sown (fields 2 and 3), more paths constructed, landscape planting completed, and signage and park furniture installed.

New pedestrian crossing

Atkinson says the community and local board are very grateful to volunteers from the nearby retirement village who help children safely cross Clark Road.

“There are up to 130 children a day crossing Clark Road to access the shared path through the park to the local primary school. Some cars are driving too fast through there which is putting children in danger. That makes a full pedestrian crossing, a priority for our community and local board.”

The Joshua Carder Drive and Craigs Way extensions, and roundabout, are almost complete but before roads can legally open, Auckland Transport approval is required which involves a review of the line marking, and consultation with the community and emergency services, expected to be completed by December.

Atkinson says while this delay is extremely disappointing for the local community and board, pedestrian access between Craigs Way and Joshua Carder Drive is a priority. But before it can happen, the buildings and future ecological areas need to be fenced which should be completed in October.

Construction follows the park’s masterplan

Construction continues to follow the park’s masterplan and the design received a leading design rating award from the Infrastructure Sustainability Council but due to budget constraints, council staff will not apply for a rating for the park’s construction.

With the sports fields’ platforms built, and as the grass grows, the fields can be used as open space. Specialist sportsfield components – the underground water storage tanks and the under-field wicking system for field 1 – are on hold. As more funds become available, the fields will be completed, and a second baseball diamond built.

Facilities on hand for community use include pedestrian and cycle access from Joshua Carder Drive to Clark Road, and the Squadron Drive extension, and access to informal recreation and landscaped areas including the natural spring.

The current stage of work expected to be completed by June includes:

• the baseball diamond with its artificial surface and backstop fencing

• sports fields 2 and 3 which can be booked through the council’s booking system

• sports fields 1,4 and 5 as open space areas for general use

• the car park

• the toilet and changing facility

• park furniture such as seating and drinking fountains, and directional signage.

These facilities will open as soon as they are finished which may be earlier than June .

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Source: Auckland Council

Tāmaki Makaurau is one of the first parts of Aotearoa to enjoy spring. Whether you believe that the season kicks off on the meteorological start date of 1 September or on the 21 September equinox, Mother Nature has other ideas – signs of spring have been springing up all over Auckland for a few weeks already.

Whether you’re after a blooming experience enjoying the blossoms, want to fawn over baby animals, or simply looking to spend some time in the best of the region’s outdoor spots, there’s plenty of spring cheer around so get amongst it!

Flowering Auckland in praise

For every month of the year, there’s a flower that’s in bloom in Auckland. But in spring, the blossoms and flowers are showing off their beauty big time. While nature can sometimes be unpredictable, here’s what you’re likely to see in flower when in Auckland this spring:

• Magnolias – July – September

Magnolias are some of the earliest blooming flowers, popping up in late winter and early spring. Many streets in Auckland feature spectacular magnolias, and the Magnolia Garden in the Auckland Botanic Gardens will be a shower of pink in August and September.

• Tulips and daffodils – September

If you’d like to tiptoe through the tulips, check out the displays at the Auckland Domain Wintergardens, and while you’re there, check out the darling daffodils growing around Pukekawa / Auckland Domain. If you’re feeling inspired, head along to the Learn to Draw Daffodil and Narcissus class on 15 September, one of the Wintergarden Sunday art sessions.

• Cherry blossoms and kōwhai – September and October

In September, Spring Blossom Valley at the Auckland Botanic Gardens is an eruption of colour with stunning pink sakura, the white pom pom blooms of tree rhododendrons, yellow daffodils and golden kōwhai. Nectar-loving birds such as tūī love the blossoms and the valley echoes with their calls this time of year. Pro-tip: Plant nectar-rich plants in your own backyard to bring the birds to your place.

The best times to enjoy roses in Tāmaki Makaurau are late spring and early summer. The Parnell Rose Gardens at Dove-Myer Robinson Park contain more than 5000 rose bushes, and it’s a delightful spot for a late-spring outing. If you need inspiration for your own garden, visit the Rose Garden at Auckland Botanic Gardens.

There’s even an annual event celebrating these colourful beauties. This year Parnell Festival of Roses will see the rose gardens full of stalls, entertainment and family fun on Sunday 10 November.

The Parnell Rose Gardens feature more than 5000 rose bushes. Catch these gardens in full bloom in November and early summer.

All the roses featured there are trialled for three years to prove they are suitable for growing in Auckland and resistant to disease. They also hold regular workshops and supply brochures for budding rose growers.

