Category: Auckland Council

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.”

Source: Auckland Council

A bright light is proving effective for killing Caulerpa seaweed, which is a rapidly spreading invasive seaweed in northeastern New Zealand.

A single dose of the ultraviolet light was found to kill over 90 per cent of the invasive seaweed in field tests at Rakino Island in the Hauraki Gulf funded by Auckland Council and undertaken by the University of Auckland.

The findings have great potential for helping with the control of the invasive seaweed, says Liz Brooks, Team Manager Pathways and Marine at Auckland Council.

Caulerpa has been causing serious concern since first discovered in coastal waters of Aotea -Great Barrier Island in mid-2021 and has since spread and been located at other coastal locations.

Elsewhere in the world invasions of exotic Caulerpa seaweed have been associated with loss of seafloor animals and fish life, due to the formation of dense smothering mats of seaweed across the seafloor.

The ultraviolet light, which is used for killing microorganisms in drinking water, appears also to be highly effective for killing Caulerpa on the seafloor using a powerful underwater lamp.

“The ultraviolet light works on the seaweed like sunburn, killing the tissues that are exposed to the light, says Brooks.

“Shaded parts of seaweed that are not affected by the light and any regrowth needs to be mopped up with subsequent doses of the ultraviolet light.” she adds.

Ultraviolet light has some potential advantages over the limited methods currently available for controlling Caulerpa seaweed including minimal disturbance of the seafloor and no fragmentation of the Caulerpa, which can lead to spread of the pest.

Although the field testing of the ultraviolet light has only been undertaken on a small scale at Rakino Island, work is progressing toward using the ultraviolet light for larger scale control of Caulerpa in coastal areas.

University of Auckland diver attending to UV-C lamp in operation treating Caulerpa parvifolia on the seabed at Māori Garden Bay, Rakino Island. The three parallel UV-C lamps are powered from the surface (black cables) with a white plastic frame holding the lamps above the seafloor to ensure adequate light coverage.

A UV-C dosemeter at the left end of the frame records the quantity of UV-C light arriving at the seafloor.

Underwater photographs of quadrat T3 (first shot above) on 24 June 2024 showing extensive cover of Caulerpa parvifolia and on (above) 31 July 2024 showing minimal remaining C. parvifolia cover after two treatments with UV-C.

Source: Auckland Council

The Group Shared Services (GSS) Board has appointed Helen Robinson ONZM as independent chair of the GSS Board effective 4 September 2024.

The purpose of Group Shared Services is to enable Auckland Council Group to deliver high-quality and cost-effective services for Aucklanders. This is achieved through integrating common functions and technologies, developing a consistent and scalable service delivery model, and eliminating duplication.

The role of the independent chair is to guide the GSS Board, which is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction and governance of Group Shared Services to ensure the model provides quality services, manages and mitigates risk, delivers on value, the Long-term Plan outcomes, and savings targets. The independent chair will work closely with Richard Jarrett, Director of Group Shared Services on the successful implementation across Auckland Council Group.

The GSS Board comprises the independent chair and the chief executives from Auckland Council, Auckland Transport, Watercare, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and Eke Panuku Development Auckland.

About Helen Robinson

Helen is an entrepreneur and professional director with over 30 years’ experience leading technology companies and driving innovation across the technology, finance, sustainability, and consumer goods sectors.

Her previous executive positions include Managing Director of Microsoft New Zealand and Head of Pivotal Corporation Asia Pacific. 

She is Independent Director of Generate Kiwisaver and Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA), Board Member of NZ Tech, Chair of Kara Technologies, Research Education Advanced Network New Zealand (REANNZ) and Astrix Astronautics, and NZTE’s Beachhead Advisors NZ.

In 2018, Helen was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for her outstanding services to technology and business. 

Source: Auckland Council

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After almost a decade of legal battles, Auckland’s local alcohol policy has been adopted. At today’s meeting of the council’s governing body, Auckland’s councillors unanimously voted for the policy to be in full effect by 9 December 2024.

Councillor Josephine Bartley is chair of the Regulatory and Safety Committee. She says this is a momentous day for communities across Tāmaki Makaurau, who have long been calling out to have their voices heard when it comes to regulating alcohol in their neighbourhoods.

“We’ve been fighting for this on behalf of our communities for almost ten years. The reason local alcohol policies were brought in was to allow local people to have a say over where and when alcohol is available in their area,” she says.

“When we consulted people on the policy, we heard from communities and businesses. They told us that we didn’t need more off-licences, and the hours that shops can sell alcohol should be reduced. That’s what we’ve now been able to achieve.”

What will change under the policy, and when?

The policy will come into effect in two stages. The first changes will come in on 16 September 2024, when stricter rules for new off-licences opening in the central city and 23 other suburbs come into force.

These rules will mean that, from 16 September, any application to open an off-licence in these areas is likely to be declined for the next two years, unless a very high threshold is met.

