Category: Auckland Council

Source: Auckland Council

Climate change is not only an environmental issue, but a deeply social one, and perhaps one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century. Beginning the conversation today for our beaches and coastal environments of tomorrow, Auckland Council is calling on residents to share their vision for the region’s coastline over the next 100 years.

In the face of increasing challenges such as flooding, erosion, and climate change, public feedback is essential in shaping the Shoreline Adaptation Plans (SAPs), which will guide how the Council manages its coastal land and assets.

SAPs

The SAPs are being developed across 20 coastal areas in Auckland, encompassing a vast 3,200 kilometres of dynamic coastline, from Te Arai in the north to Whakatīwai on the east coast and from Waiuku to Port Albert in the west.

From a Te Ao Māori perspective, it is important to consider equity and fairness, and the rights and interests of nature, place and people from a whole living systems perspective, now and for future generations.

Each plan aims to balance the need for managing risk to infrastructure, with the preservation and restoration of natural shoreline environments, working with mana whenua and local communities to do so.

The council is keen to hear from Aucklanders about how they use and value their local coastal areas, to ensure that future strategies respond to community needs and aspirations, while driving equitable outcomes in response to the challenges climate change presents.

Councillor Richard Hills, Chair of the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee, emphasises the importance of public involvement.

“Across Tāmaki Makaurau, residents are grappling with climate change and the impact this is having on their homes, neighbourhoods, and community assets,” says Councillor Hills.

“We can’t ignore this, and alongside iwi and communities we need to make some smart long-term decisions on where we allocate our resources for our coast and our coastal communities.

“I encourage residents to participate in shaping the future of Auckland’s coastline through the public input processes.”

The importance of adaptive planning has been underscored by the severe weather events of early 2023, which caused widespread damage to both public and private land across Auckland. These events have made it clear proactive and well-informed coastal management strategies are essential.

Adaptive Planning

The SAPs are the Council’s first round of ‘adaptive planning’ – an approach designed to address uncertainty and risk over the long term. The plans will incorporate four key strategies:

No Active Intervention: allowing natural processes to occur without interference in areas where Council-owned land and assets are not at risk

Limited Interventions: maintaining existing coastal defences while accepting that the coast is dynamic, and some assets will need to be redesigned and located out of hazard areas

Hold the Line: defending key assets from erosion and flooding utilising protective measures like seawalls and nature-based options such as dune restoration

Managed Realignment: the need for further discussions and decision making around relocating infrastructure and assets away from vulnerable coastal areas to reduce future risks and maintain our unique coastal environments.

Public Input

Auckland Council’s General Manager of Engineering, Assets, and Technical Advisory, Paul Klinac, highlights the need for public input.

“We know our coastal environment is both dynamic and highly valued – these plans will take these important factors into consideration,” Mr Klinac says.

“The intention is each plan reflects the intrinsic value of the coast to mana whenua as well as the local community and presents a balanced approach to its future management in response to coastal hazards and climate change. This includes opportunities to safeguard our coastal environments for future generations.”

The importance of adaptive planning has been underscored by the severe weather events of early 2023, which caused widespread damage to both public and private land across Auckland. These events have made it clear that proactive and well-informed coastal management strategies are essential.

Residents are encouraged to participate by sharing their experiences, concerns, and ideas for the future of Auckland’s coastline. The feedback gathered will be instrumental in refining the SAPs, ensuring they identify the community’s priorities and values.

Aucklanders can have their say by visiting the Council’s website, participating in online surveys, and engaging with the interactive regional map, where they can leave comments and suggestions. The Council will be collecting feedback throughout 2024 as the SAPs are developed and refined.

For more information and to participate in the consultation process, visit here or here.

Source: Auckland Council

Property owners who were severely affected by last year’s storms in Auckland have until 30 September 2024 to register for the property categorisation.

The programme supports owners of properties where there is an ‘intolerable risk to life’ from future storms, by providing eligible homeowners with a one-time offer of financial support to help make their home safe or move away from a serious landslide or flood risk (via a voluntary buy-out).