Baby love: Newborn animals and birds around Auckland

Lambing season begins at Ambury Regional Park in mid July, and visitors in spring can watch lamb feeding.

If you visit the Ambury Regional Park, why not do a little bird-watching on the Foreshore Walk? It’s nesting season for many of New Zealand’s native birds, and there are more than 80 species of birds in the area. You might spot some of the candidates for New Zealand’s Bird of the Year competition, such as tūturiwhatu (New Zealand dotterel), kōtuku ngutupapa (royal spoonbill) and tarāpuka (black billed gull).

While you must keep clear of nesting birds, one place to get up close to native species is at Auckland Zoo, where you can meet a ruru. Visitors can experience ruru within Te Wao Nui (in Te Pō / The Night) and also at the zoo’s daily Hidden New Zealand keeper talk. The ruru, or morepork, is Aotearoa’s longest established native owls and is a wee cutie, only weighing about 175 grams on average (and also vying for Bird of the Year).

They are most often heard around Auckland but not seen during daylight hours. To encourage ruru in your backyard, maintain mature trees and trap rats and mice – you could even build a nest box. Here are some tips from the Auckland Council-funded conservation group Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao.

Zoo visitors also have the opportunity to experience another stunning bird of prey, the barn owl (which colonised New Zealand from Australia) – either at Hidden New Zealand or by opting for a special personal experience.

Auckland Zoo visitors can also experience New Zealand’s native barn owl either at Hidden New Zealand or by opting for a special personal experience.

Cityside spring experiences

You don’t have to leave the inner city to enjoy the best spring offerings. For arts and comedy lovers, the Auckland Fringe Festival is held at venues around the city from 1-22 September, and history buffs can enjoy heritage walks and events in the Auckland Heritage Festival, which runs from 28 September until 13 October.

Get your skates on and enjoy Auckland’s rejuvenated outdoor spaces such as Silo Park.

If you simply want to enjoy the outdoors in the central city, why not explore Auckland’s magnificent coastline? Tāmaki Drive is an excellent spot for roller skating – as is Silo Park – or if you prefer team sports, enjoy a game of basketball with friends. Take in the views from Silo Park’s gantry before making your way to Westhaven Promenade and taking in the Vector Lights on Auckland Harbour Bridge – in September, the bridge will be gold in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Park life: Explore Auckland’s parks

There are more than 4000 parks in Tāmaki Makaurau, so whether you’re after a playtime adventure with the kids, a place to eat your lunch while soaking up the sunshine, or a lengthier weekend hike, this region has it all. Some of Auckland’s park highlights include:

Emily Place Reserve is part of the Coast to Coast Walk, a 16km adventure that’s great to tackle over a weekend.

Great lunch spot

Myers Park is an inner-city sanctuary between Karangahape Road, Greys Ave and Queen Street, and is a great lunch spot for city workers. Step away from your desk and enjoy the sun, palm trees, sculptures and statues, including a replica of Michelangelo’s Moses and the new Waimahara public artwork.

Created by artist Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hāua, Ngāti Manu), this fantastic light and sound installation is interactive and responds to the sound of a waiata sung into a kauri cone.

Great dog walk

Waiatarua Reserve is a gem near Stonefields and Remuera. Follow a buggy-friendly walkway around a restored wetland area, where there are bird-watching lookout spots. There’s an off-leash area for dogs, but owners should be warned that this park can get muddy so don’t forget to bring a towel!

Great playground

David Lange Park in Māngere is colourful and packed with activities for kids of all ages, including a playground with a flying fox, a skate park, and courts for basketball, volleyball and netball.

Great weekend walk

Not many cities have more than one harbour, let alone two that you can walk between in one day. The 16km Coast to Coast Walkway takes you from Waitematā Harbour to Manukau Harbours, with with Pukekawa / Auckland Domain, Outhwaite Park, Maungawhau / Mt Eden, Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill and Jellicoe Park along the way.

It’s a wonderful way to see Auckland’s treasures in one day, or split the walk into three parts and complete the mission over three weekends.

Plan a mini spring break

If you really enjoy Auckland’s regional parks, why not make one of them your home for a short time? Summer is not too far away, but you can get a head start on the holiday season by taking a spring vacation.

Many regional parks feature bookable baches and camping spots, such as Te Kuiti Cottage, located on Umupuia Beach at Duder Regional Park. While you’re at it, why not book ahead for summer, too?