Changes to maximum trading hours will come in three months later, on 9 December 2024. From this date:

• bottle shops and supermarkets across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will not be able to sell alcohol after 9pm.
• bars, restaurants and other on-licences permitted by the District Licensing Committee will be able to sell alcohol until no later than 4am in the central city, and 3am outside of the central city.
• sports clubs and RSAs permitted by the District Licensing Committee will be able to sell alcohol until 1am.

The policy will not impact special licences for festivals and events. These will continue to be assessed by the District Licensing Committee, as they are now.

Will it make a difference?

Auckland’s communities certainly think changing access to alcohol will be beneficial to health, safety and wellbeing across the region. This is backed up by Auckland Council’s partner regulatory agencies for alcohol.

Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora Medical Officer of Health, Dr June Leung, says limiting the number of alcohol outlets and the hours they can trade is shown to reduce alcohol harm, such as injuries, violence and car crashes.

“Alcohol is responsible for more than 900 deaths and 29,000 hospitalisations each year in Aotearoa New Zealand. The high availability of alcohol in our neighbourhoods contributes to these harms. The local alcohol policy is a major step forward in addressing the availability of alcohol as well as community concerns over alcohol harm in Tāmaki Makaurau.

“Public health has long supported stronger controls on alcohol availability, and we commend Auckland Council for persisting with the local alcohol policy,” she says.

In June 2024, the Police estimated alcohol harm costs the country a significant amount each year. Superintendent Scott Gemmell is Director of Tāmaki Makaurau Partnerships for the Police. He says Auckland’s local alcohol policy is a step forward in reducing the harms caused by irresponsible drinking.

“We respond to incidents where alcohol is a key factor every day. In fact, 1 in 5 victimisations are fuelled by alcohol – it’s not insignificant.

“We want people to feel safe and will continue to work with our partners to prevent and address alcohol-related crimes. This policy will help with our work to prevent alcohol-harms – it’s a step in the right direction,” he says.

Why has it taken so long to get the policy across the line?

“What started as a standard policy consultation and submissions process soon turned into a legal battle between the council and supermarkets, that ended up lasting for 8 years,” says Councillor Josephine Bartley.

“During this time, the appeals made by supermarkets took the policy through the Court of Appeal to the High Court and, eventually, all the way to the Supreme Court. The key issues for the supermarkets were around maximum trading hours. This resulted in amendments to the policy, including changes to the proposed alcohol trading hours. Through the amendment, the start time for sales of alcohol was pushed forward by two hours, to 7am instead of 9am – the time the council had initially recommended,” she says.

The council fought on behalf of its communities to get the policy across the line for almost a decade. In 2023, the Supreme Court dismissed the supermarkets’ appeals, awarding costs to the council. Andrew Galloway is Executive Director at Alcohol Healthwatch and has been following the policy’s story closely for a number of years.

“The litigation by Aotearoa New Zealand’s major alcohol industry interests exhausted every legal avenue available, including to the Supreme Court, with a decision released in May 2023. That decision provided a road map for resolving the remaining appeals,” he says.

After the Supreme Court decision, the remaining appeals were dismissed or withdrawn. The policy was approved by the Alcohol and Regulatory Licensing Authority at the start of this month (August 2024), before going to the council’s governing body today (29 August 2024) to get the final seal of approval from Auckland’s councillors.

Do you sell alcohol?

Make sure you’re ready for the local alcohol policy. Licence holders will receive regular information by email over the next few months.

If the local alcohol policy impacts your business, or a current application to open a new off-licence, the licensing team will be in touch to discuss your options.

Visit the Auckland Council website for more information on the local alcohol policy

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Central City Library is thrilled to announce an uplifting new exhibition Waiwaia Ngā Ngutu ahead of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, celebrating the eloquence and expression of te reo Māori from the early nineteenth century to the present day.  

This free exhibition, which runs from Wednesday 4 September 2024 – 1 February 2025, provides visitors with a showcase of never-before publicly seen taonga Māori (Māori treasures) from Auckland Council Libraries Heritage Collections, accompanied by a rich soundscape that brings the written word to life and affirms the essence of te reo Māori: a language heard and spoken with eloquence.    

Councillor Kerrin Leoni is excited by this opportunity to celebrate te reo Māori as a cultural treasure. 

“This exhibition of taonga tuku iho reflects how te reo Māori has always been fundamental to a thriving Māori identity for Tāmaki Makaurau,” Councillor Leoni says. 

“In our commitment to Māori outcomes, we are passionate about creating opportunities like this for Aucklanders to see, hear, speak and learn te reo Māori, to ensure it flourishes for generations to come.”  

From hand-written manuscripts recording whakapapa (genealogy), to Māori students’ copybooks as they learned their language in writing, Waiwaia Ngā Ngutu will showcase te reo Māori in its various forms throughout history, to bring to life the written word and emphasise the vitality of the language. 

Benj Brooking. A hand-written manuscript about Te Tiriti o Waitangi in te reo Māori, 22 November 1884. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

The exhibition also includes pūrākau (legends) and whakataukī (proverbs), early publications of Māori grammar books and bibles, and transliterations created to connect concepts and ways of seeing the world between Māori and Pākehā. 