So far 40 per cent of the approximately 7000 properties impacted across the region have signed up.

Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Office’s Group Recovery Manager, Mace Ward, says the programme is voluntary but he is concerned that some of the most at-risk homeowners could miss out.  

“Living in flood and landslide risk areas will get more challenging, even with improved stormwater maintenance and major infrastructure projects. Support under the categorisation programme might be the best option for people to either make their home safe or move out of harm’s way,” Mr Ward says.   

“We are making a special effort to reach homeowners we think could be high risk, but we haven’t heard back from many of them. Some of these are located in between neighbours already assessed as high risk and being bought out,” says Mr Ward.  

“In particular, people that had over half a metre of flooding in their home, received a red or yellow placard, or were affected by a slip, should be considering their options. These could be signs of a serious risk to life in future storms.”

Homeowners in these situations are strongly encouraged to investigate their options to make an informed decision about registering as soon as possible ahead of the 30 September registration deadline.  

Ongoing risk 

Mr Ward says some homeowners worry that receiving a category will affect their property valuation or insurance costs. 

“Regardless of our categorisation activities, insurers, tenants, banks and potential buyers will make their own decisions about how risky a home is. And information about a property’s risk is already publicly available on LIMs, public hazard maps and in previous insurance claims,” Mr Ward explains. 

“Where there is a serious risk to life, the categorisation programme offers these homeowners a reasonable solution.”  

Homeowners are encouraged to register for an assessment today if they: 

• received a red or yellow ‘sticker’ (Rapid Building Assessment placard); or

• experienced above floor/significant flooding (0.5 metres for example); or

• were affected by a landslide because of these extreme weather events.

The council expects to buy-out around 900 homes across Auckland at a 26 January 2023 market value (the day before the Auckland Anniversary floods). Find out more and register on OurAuckland.

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Transport is making major repairs to Duck Creek Road, a crucial access road during the construction of O Mahurangi – Penlink, the new 7km highway between Whangaparaoa Road and State Highway 1.

Duck Creek Road is the only road connection to Stillwater and runs off Spur Road from East Coast Bays Road on the Hibiscus Coast. The road usually caters for around 2000 vehicle movements per day however this has increased while accommodating heavy haulage vehicles associated with the Penlink build.

“A portion of Duck Creek Road experienced an under slip near the northern side of the road during the extreme weather events of 2023,” said Alan Wallace, GM of Road Asset Maintenance and Renewals at AT.

“Over time the road began to slump – exacerbated by the increase in heavy traffic – so a decision was made to get on and fix it to secure ongoing and safe access for residents and visitors.

“The urgency of this project is paramount, as further slips could sever community access and disrupt material and machinery supply for the Penlink project.”

Three retaining walls are being built; Two on the north (valley) side, measuring 16 metres wide and 86 metres long, and one on the embankment (south) side which is 95 metres long. The re-design also includes pavement, drainage works, footpaths, and driveways.

Duck Creek Road is open but has been restricted to one lane through the construction site area.

“A major challenge is accommodating heavy haulage traffic for use on the O Mahurangi Penlink Alliance,” says Mr Wallace, “however this has been managed well to date, with full road closures over short periods where necessary, and the installation of safety barriers to protect the travelling public and Fulton Hogan workers. We’re also collaborating with Vector to protect or relocate their assets which are compromised by slips.”

Work on Duck Creek Road started at the end of June and is expected to take seven months to complete. To date construction teams have installed 60 per cent of the timber poles for the southern retaining wall, along with associated earthworks.

During the storm events of 2023, more than 2,000 slips and roading issues were reported across the Auckland region. The flood repair programme is expected to take 2 to 3 years to complete and will cost $390 million. For further information visit Long-term road repairs from Auckland storms (at.govt.nz).

Source: Auckland Council

Last year Auckland Council agreed to support residents in need with 100 per cent rates relief for uninhabited storm damaged homes, following severe weather events in the first half of 2023. 