Most campgrounds reopen mid to late October.

Fancy a spring escape? Book one of Auckland Council’s holiday accommodation baches such as Te Kuiti Cottage at Duder Regional Park.

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council now has a new tool to help boost the number and diversity of trees in Tāmaki Makaurau. 

What’s not to love about trees? They give shade and air, soften urban streetscapes and have numerous environmental benefits.

The Native Plant Nursery Guide has been developed by Auckland Council to help iwi and community native plant nurseries to be even more successful in growing native plants. 

Councillor Richard Hills, chair of Auckland Council’s Planning, Environment and Parks Committee says the guide is an important step toward greening our city and the wider region. 

“A healthy urban ngahere (forest) is a wonderful natural asset for the city and helps to create a healthy living environment with many social, cultural, economic, and environmental benefits.” 

“This broad-ranging guide is an excellent resource for iwi and community groups wanting to establish a native plant nursery, or for those who have a nursery up and running, to enhance it.” 

“The guide will ultimately help us with our goal of increasing tree canopy across urban Auckland over the coming decades, through the

Urban Ngahere (forest) Strategy.” 

The guide serves as a practical step-by-step reference for establishing and running a nursery for native plants with advice ranging from the nursery layout to the materials and physical resources needed, to advice on seed propagation and harvesting. The aim is to encourage plant nursery owners to grow native plants in healthy and effective growing environments. 

Photographs of nurseries and illustrations throughout the guide make for a compelling and engaging resource. 

There are estimated to be over 60 iwi and community nurseries across Tāmaki Makaurau. Auckland Council actively helps to fund and support these nurseries to share knowledge and ideas, and ultimately increase growing capacity, plant diversity and quality through Te Aka Kōtua – Kaitiaki and Community Nurseries Network. 

To view the Native Plant Nursery Guide, click here.

Any inquiries about the native nursery guide can be directed to david.bowden@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. 

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council’s lifeguard team has won the National Pool Lifeguard Competition for a second consecutive year.

A team of four – from Albany Stadium Pool, West Wave and Moana Nui-a-Kiwa – competed at the one-day competition in Wellington last week and came out on top, beating five other teams from across New Zealand.

Claire Stewart, Interim General Manager Pools and Leisure says she’s thrilled with the team’s achievement.

“The council is extremely proud of the lifeguard team coming out on top at the National Pool Lifeguard Competition and solidifying their status as the ultimate ‘Lords of the Waves’.”

“The team put in some rigorous training to get match fit for the competition and they’ve been rewarded for their hard work.

“The win speaks for the skill and professionalism that lifeguards at the council’s pools bring to the job each and every day, to ensure Aucklanders are safe when they’re in the pool.”

Teams in the competition were put through their paces with the types of scenarios they might encounter while on the job as a pool lifeguard. In-water scenarios included towing a casualty for 50 metres, performing CPR and helping a swimmer with a suspected spinal injury.

Out of water scenarios included responding to a casualty with a bleed to the head who then becomes unconscious and requires CPR, helping a person who faints at the sight of blood and dealing with a conflict scenario.

For each scenario, competitors were assessed on their response, communication and teamwork and were asked questions by assessors about their actions.

Once the lifeguard team has had some time to reflect on their win, the focus will turn to 2025, with the team eyeing the potential for three wins in a row.

There are approximately 220 lifeguards working across 12 Auckland Council owned and operated pools. Thirteen other Auckland Council owned pools are run by external providers.

Lifeguards at Auckland Council pools have to go through a rigorous training programme before they are authorised to work pool-side. This includes first-aid, and health and safety training, followed by lifeguard theory and in-water training and assessment to gain a Pool Lifeguard Skills award. Once these steps have been completed, new lifeguards shadow experienced lifeguards onsite before gaining a Practising Pool Lifeguard certificate.

Auckland Council pools are great places for Aucklanders to get active, come together and connect.

Click here to find a pool and leisure centre near you.

Source: Auckland Council

Local board workshops in Franklin, Manurewa and Papakura will be open to the public from October. 

Some of the city’s 21 boards already hold open workshops and now the three most southern boards, which only opened their business meetings to the public, will join them through a combination of opening workshops, posting recordings and allowing online attendance. 

Manurewa Local Board chair Matt Winiata says the decision has been taken in response to the Ombudsman’s Open for Business report. 

“Board workshops are informal, non-decision-making meetings where members discuss options before they go to the monthly meeting for final decisions,” he explains. 