It will be accompanied by audio recordings of birds, insects, wind and waves, expressing the relationship of te reo to te taiao (the environment). Specific exhibits will also be accompanied by voice recordings showcasing the various dialects and forms. 

Auckland Council’s Senior Librarian of Māori Collections Maureen Ned encourages all to find their place in this snapshot of the history and language of Aotearoa.  

“The taonga chosen for this exhibition are unique to the history of Aotearoa New Zealand when Māori first engaged with the missionaries in the capture of te reo Māori in the written form,” Ms Ned says.  

“In terms of how the language has evolved and emerging relations – it is a privilege to preserve and celebrate these taonga of stories, cultural heritage, and creative expression passed down to us.”  

Author Shilo Kino with her book ‘All That We Know’ and author Hēmi Kelly with his books ‘A Māori Word a Day’ and ‘A Māori Phrase a Day.’

In celebration of this illuminating exhibition, Auckland City Central Library is hosting a conversation between award-winning authors Shilo Kino (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Maniapoto) and Hēmi Kelly (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tahu, Ngāti Whāoa) on 12 September 2024 from 6pm-7pm.

Kino’s recently published novel All That We Know follows Māreikura as she works to reclaim her te reo Māori, while also navigating personal relationships and a growing public profile. Shilo will be joined on stage by Hēmi Kelly, author of A Māori Word a Day, A Māori Phrase a Day, expert translator, and host of the Everyday Māori Podcast.

A Māori language teacher, Hēmi started learning te reo Māori as a teenager and is a passionate advocate for the revitalisation of te reo Māori.  

Additional information

In addition to this exhibition, Auckland Council Libraries is offering a series of family-friendly events and activities celebrating Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori across Tāmaki Makaurau, including raranga (weaving), story times, kēmu (games), and a rangatahi spoken word showcase. Find out more here. 

Waiwaia Ngā Ngutu: Speak Eloquently will be open at Level 2 of Auckland’s Central City Library from Wednesday 4 September 2024 – 1 February 2025. More information about the exhibition and related events can be found here.

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council has released its first-ever stock take of the bird population in the Auckland region, shedding light on the current conservation status of its avian inhabitants.

The landmark study provides crucial insights into the conservation needs of our feathered friends and the pressing challenges they face.

“In order to protect and restore our threatened species, we need to understand which species are living in our region and how they are doing,” says Dr Sabine Melzer, Auckland Council’s Senior Regional Advisor (Fauna).

The report identifies 230 bird species in Tāmaki Makaurau / the Auckland region, with 34 native species deemed “Regionally Critical” while 20 others are classified as “At Risk.” A total of 123 species are Non-resident Native while a further 28 are Introduced and Naturalised. The study also highlights 24 species that are currently “Not Threatened”.

Chair of the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee Councillor Richard Hills says Auckland wouldn’t be the same without the melody of birdsong.

“This report is a wake-up call to protect the incredible avian diversity that graces our region.

“This regional assessment is a crucial step in understanding and mitigating the impacts of environmental changes and human activities on bird populations.

“The findings will guide Auckland Council in achieving its biodiversity management objectives, ensuring our native bird species continue to thrive,” adds Hills.

Key Findings:

Regional endemics: the assessment highlights two species and one sub-species endemic to Auckland: the Black Petrel, New Zealand Storm Petrel, and Northern Cook’s Petrel. These birds, only found in our region, are now under more significant scrutiny for conservation efforts.

National Strongholds: Auckland serves as a national stronghold for 24 bird species, meaning they contain more than 20 per cent of the national population. They include migratory shorebirds and domestic migrants, emphasising the region’s critical role in preserving these species.

Success Stories: The North Island kōkāko population in the Hūnua Ranges is a beacon of hope, having recovered significantly through dedicated conservation management, now standing as one of the largest mainland populations on the North Island.

The report underscores the importance of local habitats such as wetlands, forests, and coastal areas in maintaining bird populations. It also highlights the crucial role Aucklanders play in bird conservation.

How You Can Help:

Responsible pet ownership: desex pet cats and dogs, observe all bylaws around dogs on leashes or no-dog areas around wildlife, and keep your cat at home on your property. And if you have feathered family members such as pet parrots, never free fly them

Join local conservation efforts: participate in bird monitoring activities or volunteer for local conservation projects

Support pest control initiatives: helping to control pests is critical for protecting native bird habitats

Plant native vegetation: create bird-friendly environments in your backyard or community spaces by planting native flora.

Dr Melzer says the key threats to birds in Auckland are habitat loss and degradation, mammalian predators, human disturbance and climate change.

“The data from this report will be instrumental in shaping future conservation efforts.

“We need everyone, residents, businesses, and local groups—to pitch in and help protect Auckland’s unique birdlife.

“This isn’t just a council effort; it’s a community effort. Every action counts.”