This rates relief will extend into the current 2024/2025 rating year.

If you received a rates relief in 2023/2024, you will have been contacted by the council asking if your home was still uninhabitable as of 30 June 2024. If you have not heard from us, or think you are entitled to a rates relief (read information below), please email us at ratesrelief@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.

What is available for uninhabitable homes?

Red placarded houses

Houses that remain red placarded as of 30 June 2024 will be able to receive 100 per cent rates relief for the full 2024/2025 rating year. After you confirm with council that your house is still uninhabitable (and show proof), a credit will be automatically applied to rates invoices, so you don’t need to do anything.

Yellow placarded houses

Every yellow placarded property has a unique situation, and some are habitable while others are not. If your home is uninhabitable, then please email us at recoveryoffice@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Applications will be assessed based on personal circumstances.

Supporting homeowners

A disaster like this can take its toll. The support team in the council’s Recovery Office are ready to offer a helping hand to those who need it. Email the team on recoverywellbeing@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz to get connected with agencies who might be able to offer financial, accommodation, insurance or mental health support.

Staff in the council’s Recovery Office have been busy behind the scenes engaging with government agencies, insurers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and banks to advocate for increased financial support for displaced homeowners and tenants. You will find an update on what additional support might be available in the Frequently Asked Questions section below.

Keep checking the Recovery page for the latest information, news and support on the recovery and repair of Tāmaki Makaurau.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the council offering rates relief?

We are aware of the financial hardship experienced by many of those impacted by extreme weather events during the first half of 2023. This rates relief is targeted at those people with uninhabitable homes who have been affected most. 

Why do yellow stickered households have to apply for rates relief?

Yellow stickered houses include a range of different scenarios that affect livability depending on the extent and location of damage on the property and the stage of remediation. We need to understand more about your individual situation. 

What does uninhabitable mean?

All properties with red stickers on 30 June 2024 are considered uninhabitable.

If your property has another coloured sticker (or potentially no sticker at all), the house will need to meet the following criteria:

• is in a state of disrepair, or

• has insufficient or defective provisions against moisture penetration through the roof or external walls, so as to cause dampness in the dwelling, or

• does not have a supply of potable water that is adequate for its intended use, or

• does not have sanitary facilities (no working bathroom or kitchen) that are adequate for its intended use.

You will need to provide photographic evidence of this.

When will my property’s rating valuation be reassessed?

If there has been significant and long-lasting physical damage because of the extreme weather events in the first half of 2023, you can request a rating valuation review by emailing ratesrelief@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Otherwise, your rating valuation will remain as it is until the next city-wide revaluation which is due for publication late 2024 and will be used to set rates for the 2025/2026 rating year.        

I don’t qualify for rates relief, and I’m concerned about my ability to pay?

If you are concerned about your ability to pay rates, and would like to find out more about the flexible financial assistance options on offer, such as a payment plan, you can contact our Credit Control team directly on 09 373 6869 or email rates.collections@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.

What was the outcome in advocating for increased financial support for displaced homeowners and tenants?

During our meetings with banks, they have assured us that they are committed to working with their customers experiencing financial hardship. We urge people to contact their mortgage provider to discuss what support is available.

We encourage residents displaced from their homes to recheck their eligibility for financial assistance through the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). You can contact MSD by calling 0800 559 009. You can find out more information on how MSD can support you by visiting workandincome.govt.nz.

From 4 September 2023, those people who left their homes because of extreme weather events earlier this year, will be able to receive interim financial support when their insurance payments for temporary accommodation run out. Find out more here aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/rent-assistance.

Do you have any further information about the property categorisation process?

Please check out content on OurAuckland for more information. 

Source: Auckland Council

Some artists might choose a scenic landscape or the human body as the subjects of their craft, but Sean Boyd of Octalien finds inspiration from junk. Items thrown away at the Localised Tāmaki Zero Waste Hub turn into fantastic sci-fi sculptures when placed into Sean’s hands: kettles become robot heads; colanders become parts of a rocket; computer monitor stands become the legs of an android.