“The approach has been that they are closed, but a board can decide to make them open. We are just joining other boards across Auckland that already allow that. 

“Watching workshops might give context to our decisions at business meetings, and provide a view of what’s happening around work programmes.”

Last October, the Ombudsman released a report that found no evidence of decision-making at workshops, but noted practices that could undermine transparency, recommending they be open by default, with any closures justified on a case-by-case basis. 

Papakura Local Board chair Brent Catchpole says members and staff were asked to provide their views, reporting that risks included breaching confidentiality, discouraging frank discussion, causing confusion around decision-making, and disrupting community engagement. 

“But we also noted that in boards with open workshops, public attendance was low, and that there were also benefits, including supporting transparency and holding members accountable, increasing public awareness, and enabling community connection,” he adds. 

“Our monthly meetings are sometimes quite well-attended, and we encourage people to come and see how decisions are made. Opening workshops just allows people to see what goes on there too.” 

Franklin Local Board chair Angela Fulljames says to meet the Ombudsman’s expectations, it was recommended that workshops default to being open, including in-person attendance, live-streaming or recording.  

“We have no problem with the public being able to see what happens in workshops.  

“Sometimes there is good debate, sometimes staff can be questioned closely about their advice – other times it barely raises a ripple, but it can only be healthy for people to be able to see there is nothing to hide.” 

Workshops for Auckland Council’s Governing Body – the mayor and councillors – are also being made open to the public by recording and uploading video to council’s website. 

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Source: Auckland Council

Aucklanders can now dispose of their old tyres for free, thanks to a new national product stewardship scheme called Tyrewise.

The Waitākere Refuse & Recycling Transfer Station in Henderson will accept up to five used tyres per customer, per visit – free of charge. Auckland’s tyres will then be used as a substitute for coal in cement making. 

The Waitākere transfer station will operate as a public collection site while other tyre retailers and businesses across the region can also register to have tyres picked up by Tyrewise for free.

Auckland Council General Manager Waste Solutions Justine Haves hopes the Tyrewise scheme will “gain traction” and help prevent the dumping of thousands of tyres illegally across Tāmaki Makaurau annually.

“Between July 2022 and July 2024, over 32,000 tyres of all shapes and sizes were dumped illegally on public land across the Auckland region. Now that people can drop off their tyres for free, there should no temptation to dump tyres illegally, or pay someone else to dump them,” Ms Haves says.

“As well as Waitākere transfer station being a drop-off point for Aucklanders to take tyres, we hope this scheme will encourage commercial businesses to register as collection points at no additional cost to their business and encourage more retailers to take advantage of the free disposal service.”

Councillor Richard Hills, Chair of the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee, says Auckland Council strongly supports product stewardship schemes that ensure resources are reused, repurposed or recycled.

“Well-regulated and mandated national product stewardship schemes have the potential to divert many tonnes of waste from landfill, protect our environment and support economic growth and opportunities,” Cr Hills says.

“We hope to see more product stewardship schemes like Tyrewise applied to other products and sectors, creating a truly circular economy. It is by working together with industry and government that we can get closer to our zero waste vision for Tāmaki Makaurau.”

The Tyrewise scheme is being funded by a tyre stewardship fee added to new tyres, with the aim of ensuring end-of-life tyres are repurposed instead of dumped or stockpiled.

For more information on the Tyrewise scheme go to tyrewise.co.nz

For opening hours and information on the Waitākere Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station.

Source: Auckland Council

From September, workshops of Auckland Council’s Governing Body will be set to ‘open by default’. This means that the public will be able to see where many decisions made by the Mayor and Councillors start, what informs them and how they work with council staff to provide direction.

Mayor Wayne Brown advocates strongly for as much council business being conducted in public or accessible to the public as possible, and welcomes this change.

“There’s often a lot of fuss made about meetings and workshops held ‘in secret’ or behind closed doors, so this is a great way to show Aucklanders how our workshop process actually works,” he says.

Changing to an ‘open by default’ approach to workshops means that when a workshop is proposed, it will be assumed to be open at the outset. If changes need to be made to close a workshop, special consideration will be given.

General Manager Governance and Engagement Lou-Ann Ballantyne says as a public organisation, the council is committed to transparency – showing Aucklanders what we do, how we make decisions on their behalf and giving them the opportunity to participate in our democratic processes.

“This is an exciting turnaround for us – our staff have a real passion for local democracy and community-driven policy development and decision making.