Auckland Council supports conservation initiatives through the Natural Environment Targeted Rate.

Read full report here

Source: Auckland Council

Other worlds has arrived in Tāmaki Makaurau.

A thought provoking, wondrous series of large-scale globes standing on tripod legs inspires us to see the world through different lenses.

Councillor Angela Dalton says the globes provide a new experience of the Botanic Gardens which is a space much loved by Aucklanders and visitors.

“The scale is awe-inspiring. They look incredible on such a vast, expansive lawn. Close up, visitors will see some globes are very textural, others are smooth and detailed, and the new tripod stands give Other worlds a sci-fi feeling,” Councillor Dalton says.

This temporary outdoor exhibition aligns with the World Green Infrastructure Congress hosted this year in Tāmaki Makaurau from 3 to 5 September, and will be exhibited from 2 September to 14 October.

New Zealanders might have seen this artwork outside Te Papa Tongarewa between 2018 and 2020, courtesy of the Wellington Sculpture Trust’s Four Plinths commissions.

Creation of Other Worlds

Created by Auckland-based artist Ruth Watson, each of the globes in Other worlds depicts different types of mapping or data collection to present an alternative world.

The grey globe is a seventeenth-century worldview of the earth without water, and the green and tan globe depicts an early 1900s belief that Mars was home to a superior civilisation.

Instead of the conventional colouring of continents, the patterns on the black globe depict carbon sequestration data. Rather than a usual sphere, the white globe depicts European Space Agency gravitational field analysis.

Ruth Watson has a longstanding interest in maps and her art practice questions common Western ideas about how places are represented and why.

“I was looking for globes that would be familiar in the sense that someone would look at them and know it was a representation of our Earth, but also different enough to indicate that it wasn’t the world as we usually see it,” Ruth says.

The artist proposed the next iteration of Other worlds for Aucklanders to experience. While the artwork was a commission for the Wellington Sculpture Trust, Ruth’s artwork appeals to and expresses ideas that anyone, anywhere can relate to, drawing on the familiar to express the unfamiliar.

Other worlds is exhibited by Auckland Council Public Art in conjunction with the Auckland Botanic Gardens. See here for a recent interview with Ruth Watson by Greg Meylan, the Visitor Services Project Coordinator at the Auckland Botanic Gardens.

Other worlds can be seen with another temporary exhibition in the Visitor Centre which shares examples of green infrastructure in design.

Artist biography

Born and raised in Canterbury, Ruth Watson studied at the Ilam School of Fine Arts in Christchurch, first focusing on painting before moving to a more interdisciplinary practice including photography, video, and sculpture. An interest in maps and its representational methods has been a common thread in her diverse body of work.

In 2004, Watson collaborated with the ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics to create the largest map of the universe at that time. She is also the graduate of a science-based course in Antarctica, which inspired a series of artworks across several exhibitions. She completed her MFA at the Sydney College of the Arts, and has a PhD from the Australian National University, where her map of the universe was presented as her final artwork.

Currently based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Watson’s journey has taken her from Berlin to Australia, and back to New Zealand. She has represented both Australia and New Zealand on several occasions, and has exhibited in the 9th Sydney Biennale, at the Frankfurter Kunstverein, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, the Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane, and the Asia Society Museum and Gallery in New York City. She is currently exhibiting with Sumer Gallery in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and is a Senior Lecturer at Te Waka Tūhura Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland.

Ruth Watson.

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council has cancelled micromobility operator Beam’s e-scooter licence in Auckland, following an investigation into concerns raised around the operator’s compliance with licence conditions.   

Information provided to the council has indicated that Beam has been deploying e-scooters in numbers well above the permitted limit in its licence and providing misleading data to conceal this from monitoring reports.  

Auckland Council’s Manager of Licensing and Environmental Health, Mervyn Chetty, says this represents a serious breach of Beam’s licence conditions.  

“Limits on e-scooter numbers are in place for the safety of other road and footpath users and to minimise nuisance in and around our city.  

“It appears that Beam found a way to sidestep these requirements, which is very disappointing and has resulted in a loss of trust and confidence in the operator.  

“Beam has not provided a satisfactory response to our concerns, as such we have made the decision to cancel their licence, effective immediately. We have asked that all vehicles be deactivated by 11.59pm tonight, Tuesday 27 August, and all devices removed from Auckland’s streets by 5pm Friday 30 August.”

Beam’s licence permits them to deploy up to 1400 e-scooters across Auckland, including 450 in both Tier 1 (CBD) and Tier 2 (inner city), and 500 in Tier 3 (suburban). To ensure compliance with these limits, the council monitors e-scooter deployment numbers through mobility management platform Ride Report. 

The council was provided with evidence of anomalies between the reported and actual number of Beam e-scooters operating in Auckland and other cities across Australasia by a concerned private individual on 2 August. The evidence suggests that these anomalies were intentional, with Beam providing misleading data to Ride Report to appear compliant with cap limits.  