“I get excited when I walk into a recycling centre – my heart rate rises and I’m excited about what I’m going to find,” says Sean. “To me, it looks like several spaceships have just crashed into that yard, and it’s full of the debris that I’m going to go make something creative from.”

Trash items to collect for creating art.

As one of the artists in residence at the Tāmaki Zero Waste Hub, Sean’s workshop and studio are within the Tāmaki Community Recycling Centre (CRC) and just a few steps away from areas where people recycle whiteware, electrical appliances and other household items. Sean usually has several sci-fi-themed artworks on the go and searches through dumped and donated pieces daily to find items to add to his creations.

“I usually start with the item and then let the idea come from there. I choose pieces that are no longer working and can’t be sold in the CRC shop or reused again, and I attach them using bolts, screws and pressure. I don’t use welding – I feel like that’s cheating somehow, as I like the challenge of connecting things,” he explains.

“I love that junk has another life. I look at an old sink tap from a school and think it’s had a lifetime of children washing their hands, but at the end of its life, it just unceremoniously gets tossed into a landfill. When I get hold of it, it becomes the handle to a ray gun or the eyes of a robot. And all of a sudden, people start looking at it, going, ‘Wow, look at that’. It turns the mundane into superstars.”

Sean uses scrap metal to create his artworks and creations which now have a new purpose. 

This robot head artwork called Grim Viewson – AI misfortune teller is made from a kettle, whisk, desk flip clock, a 1950s truck parking light, water pump housing and a serving tray stand.

Growing up, Sean says he wasn’t good at drawing or painting at school and thought he wasn’t creative. He discovered his creativity later in life – before becoming a full-time artist he had several careers in the police, as a probation officer, mechanic and working in a panel beater. One day in 2012, he felt a creative itch and made a replica ray gun from bits and pieces in his garage. The ray gun made TradeMe’s Cool Auctions list, and Sean has since sold items worldwide and had pieces on display in the foyer of World of WearableArt (WOW) and The Mind Lab.

While his work has a sci-fi theme, particularly space-age robots and cyborgs, Sean says he’s not a superfan of science fiction movies – with the exception of the first three Star Wars movies, which “filled his cup for a lifetime”. His work is fun and playful but also a social commentary about the amount of waste sent to landfills.

This robot cyclops artwork entitled Deep Ocean Planet Scout (DOPS) has a light in its eye and electric motor cooling fins for hands. The head is made from a stage spotlight and his body is comprised of a sewing machine, scooter shocks, circular saw guard, vacuum cleaner parts and ski bindings.

“There is so much waste. We’re seeing more and more cheap products – items such as microwaves, oil heaters or cheap power tools that still work or are easily repaired, and yet are being sent to landfill when their owners upgrade their appliances,” he says.

One of the best parts of his work is being part of the community at the CRC and meeting members of the public who are often amazed by his creations.

“I love seeing the public looking at my work and trying to figure it out. You meet people from all walks of life. There are lots of other creative and innovative businesses within the centre, and it’s great to talk to them about their work or to bounce ideas off them.”

Localised Zero Waste Hubs General Manager Carla van Walen says Sean is one of 230 community partners working alongside CRCs across Auckland to use waste collected in inorganic rubbish services.

Sean with Localised Zero Waste Hubs General Manager Carla van Walen.

“In the Tāmaki facility we have several tenants. We’ve got Octalien, who takes scrap metal and recycles it into amazing works of art. We’ve got the Restylist, who takes old furniture and gives it a new lick of paint and upholstery. And we’ve got the Glen Innes Family Centre, which takes lawnmowers and whiteware then fixes them and sells them, and those funds go back into the programmes at the Family Centre,” says Carla.