“Any opportunity taken to shine a brighter light on the process that leads to a decision around the Governing Body table and increase Aucklanders’ interest in public participation is a win for Tāmaki Makaurau,” she says.

Some workshops will still be closed if there is a good reason to do so. This might be where there is commercial sensitivity, or where personal or legally privileged information is discussed. However, a closed workshop will be notified to the public, and consideration will also be given to releasing workshop materials from closed workshops.

The workshop format is typically more relaxed than a formal council meeting and lends itself to being more flexible – organised or adjusted at short notice to fit in with other priorities.

“The slightly more flexible nature of workshops means that the sheer logistics of having in-person attendance from the public cannot be easily managed,” says Lou-Ann.

“Instead, we will record all open workshops and make them available, with the workshop materials, shortly after the meeting.”

This change stems from a recommendation to the Governing Body in June and also supports the outcomes in the Chief Ombudsman’s report on local council meetings and workshops.

“As a council group we are committed to increasing transparency and engagement with our democratic processes, and changing the way we deliver workshops is an important next step,” says Lou-Ann.

What does ‘open by default’ mean’?

From 1 September, the council’s ‘default’ setting for holding workshops of the Governing Body and its committees, will switch to open. (Some of our local boards are already holding open workshops and others are considering whether they do the same.)

Each time a workshop is proposed, council staff and the committee chair will assume that it will be an open workshop, unless there is a good reason to close the workshop.

Open workshops will be recorded, and recordings and workshop documents will be made publicly available on one of the council’s digital platforms after the meeting.

 Open or closed?

If the open setting needs to be changed to a closed workshop, special consideration will be made.

To close a workshop, some of the considerations might include commercial sensitivity; whether personal or legally privileged information is being discussed. Closed workshops are not recorded but consideration will be given to releasing workshop materials and may be published afterwards.

Source: Auckland Council

Aotea residents are being asked to give feedback to Auckland Council on its plans to manage and protect local coastal areas from the effects of climate change by having their say on the draft Aotea / Great Barrier and Hauraki Gulf Islands Shoreline Adaptation Plan (SAP). 

“As an island community which bears the brunt of the region’s weather, it’s especially important for us to know what the plan is to protect our coast and beaches for the future,” says Aotea / Local Board chair Izzy Fordham.

“This is a valuable opportunity to give feedback about something that affects us so greatly.”

SAPs are documents that cover the ways that Auckland Council manages its coastal land and assets including reserves, coastal defence structures and public facilities over the next 100 years.

Some of the affected areas in the draft plan for Aotea are Port Fitzroy Wharf, Okiwi (in the medium-term) and Motairehe (in the long-term).

There are 20 SAPs across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland being developed in partnership with mana whenua and guidance from infrastructure providers, technical experts and coastal communities. 

The draft Aotea / Great Barrier and Hauraki Gulf Islands SAP consultation is open now until 1 October 2024.  

How to have your say 

Friday 6 September  
Drop-In Session: Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Office 
12 – 2pm, 81 Hector Sanderson Road, Claris

Saturday 7 September  
Drop-In Session: Growers and Makers Market  
10am-12pm, Claris Conference Centre, 19 Whangaparapara Road

Sunday 8 September  
Drop-In Session: Mulberry Grove Store Cafe 
10:30am – 12:30pm, 1 Mulberry Grove Bay Road

Shoreline Adaptation Plans 
Freepost number 232621 
Private Bag 92300 
Victoria Street West 
Auckland 1142. 

For more information on Shoreline Adaptation Plans, check out the council’s website.  

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Source: Auckland Council

Tiwhatiwha te poo, anuanu te ao, koinei te apakura ki te kiingi Maaori kua riro ki ngaa riponga o te awa o mate. He toromi ki te wai, he auee ki te whenua.

Ko ngaa wai o roimata e kato nei, e kato nei. Katohia te mata o te whenua, katohia te whatumanawa o te iwi Maaori i te rirohanga o te taniwha hikuroa, i te rirohanga o te tipua kotahitanga, i te rirohanga o teetahi o ngaa au o te mana motuhake Maaori.

Ko te kaahui Maaori, otiraa te kaahui whaanui o Te Kaunihera o Taamaki Makaurau e komohia ana ngaa pare kawakawa, e rangona ana te koropupuutanga o te puna poouri nui whakaharahara.