The council has since undertaken its own investigation including requesting further analysis by Ride Report, with resulting data received on 18 August consistent with the allegations and the council’s own findings.

Ride Report’s analysis indicates that between 26 July 2023 and 15 August 2024, Beam consistently exceeded their device allowance by almost 40 per cent of its Tier 1 and Tier 2 allocations.

“We have not taken the decision to cancel Beam’s licence lightly, however, once we had reason to believe there were clear breaches of the licence conditions, we were able to quickly verify the scale and seriousness of the changes to the data,” says Mr Chetty.

Following the removal of Beam’s devices, Aucklanders can expect to see an initial drop in the number of rental e-scooters available on the streets. The council is currently exploring options to mitigate the shortfall.  

All current micromobility licences are due to expire on 3 November 2024, and the council is currently considering applications for the next round of licences which can start operating from 4 November 2024.  

The council will now be referring this matter to the Police for further investigation.

FAQs  

What is Ride Report and how does it collect data?  

Ride Report is used by public organisations across Australasia as a way to monitor the rental e-scooter market. Vehicle and Trip data is collected on each individual device and is sent to the operator. Data is then provided by the operator to Ride Report approximately every 5 minutes. This near- ‘real-time’ data is then displayed on a dashboard for Auckland Council. 
 
How was Beam able to conceal extra scooters from Ride Report’s data?  

It appears that data provided to Ride Report from Beam regularly showed a high number of vehicles operating in an “unknown” state, which is intended to indicate connectivity loss, GPS issues, missing vehicles, or other operational variances. Vehicles operating in this state are not reflected in Ride Report’s real-time map and are not counted towards vehicle counts and caps. 

Due to the changes of the data by Beam before it was sent to Ride Report, the dashboard showed compliance with the permitted numbers. 

How did the council not notice the extra scooters on the street? 

While the council carries out its own on-street monitoring, e-scooters are constantly being relocated and the council cannot physically see the total number operating in one area in any one time. In addition, the council has had no reason not to trust the data provided by Beam, or to expect non-compliance by an operator with licence conditions.  

Exactly how many devices were Beam operating in Auckland in total?  

Further investigation would be required to determine an exact figure, however preliminary analysis from Ride Report suggests that at its peak there were potentially as many as 530 additional vehicles at any one time showing in the unknown state. 

Are there concerns that other providers are operating in the same way?  
No, analysis by Ride Report has not found similar activity from other providers. 

Source: Auckland Council

Streets, squares and the pages of a giant book are all becoming a large-scale canvas for te reo Māori kupu (words), celebrating Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori and Mahuru Māori in Auckland’s city centre.

With Māori language and culture being our point of difference in the world, co-curator Ataahua Papa (Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, Ngāti Mahuta) explains that Aucklanders are fortunate to have the opportunity to engage with, to see and to hear te reo Māori across the heart of the city centre.

“With activations of light, words and a giant book celebrating and highlighting te reo Māori, we are honouring the call made in September 1972 for the recognition and revitalisation of te reo Māori.

“The call came from representatives of Ngā Tamatoa, Victoria University’s Te Reo Māori Society, and the New Zealand Māori Students Association in the form of a petition with over 30,000 signatures.

“Many initiatives now combine to encourage people around Aotearoa to speak more reo Māori in a way that is comfortable for them, be it an hour a day, two hours a day, one day a week or immersion for the entire month of Mahuru – early September to early October in accordance with the Maramataka Māori,” Ataahua Papa says.

A programme of interactive ways Aucklanders can embrace te reo Māori in public places at the centre of town has been compiled by Auckland Council city centre place activation principal Barbara Holloway. 

“Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori and Mahuru Māori are special times to celebrate Māori language. This extensive and joyous programme created with the Central City Library team offers numerous ways to learn and enjoy through movies, making, listening, learning, singing and playing,” she says.

Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori runs from 14 to 21 September aligning with the date the petition was delivered to Parliament. 

The street-level programme and the elements of the Central City Library programme highlighted below are delivered by Auckland Council, enabled by the city centre targeted rate.

Here are our top eight ways to expand your knowledge of te reo Māori:

New neon art lights up three symbolic kupu (words)

2 September – 30 October

44 – 46 Lorne Street, opposite Central City Library

From Monday 2 September, Aucklanders and visitors will see three 2-metre pieces of neon art on lamp posts in Lorne Street. They will light up three cornerstone kupu: Rere, Tika and Māori, referencing this whakatauākī (saying):

Ko te reo kia rere. Ko te reo kia tika. Ko te reo kia Māori. 

Let the language flow. Let the language be correct. Let the language come from a te ao Māori worldview.

The creators of this striking new neon artwork, which references the permanent REO sculptural installation in Lorne Street, are Ataahua Papa (Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, Ngāti Mahuta) and Angus Muir Design for Auckland Council.