“This is a really amazing partnership between Localised, Auckland Council and Waste Management, who bring the material here on site. A lot of the community groups that receive materials from the inorganics distribution warehouse wouldn’t be able to do the great work they do without having the opportunity to take this material for free, so we’re allowing our communities to flourish,” she adds.

The Tāmaki Zero Waste Hub is home to:

• Tāmaki Community Recycling Centre where Aucklanders can drop off items for recycling and reuse or buy items at the Reuse Shop. For opening hours and more information, please visit here.

• Warehousing, processing and distribution of material is recovered from Auckland’s Inorganic Collection Service. Find out how you can book your annual inorganic collection here.

• Much of the collected material is donated to charities and community groups. Here is how you register to become a registered collector.

• Repair and upcycling enterprises like Octalien which keep valuable resources out of landfill and in use.

• Localised and the Zero Waste Network.

Sean keeps an array of parts such as springs and wires within his workshop to use on his creations.

Source: Auckland Council

A south Auckland trucking company and its owner were fined a total of $45,000 in the Auckland District Court this week after pleading guilty to five charges of breaching the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA).

Mr Mohammed Anwar was individually fined $30,000; his company a further $15,000. Her Honour Judge Dickey determined Mr Anwar should pay a greater proportion of the fine given “he was the eyes and ears of the company”.

Charges

Mr Anwar and Mobeen Transport Ltd were sentenced on charges of contravening a district rule through the unconsented operation of a trucking depot at Kaipara Rd in Papakura and for contravening an abatement notice requiring them to cease operating the depot.

Mr Anwar faced an additional charge of contravening an abatement notice requiring him to remove his trucking depot from Airfield Rd (also in Papakura).

The offending occurred between June 2023 and February 2024 when the defendants operated an unconsented trucking depot at Kaipara Road, south Auckland, with large trucks and piles of tyres identified on site in continued breach of an abatement notice issued in August 2019.

The defendants’ unconsented activities in a rural area caused distress to neighbouring residents, including loss of enjoyment, loss of sleep from the frequent sound of trucks, damage to roads, and frustration towards the unwelcome operation of a trucking depot near their homes.

Auckland Council’s Head of Investigations David Pawson says it was a great result for the council and for the neighbouring residents.

“To have the Court issue a deterrent sentence for persistent noncompliance by offenders taking a cavalier attitude towards the council, and towards their obligations under the RMA is reassuring to see.

“I would advise other people in similar situations that ignoring abatement notices can have significant consequences and encourage them to work with Council to resolve non-compliance.”

Case information

In May 2023, Mr Anwar was issued with an abatement notice in response to a similar operation of an unconsented trucking depot at Airfield Rd, which required him to remove all trucks, structures, and equipment from the depot by July 2023.

Mr Anwar failed to comply and continued his trucking activities, before eventually complying with the abatement notice in February this year after criminal proceedings had commenced.

The unlawful activities at Airfield Rd caused distress to nearby residents who complained of noise, dust, and odours emanating from the site. Trucks would frequently start up prior to 6.00am and blocked the road in both directions.

At sentencing, Judge Dickey said the offending was serious. The effects on the amenity of the neighbouring environment were highly adverse and the defendants were highly culpable.

The Court also noted that the defendants’ lack of concern for their neighbours was striking.

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council has exceeded its annual operating savings target, with $60.2 million saved in the 2023/24 financial year.

This surpasses its annual $50 million savings target and contributes to $332 million in savings over the last three years.

Presented at yesterday’s Revenue, Expenditure and Value Committee, chair Maurice Williamson said it is pleasing to see such strong results that show council is on track.

“The savings targets are an ongoing initiative to look closely at the business and where added cost efficiencies can be delivered. This year, we’ve overshot the target and gathered an additional $10.2 million in savings, demonstrating discipline through a line-by-line approach to our spending,” said Cr Williamson.

“This is a good result for our ratepayers – in particular because the savings are not reinvested, but that $332 million is directly used to keep rates and debt lower than they otherwise would be.

“This is a fantastic result and I’m convinced we can deliver even more savings, as they continue to be a focus.”