Kei te kiingi, kei te herenga kaakaho, moe mai raa me te moohio ka moemoeaa tonu taatou kia taapae atu ki te whakatinanatanga o too oohaakii, kia kotahi ai taatou.

Naa reira, e moe, e moe, moe mai raa.

On behalf of the Auckland Council Group, Mayor Wayne Brown extends his deepest condolences to the people of Waikato-Tainui, and all of the Kiingitanga, following the passing of Kiingi Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII.

Kiingi Tuuheitia, was a respected leader and steadfast advocate for iwi Maaori and he has made significant contributions to the well-being and advancement of Maaori across the motu and in Taamaki Makaurau over the past 18 years. He has left an indelible mark on our city and its people and his unwavering support for building strong relationships between Taamaki Makaurau mana whenua and the many Maaori Communities that reside in our city, along with his commitment to the prosperity of Taamaki Makaurau, will be remembered with deep respect and gratitude.

Mayor Wayne Brown has acknowledged Kiingi Tuuheitia’s significant contributions, saying

“Kiingi Tuuheitia was a leader of immense mana, whose dedication to the people of Taamaki Makaurau and his iwi Waikato-Tainui has been a guiding light for us all.

His leadership in fostering relationships with Maaori and his ongoing support for Auckland’s development has enriched our city and strengthened our ties with Maaori throughout our region. His legacy will continue to inspire us in our work with mana whenua, Maaori communities and the broader community.”

Over his reign, Kiingi Tuuheitia has played a pivotal role in Auckland’s cultural and social landscape. His leadership and influence have been instrumental in advancing the partnership between the city and iwi, ensuring that the voices of mana whenua have been supported, heard and respected in decisions impacting Taamaki Makaurau.

Auckland Council stands in solidarity with Kiingi Tuuheitia’s whaanau, Waikato-Tainui and all of our communities who are mourning this profound loss. We honour Kiingi Tuuheitia’s memory and commit to upholding the values and principles he championed throughout his life.

 

For media inquiries, please contact:

Matt Rogers | Auckland Mayoral Office

matt.rogers@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Phone 027 276 8533

Michael Hennessy | Ngā Mātārae

mike.hennessy@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Phone 021 666 462

Source: Auckland Council

Mayor Wayne Brown has announced changes to Auckland Council’s committee structure that will streamline decision-making and put the focus on delivering the new Long-term Plan (LTP).

“Through the LTP process I received councillor feedback that the current structure wasn’t operating as efficiently as it could, and some felt specific issues required more attention at the committee level,” Mayor Brown said.

“The new structure takes on board this feedback with some adjustments to existing committees, and the establishment of two smaller committees. These changes will align with the council’s new management structure and allow councillors to have more effective oversight,” Mayor Brown said. 

The Transport and Infrastructure Committee will become the Transport, Resilience, and Infrastructure Committee. This title change reflects the inclusion of oversight of physical resilience matters for this committee.

The Planning, Environment and Parks Committee to become the Policy and Planning Committee. This committee will continue to provide direction for the physical development and growth of Auckland, and development and monitoring of policies associated with community, social, cultural, and environmental matters.

Two new committees are also established. The new Community Committee, chaired by Councillor Angela Dalton, will have a focus on community related programmes, including responsibility for the full regional grants programme.

The new Parks Committee, chaired by Councillor Ken Turner, will be responsible for regional oversight of regional parks and other significant open spaces. 

On Thursday, the Governing Body also voted to appoint Councillor Maurice Williamson to the Board of Auckland Transport. He replaces Councillor Andy Baker who will take up a new role as chair of the Transport, Resilience, and Infrastructure Committee. 

“As a former Minister of Transport and Minister of Local Government, Councillor Williamson has extensive experience working with transport experts and understands the complexity of central government relationships. This will be crucial as we work to take democratic control of AT.

“Councillor Baker will do a good job leading the Transport Resilience and Infrastructure Committee, given his inside knowledge of how AT operates,” Mayor Brown said.

“Along with colleagues today, I acknowledge Councillor Watson for his work establishing and leading the Transport and Infrastructure Committee during the first half of this term.”

Councillor Chris Darby, who was appointed to the AT Board in July 2023, will remain in that role. 

“Together, Councillor Williamson and Councillor Darby will work closely with my office to ensure the views of the Governing Body are represented on the AT Board.”

“It is also important that we have a balanced range of views shaping the future of transport in our city. I believe Councillor Williamson and Councillor Darby will ensure the perspectives of most Aucklanders are represented.”