Giant book: ‘How Māui Slowed the Sun’ by Peter Gossage

Giant book on display: 10 September – 30 September

Te Reo Māori Storytime: Fridays 13, 20 & 27 September, 11am-11.30am

It will take two or even three children to turn the pages. Come to the Central City Library from 10 September, through the main doors and witness a giant version of the Peter Gossage classic in te reo Māori and English. It is one of the most popular children’s books in Aotearoa.

The Gossage family and the publishers, Penguin Random House NZ, have given permission to recreate this beautifully illustrated picture book in a 1.5-metre by 1-metre scale. To bring the pages to life join Te Reo Māori Storytime on Friday 13, 20 and 27 September, 11am-11.30am. Credit: Te Hopu a Māui i a te Rā / How Māui Slowed the Sun © Peter Gossage, translated by Merimeri Penfold, Penguin Random House NZ, 2020.

28 posters create a te reo Māori wall of inspiration

15 – 29 September

St James Theatre hoardings, 44 – 46 Lorne Street, opposite Central City Library

From 15 September look up on the wall across from the Central City Library in Lorne Street and see a series of whakataukī and whakatauākī (sayings and proverbs), poems in te reo Māori and English and song lyrics with photography featuring landmarks visible throughout Tāmaki Makaurau displayed along the wall.

Hone Tuwhare’s poem ‘He motu te awa He awa koe’ (The river is an island) will feature alongside an image from Te Maharatanga o Ngā Wai (Remembering Our Waters), a pocket park on the corner of Victoria Street West and Sale Street where te reo can be seen, read, heard, and spoken through a QR code.

Curator: Ataahua Papa. Photography: Te Rawhitiroa Bosch (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu, Pākehā). With thanks to The Hone Tuwhare Charitable Trust.

Te Maharatanga o Ngā Wai in Sale Street.

Neon art lights up Elliott Street for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori

2 September – 16 October

Suspended above Elliott Street

These crochet – inspired neon spectacular artworks float above the street reflecting the street’s 500-year culinary history.

The plinth opposite Darby Street tells the story in detail in both te reo and English. Artists: Lissy Robinson-Cole (Ngāti Kahu and Ngāti Hine), Rudi Robinson-Cole (Waikato, Ngaruahine, Ngāti Pāoa, Te Arawa). Learn more here.

Whai lights up in the red ink of a teacher’s pen

2 – 16 September

Victoria Street carpark building; view from Victoria Street East

Whai is a new artwork, originally for Matariki ki te Manawa, by Janine Williams (Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara) connecting the stories handed down through generations to the creativity and innovation of current times. During Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori the lights of Whai will change from kikorangi (blue) to whero (red). The artist explains that the reclamation of language requires us all to reflect on our nation’s history.

“The red ink of a teacher’s pen signifies both encouragement and correction. This work responds to the challenges of the beautiful and often difficult journey of learning te reo Māori,” Janine says.

Janine Williams with Whai in Victoria Street East.

Learning te reo Māori through waiata in Myers Park

Learning and singing waiata especially with tamariki is a fun way to learn new words and phrases in te reo Māori. Here is a new and exciting way to do it. Imagine a soundtrack and light and sound effects bursting into song with you.

This seven-minute film will loop on the screen in the Central City Library and on the Auckland Live screen. Watch the film here. Wider story here. Learn the lyrics and tune of the two waiata here.

Waimahara is an interactive artwork designed to deepen our connection to place. It describes the memory of water, specifically Te Waihorotiu, the stream flowing beneath the Myers Park underpass to Waitematā Harbour. Like the stream, this artwork is alive. It responds to the environment, weather and our presence by changing light patterns and sound. Aucklanders can actively engage with this experience by singing two specially written waiata into the sensor. These songs, Waimahara and Waiora, encourage reflection on water consciousness and its significance to human life.

Creative team: Te ringatoi matua o te ariā (concept lead artist): Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Manu); Te whakaputanga oro (audio production): Justyn Pilbrow (Ngāti Kahu); Ngā kaitito waiata (waiata composers): Tuirina Wehi (Ngāti Ruapani); Moeahi Kerehoma (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Tūhoe, Ngāi Takoto, Te Rarawa); Taru mai-i-tawhiti Kerehoma-Hoani (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Tūhoe, Ngāi Takoto, Te Rarawa)

Central City Library hosts month-long calendar of activities

Join our library team for an exciting calendar of workshops, activations and exhibitions throughout the month of Mahuru to celebrate te reo Māori in the Central City Library, and learn more about the uplifting Waiwaia Ngā Ngutu Exhibition.    

Central City Library embraces te reo Māori.

Elevate your skills with a giant game of scrabble

Thursday 12, 19 and 26 September; 10am – 12pm

More than your usual scrabble, Kupurori is played in te reo Māori using a giant board and giant reta (letters). The ture (rules) of the game are for the players to take turns in putting down tiles forming Māori words and connecting them vertically or horizontally to the letters already on the board. Kupurori is a project designed by our Lifewise whānau, for whānau, and prototyped by the Merge Community team.

Source: Auckland Council

Welcome to our fortnightly categorisation programme update.