This year’s savings were delivered through a wide range of initiatives across the council.

These include a focus on reducing the corporate property footprint, minor changes to services, centralising and reducing council support functions (such as software purchasing), maintenance optimisation and integrating service centres into libraries.

There has also been an increased focus to identify opportunities to increase non-rates revenue (user charges), in order to better recover the costs of those services.

The $10.2 million in additional savings above the target means lower net debt for the end of the council’s financial year (30 June 2024) and a favourable starting position for the new financial year (2024/2025).

Mayor Wayne Brown said the savings achieved are the result of a sustained effort to ensure efficiencies are being achieved on behalf of Aucklanders.

“We must make savings and cut costs for Aucklanders. This is more evidence the ship is turning. I’m pleased particular attention is being given to value for money and careful investment across council business,” said Mayor Brown.

“These savings results bode well for the Long-term Plan 2024-2034, which includes an additional savings target of $28 million this year, rising to $67 million for 2026/27. This is over and above the existing $50 million annual savings targets.”

Auckland Council chief executive Phil Wilson said it is pleasing to see such strong results.  

“These savings are the result of a lot of hard work and consciously building a culture of efficiency in the organisation – something our refreshed leadership team is very focused on,” said Mr Wilson.

“It’s important council respects every dollar contributed by our community and uses it to greatest effect – ultimately that is how we create value for money, and build trust and confidence with ratepayers.”

The savings results will be formally reported as part of this year’s annual results, released as part of the Annual Report in late September.

Source: Auckland Council

An underwater surveillance project to better understand where exotic caulerpa is (and isn’t) has wrapped up. The project was jointly funded by Auckland Council, Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board, the Aotea Environmental Trust and Biosecurity New Zealand. 

Eight trips surveying for exotic caulerpa were carried out from November 2023 to June 2024 using a camera on a remotely operated vehicle, targeting different areas and covering nearly 70,000 square metres.

During these trips, there were 690 site dives with the remotely operated vehicle, and exotic caulerpa was found 150 times throughout the project.

“This information is a huge help when we’re looking at options in regard to exotic caulerpa response for the motu,” says Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board chair, Izzy Fordham.

Using a remotely operated vehicle for the survey had many advantages, including its ability to inspect spots which would typically be hidden from view like under ledges and dense kelp.

This was especially helpful as the survey results noted that in shallow water, exotic caulerpa was more often found in areas without direct sunlight.

It was also able to go into water deeper than 40 metres, sometimes to a depth of nearly 100 metres.

The contractor for the survey, Logan Marine Projects, concluded that the survey was successful in determining the areas with exotic caulerpa presence along the coastline of Aotea.

The report acknowledges: “Aotea underwater is a special place, and needs to be protected, but this comes from first understanding what is truly down there. We have worked hard to contribute and help, and the data obtained can now be used for generations to come, to understand the shifts and patterns of our underwater taonga – our natural treasures.”

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Source: Auckland Council

Every proud parent knows one-year-olds can be hard work – but for Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre’s team of staff and volunteers, every ounce of mahi from day zero to its first birthday has proven to be worth it.

Since opening in August 2023, the centre has diverted more than 110 tonnes of materials from landfill, hosted nearly 50 events with more than 1000 visitors. Additionally, on average about 200 customers a day visit the recycling shop.

Albert-Eden Local Board chair Kendyl Smith is pleased with the recycling centre’s results in the past year.

“Waiōrea has made the circular economy become cool – upcycling and picking up vintage treasures can be a necessity that everyone gets into and feels good about,” she says.

“We’ve loved seeing how Waiōrea has thrived in our community. A huge congratulations to Christine Wang from MPHS Community Trust and the team for doing an excellent job to get the place up and running and making it such an inviting space.”

Within a year of opening its doors, Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre has become more than just a recycling facility where people drop off unwanted goods, it’s also where superhero dreams are envisioned.