Final property categories have been provided to 2175 homes, with 725 classed as Category 3 and eligible for a buy-out (as of 28 August). This has been supported by a huge effort by our technical and engineering teams having completed over 3100 desktop assessments and 2050 site assessments. 

500 Category 3 homeowners had received or accepted a buy-out offer, and 217 properties had completed their sale and purchase agreements (as of 23 August).

Overall, 3129 property owners have now registered for the categorisation scheme out of 7389 known impacted properties (as of 28 August). There is still time for at risk homeowners to sign up to the limited scheme. While the deadline for registering is 30 September, we strongly recommend doing this as soon as possible. See our story Registering for a Risk Category for more information. 

In some locations we have not been able to finalise risk reports and categories until decisions about local infrastructure solutions have been made. 

Muriwai and Māngere stormwater solutions

We are pleased to have received the Government’s approval of its co-funding for our first three infrastructure resilience solutions in Muriwai around Domain Crescent and in Māngere’s Te Ararata and Harania catchments. Community information meetings have been held in Māngere East and Māngere Central, and we are waiting to hear back on approval of the Order In Council which will allow the project to be delivered as soon as possible. For more information on these projects email bluegreen@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. 

Categorisation progresses in other infrastructure areas

In other areas, the necessary community infrastructure projects are more complex and could take many years to design, fund, plan, consent and construct. So an amendment to the Auckland recovery co-funding agreement has been approved by the Government which allows Council to offer buy-outs for high-risk properties where an infrastructure solution can’t be delivered in a reasonable timeframe. Council is now progressing risk reports for properties in these project areas, including neighbourhoods around Nile Road in Milford and Clover Drive in Henderson.

See Our Auckland to learn more about flooding assessments and landslide assessments.

An ongoing note on the complexity of categorisation

Many properties have proven more complex to categorise for several reasons:

• There is an intolerable risk to life, but we need to assess the feasibility of a mitigation at the property. Examples include retaining walls, house raising or moving, altering fences and other structures blocking overland flow paths, or changes to driveways or landscaping
• There is an intolerable risk to life, but we have been waiting on confirmation of a community infrastructure project that could reduce this risk for whole neighbourhoods. Examples include redirecting overland flow paths, making more space for water to flow and pool, stopbanks, and upgrading culverts and roads. These projects are being scoped looking at feasibility of timelines, practicality, costs and impacts
• There are both flooding and landslip issues at the property
• Recent work at neighbouring properties, or the shifting of land, have changed the risk profile since we started.

See key categorisation and buyout figures below.

Categorisation progress (at 23 August 2024) 

Initial Impacted properties	Registered for categorisation	Completed desktop assessments	Completed site assessments
7389	3129	3104	2046

Note: Not every home will need a site assessment, but some may need more than one

Category 3 buy-out progress (at 23 August 2024)

Valuations provided	Buy-out offers accepted	Buy-outs completed
500	295	217

Categories confirmed (at 28 August 2024)

Category 1	Category 2C	Category 2P	Category 3	Ineligible or withdrawn*	Total
1360	5	85	725	22	2197

*​A small number of properties that have registered for the programme are ineligible, including those with vacant land, commercial/non-residential properties, or properties owned by public service providers. The programme is focused on addressing risk to life in residential situations. 

Categories by suburb (at 28 August 2024)

Suburb	Opted In	1	2C	2P	3	Ineligible/ Withdrawn	Total Final Category
	3
Ahuroa	1	1					1
Albany	3	1			2		3
Albany Heights	7	5			1		6
Araparera	1				1		1
Ararimu Valley	4				3		3
Arkles Bay	3	2					2
Army Bay	4	1			2		3
Auckland Central	10	8					8
Avondale	24	14			1		15
Baddeleys Beach	1	1					1
Balmoral	15	3			4		7
Bayswater	4	3					3
Bayview	13	7			1		8
Beach Haven	33	16		3	4		23
Bethells	5	3			1		4
Birkdale	13	6		1			7
Birkenhead	35	14		2	5		21
Blockhouse Bay	62	27			21		48
Bombay	1	1					1
Botany Downs	1	1					1
Browns Bay	35	14			7		21
Campbells Bay	3
Castor Bay	13	7					7
Chatswood	10	3		2	1		6
Clarks Beach	4	2					2
Clendon Park	1	1					1
Clevedon	4	3					3
Coatesville	7	2			1		3
Cornwallis	2	1			1		2
Dairy Flat	9	1			6		7
Devonport	6	5					5
Drury	2	1					1
East Tamaki	18	17					17
Eden Terrace	2	2					2
Ellerslie	5	1		1			2
Epsom	106	37		4	33		74
Fairview Heights	2	1					1
Favona	1
Flat Bush	5	4					4
Forrest Hill	19	8			6		14
Freemans Bay	18	1					1
Glen Eden	15	10		1	2		13
Glenbrook	2	1					1
Glendene	4	2					2
Glendowie	2	1					1
Glenfield	32	16			3		19
Glenvar	3	1			1		2
Green Bay	16	12		1	1		14
Greenhithe	11	5		1			6
Greenlane	30	12		5	7		24
Grey Lynn	39	16		2	13		31
Hatfields Beach	4	4					4
Hauraki	5	4					4
Helensville	11	2			3		5
Henderson	101	27			54		81
Henderson Valley	17	11			4	1	16
Herald Island	1
Herne Bay	16	13			1		14
Hill Park	1	1					1
Hillcrest	15	7		1			8
Hillsborough	70	48		1	7		56
Hobbs Bay	1	1					1
Howick	3	2					2
Huapai	35	20			10		30
Huia	1
Kaipara Hills	1	1					1
Kakanui	1	1					1
Karekare	61	39		4	14	1	58
Kaukapakapa	12	2			5		7
Kawakawa Bay	1
Kelston	2	1					1
Kingsland	2
Kiwitahi	1	1					1
Kohimarama	1
Komokoriki	3	2					2
Kumeu	5				2		2
Laingholm	18	12					12
Long Bay	1
Lucas Heights	3	1			1		2
Lynfield	13	8					8
Mairangi Bay	3
Makarau	2				1		1
Mangakura	1	1					1
Mangere	91	14			4		18
Mangere Bridge	3	1					1
Mangere East	38	11			1		12
Manly	4	3					3
Manukau Central	1	1					1
Manurewa	5	2					2
Massey	63	22			25		47
Matakatia	1	1					1
Meadowbank	1
Milford	202	26		2	46		74
Mission Bay	1
Mount Albert	23	6			3		9
Mount Eden	100	23		2	48		73
Mount Rex	1				1		1
Mount Roskill	149	60		4	37		101
Mount Wellington	3	1					1
Muriwai Beach	246	159	4	5	64	10	242
Murrays Bay	11	2		1	3		6
Narrow Neck	1
New Lynn	12	4			5		9
New Windsor	5	2		1	2		5
North Cove	1
Northcote	25	15		1	4		20
Northcote Point	46	12		1	5		18
Northcross	2	2					2
Northpark	1
One Tree Hill	4	2			1		3
Onehunga	24	13		1	3		17
Orakei	2
Oratia	8	4			2		6
Orere Point	1	1					1
Orewa	1	1					1
Otahuhu	2
Otara	1
Oteha	1	1					1
Owairaka	28	7			8		15
Pakuranga	1	1					1
Pakuranga Heights	2	2					2
Papakura	9	6				1	7
Papatoetoe	5
Parakai	1	1					1
Parau	1			1			1
Paremoremo	11	8		1			9
Parnell	34	29		2		1	32
Patumahoe	5	5					5
Penrose	1
Piha	122	73		19	16	8	116
Pine Valley	1	1					1
Pinehill	3	1			1		2
Pohuehue	1	1					1
Point Chevalier	19	15					15
Ponsonby	19	6		5	3		14
Puhoi	1				1		1
Pukekohe	38	13	1		15		29
Punganui	1
Ranui	63	10			43		53
Red Beach	3	3					3
Redvale	7	5			1		6
Remuera	38	23			7		30
Riverhead	10	3			4		7
Rothesay Bay	3	1					1
Royal Oak	26	2			12		14
Sandringham	39	6			11		17
Schnapper Rock	1	1					1
Scotts Landing	1	1					1
Shelly Beach	1	1					1
Shelly Park	1	1					1
Snells Beach	2	1					1
St Heliers	2	1					1
St Johns	1	1					1
St Lukes	3
Stanley Point	13	8		1			9
Stanmore Bay	5	3			1		4
Stillwater	1	1					1
Sunnynook	13	1			5		6
Sunnyvale	15	3			5		8
Swanson	77	23		2	39		64
Tahekeroa	3	1			1		2
Takapuna	3	2					2
Tapora	1	1					1
Taupaki	5				4		4
Te Arai Point	1	1					1
Te Atatu Peninsula	8	6			1		7
Te Atatu South	25	16			4		20
Te Henga	1	1					1
Te Papapa	5	5					5
Three Kings	19	6		1	4		11
Titirangi	94	54		2	18		74
Torbay	17	11		1	3		15
Totara Vale	22	6		1	8		15
Unsworth Heights	1	1					1
Upper Waiwera	9	3			5		8
Wade Heads	9	7			1		8
Waiake	3				1		1
Waiatarua	22	14			6		20
Waiheke Island	2	2					2
Waikowhai	12	7		1	2		10
Waimauku	9	1			4		5
Waioneke	1	1					1
Wairau Valley	12	1					1
Waitakere	15	11			3		14
Waiuku	22	15			2		17
Warkworth	3	3					3
Waterview	8	5		1			6
Wellsford	1
West Harbour	3	2			1		3
Western Springs	1	1					1
Westmere	4	3			1		4
Weymouth	1
Whangaripo	2	2					2
Whenuapai	4	2					2
Windsor Park	1
Woodcocks	2	2					2
Total	3,140	1,360	5	85	725	22	2,197