A Waiōrea team member recalls a little shopper scoring a pre-loved picture of Spider-Man, vowing to one day be the next Marvel spider-like comic character.

The facility has flourished into a warm and friendly hub where connections are built and community is the beating heart of its operations.

“Central Auckland has needed a local recycling centre for a long time and many key industry influencers and elected members, particularly those before me, have fiercely advocated for this initiative. The result has been well worth everyone’s efforts,” the chair says.

“The centre has been a huge leap of progress and has really embodied the local board’s climate and environmental goals, helping individuals, households, neighbourhoods, businesses and communities adopt climate-friendly practices and transition to low carbon, sustainable lifestyles.”

Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre recently reinforced this initiative by hosting a two-week Zero Waste Festival consisting of over 25 events to encourage waste reduction and celebrate its birthday.

Team leader Christine Wang is grateful for local board support and extremely proud of her team.

“One of my many highlights at Waiōrea is the Albert-Eden Zero Waste Festival. It’s a privilege to be supported by the local board, Auckland Council and MPHS to run this festival and provide a wide range of events and activities for the community to promote zero waste and sustainability,” she says.

“During the festival, we welcomed more than 600 members of the community at Waiōrea and it’s been so inspiring and empowering for our team!

“Additionally, our partnership with Te Mahurehure Marae has been a significant highlight, particularly in our shared commitment to Zero Waste. Being part of the Marae’s Wellbeing Expo, where we truly embodied our guiding whakatauki: Whiria te tāngata, whiria te taiao, kia puāwai ai te ora o te ao (Weave the people, weave the environment, so that the world may flourish),” says Wang.

“We only just turned one, so there’ll be so many more years to celebrate community coming together and embracing the concept of reduce, reuse and recycle.”

Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre is located at 990 Great North Road, Western Springs – opening hours are Thursday to Sunday, 9am to 4pm.

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Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council has opened applications for the next round of Auckland Climate Grants, which aim to enable communities to lead the way in addressing climate disruption.

The grant programme supports local communities to upscale their actions for climate and empower collective action by providing financial support for initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build resilience to climate impacts, and support Māori-led responses to climate disruption.

Councillor Richard Hills, Chair of the Planning, Environment, and Parks Committee, emphasises the importance of community-led climate action.

“The Auckland Climate Grant programme is a vital tool in empowering our communities to take charge of their future. By supporting grassroots initiatives, we can foster innovation and resilience at a local level, ensuring every Aucklander can contribute to collective efforts against climate change,” Councillor Hills says.

“I encourage groups that are taking climate action to apply for funding assistance to help with this important work.”

The programme offers two types of funding: Response Grants and Strategic Grants, each tailored to different scales of impact and community engagement.

Response Grants (ranging from $1,000 to $15,000) are aimed at fostering community participation in climate action, particularly among priority communities such as Māori and Pacific peoples.

These grants are ideal for groups that are new to climate action or are rapidly building capacity in climate response. Projects funded through Response Grants will seek to either initiate or amplify existing community-led climate initiatives.

Strategic Grants (ranging from $15,000 to $50,000) are designed for larger projects that align with one or more priority themes: transport, food, energy, or Māori-led initiatives.

These grants are designed to support programmes with tangible and measurable emissions reduction or resilience outcomes. Projects previously supported have included a bike train, youth climate action initiatives, community e-bike trials and a seniors for climate action network. 

Over $500,000 will be available for allocation through the Auckland Climate Grant programme. Funding decisions for the first round of Response Grants are expected in November 2024, with Strategic Grants decisions due by December 2024.

Auckland Transport will also provide additional funding for sustainable transport projects through the Auckland Climate Grants and response rounds.  Groups that are interested in working with their community on transport choices are encouraged to apply for project funding. 

The grant application period for both funding categories opens on 19 August 2024 and close on 23 September 2024.

For more information on how to apply, including the detailed application assessment criteria, as well as on projects that were previously supported, and grant workshops, please visit the Live Lightly website.

Let’s work together to create a more sustainable and resilient Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland.