Category: Local Government

Source: Auckland Council

If you’re looking for new places and walks to explore with your dog this summer, you’ll find hundreds of options across Tāmaki Makaurau. Here are a few of our top picks ordered by location:  

North/West 

Birkenhead and Northcote offer a range of bush and beach options, as well as spectacular views across the inner Waitematā Harbour and a number of dog-friendly cafes. Kauri Point Domain is off-leash at all times and you can follow a track down to Fitzpatrick Bay where dogs can enjoy an off-leash paddle between 5pm and 10am in summer and anytime in other months. 

Sanders Reserve 

Sanders Reserve is a scenic coastal reserve in the north-west overlooking the Waitematā.  

There is an easy gravel loop path lined with mānuka trees and native bush that circles a fenced off-leash dog exercise area. After enjoying the short loop walk your dog can enjoy a run around in the open green spaces. 

Most dog walkers start this walk at the bottom of Sanders Road for easy access. You can also start at the main car park by the pavilion and playground and follow the signs towards the dog zone in the south-eastern part of the reserve. 

Te Ara Manawa / Hobsonville Point Path 

Hobsonville Point is an old Air Force community that has been redeveloped into a well-planned urban environment sitting on the water’s edge.  

The Te Ara Manawa / Hobsonville Point Path is a sixty-minute walk that meanders along the waterfront and through the new housing developments. You can find parking near the ferry terminal, which is a good place to start your walk. Dogs need to stay on their leashes, but there is an off-leash dog area at Te Onekiritea Point not far from the ferry stop.  

Take in the stunning views and beautiful landscaping along the waterfront as you walk or cycle past the Old Wharf Lookout, the former officers’ accommodation and Chichester Cottage.

Ōrākei Basin  

Enjoy a walk around this picturesque lagoon located in a volcanic crater. The suggested starting point is Purewa Road in Meadowbank. You can access the walk from Ōrākei and Meadowbank train stations, and there are also entry points on Meadowbank Road, Lucerne Road, Upland Road and Ōrākei Road. 

Admire views over the Auckland city skyline and you may even be able to enjoy watching some water sports as you walk.  Ōrākei Basin also has a large off-leash area – just remember to pay attention to the signs and observe the on-leash restrictions. 

Ōrākei Basin is a picturesque lagoon located in a volcanic crater, known for its watersports. This walk takes you around the edge of the basin using the boardwalk and the bridge across the Purewa arm of the basin.

There is a fantastic off-leash dog area with a wide expansive green space for dogs to run around (please check the signs). 

If you have kids in tow check out the two great playgrounds with adventure equipment, flying fox, and a large tunnel slide.  

South/East 

Macleans Park 

Enjoy a walk through Macleans Park with spectacular views to the Hauraki Gulf, Rangitoto and Waiheke Islands.  

Start at Macleans Road, or from any of the access points to Macleans Park from local streets. The loop winds through regenerating bush and wetland areas and your dog can enjoy an extra run around in the off-leash reserve areas.  

The kids play area is also a great spot to relax and take in the scenery, make sure you keep your dog on the leash when near the playground. 

Fantastic walk through Macleans Park combining bush, wetlands and spectacular sea views. Off-leash reserve areas make the route ideal for dog walking.

Tōtara Park

Take your furry friend for a walk along the fringe of a Tōtara forest at Tōtara Park. Enter Tōtara Park from the Wairere Road entrance, and head left until you find the gates that mark the start of the path.  

Ōwairaka / Mt Albert pathway.

Ōwairaka / Te Ahi-kā-a-Rakataura / Mt Albert 

Enjoy expansive views over the city as you walk among the trees on one of Auckland’s ancestral maunga. Your dog must remain on their leash while walking in the park, however there is a dedicated off-leash exercise area halfway around the loop where you can let your furry friend get all of that excess energy out.  

Waiatarua Reserve 

Waiatarua Reserve, off Abbotts Way in Remuera, is well known and loved for its path around the wetlands where you and your canine companions can enjoy an off-leash walk (put the leash back on in the main central wetland area and on viewing platforms) and a dog swimming hole. Northern Remuera is also home to Waiata Reserve, between Victoria Avenue and Orakei Road, where there’s off-leash access at all times. 

Enjoy the good network of paths around the reserve and watch out for bird life – there are several bird viewing areas off the main path.

Rules for walking your dog in public places 

To keep everyone safe there are rules for walking your dog in public places like parks, reserves, pathways, beaches and tūpuna maunga (ancestral mountains) across Auckland. 

In general, dogs must be on-leash at all times in all council-controlled public places with unrestricted access. It’s a little different for beaches, where summer and winter restrictions apply. During the winter months more relaxed hours for dogs off-leash start from 2 March, while throughout the summer months (until 1 March) dogs are not allowed on most beaches between 10am to 5pm. 

Additionally off-leash walks and exercise are allowed outside these hours. Remember that even though your dog is off-leash you’ll need to make sure they are still under control. 

It’s best to visit Auckland Council’s website before leaving home to find out exactly what rules apply where. You can also find more fantastic walking spots for you and your dog on our website.

Source: Auckland Council

Watercare is laying the groundwork for its first permanent non-potable tanker filling station in Māngere.

The $1.2 million filling station will be available to commercial customers for non-drinking purposes such as dust suppression, house cleaning, irrigation, and process water.

It is being built a block away from the Māngere Wastewater Treatment Plant, on the corner of Greenwood and Ascot roads.

Watercare chief operations officer Mark Bourne says the filling station will replace the last remaining temporary non-potable tanker filling station in Penrose.

“The Penrose non-potable tanker filling station was one of four commissioned to support commercial and construction services affected by water restrictions during the height of the 2020 drought.

“After the drought, all the stations except for the one in Penrose were closed due to the high running costs and upgrades required to keep them operating.”

Watercare head of water planning Tim Scheirlinck describes the non-potable tanker filling station as a cost-effective solution for commercial and construction partners.

“We anticipate achieving full cost recovery for the new permanent tanker filling station at Māngere, with the revenue generated from the sale of non-potable water expected to cover ongoing operational costs.”

Project manager Mohamed Abdelmageed says the filling station will draw water from an established bore that is already on-site.

“We project that the filling station will be able to service around 20 tankers a day. The filling station will be fully automated. Tanker drivers will need to use a swipe card to fill up their tanker. The filling station will be able to store up to 120,000 litres across its four tanks.”

Watercare project manager Mohamed Abdelmageed says the tanker filling station will be able to store up to 120,000 litres across its four tanks.

Abdelmageed says the tanker filling station will only be designed to fill one tanker at a time.

“From the tanks, the water goes to a tanker filling shed which has a fire hose connection for them to fill up from.

“Tanker operators need to connect their own hoses to the filling point and fill their trucks at the top.”

Abdelmageed says the non-potable filling station is expected to be completed by the end of March.

The permanent non potable tanker filling station is on track to be completed in March.

“The construction of the filling station will be straightforward.

“Most of the work will be carried out between 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Work on Saturdays will only take place if necessary.

“Traffic management will only be in place while the vehicle crossing is being constructed.”

Source: Auckland Council

Pique your senses in our city centre this Lunar New Year.

Midtown’s lanes and squares will be alive with a creative and cultural buzz inspired by Asian traditions and infused with a unique Auckland flavour.

From 26 January to 22 February, feel uplifted by the colours, sounds, tastes and beats of Asia, joining millions around the world who celebrate Lunar New Year.

Throughout the festival, we invite you to take part in the inaugural Bao and Boba promotion. It’s simple; if you dine in the city centre and vote for your top shop you’ll be in to win.

Sculptures bring smiles

Shown first at the Louvre Museum in Paris and later in London, Berlin, Kobe and Sydney among other cities, Chubby Women by acclaimed Chinese artist Xu Hongfei are coming to Aotea Square. These light-hearted, body-positive sculptures of voluptuous women – reminiscent of masterpieces by Titian and Rubens – bring smiles wherever they go.

Lucky Cats beckon

The Lucky Cat figurine beckons good fortune and prosperity, so don’t miss our selfie sensation in the making. By the clocktower of the Auckland Town Hall you’ll meet a three metre high Lucky Cat popping cute finger-hearts in Kiwi style. In Darby Street neon red Lucky Cats will shine from lamp posts and in Bledisloe Lane lightboxes will display Asian art.

Promenade of flavours

Immerse yourself in a free summer event transforming Te Hā o Hine (Khartoum Place) and Lorne Street into an exciting Asian street festival. Cheer the crews in the street dance battle or relax and learn Tai Chi.

Enjoy delicious food on a promenade of outdoor tables where a food ambassador will share with you the history of the dish you’re enjoying. Experience a real sense of community while watching dragon dances, traditional instrument buskers, local Asian musicians and storytellers.

Read more about the Midtown Street Party for Lunar New Year at OurAuckland.

Lion dances and bubble tea

At Auckland Art Gallery, witness the spectacular Tung Tek lion dancers performing on the forecourt, chilled sounds from DJ EDY and guitarist Sam Nakamura, bubble tea, a menu of family-focused workshops inspired by delicious yee sang, and many other exciting Lunar New Year activities.

Read more about Auckland Art Gallery events here.

Karaoke and mahjong

And bring the whole family to Lunar New Year in Aotea Square as part of Auckland Live’s Summer in the Square. Experience gravity-defying dance, the Lunar New Year karaoke competition and mahjong workshops teaching the classic game, and myriad more.

Read more about Lunar New Year in Aotea Square at OurAuckland.

Scroll through to the full Lunar New Year programme with dates, times and venues at OurAuckland.

Auckland Council Lunar New Year festival director Eric Ngan says our growing pan-Asian population is an asset to Auckland. He says young Asian Kiwis are proud of their roots, enjoy life in this city, and continue to creatively evolve their traditions.

“The tradition of sharing time and food together is as strong as ever in the weeks of Lunar New Year. The metaphors that speak to the phases of the moon – change, brightness, and wholeness – are reflected in the nature of our Lunar New Year celebrations, such as family reunion dinners, striving for harmony and an aspirational future,” he says.

The Lunar New Year Festival is proudly supported by the city centre targeted rate.

Source: Auckland Council

Northcote has always suffered from terrible stormwater flooding. It’s located in the historic trajectory of the Awataha Stream and the middle of an overland flow path. As such, after heavy rain, the town centre and surrounding homes have historically been prone to flooding.

To address these flooding problems, as well as reconnect local communities with their awa using green infrastructure, Eke Panuku has been working with Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters team, Kāinga Ora Homes and Communities, Kaipātiki Local Board and mana whenua, in recent years, to put water sensitive design principles into practice.

With the record-breaking downpour in Auckland experienced on Friday 27 January, the new stormwater infrastructure in Northcote was tested to the max.

Two significant projects completed at the end of last year as part of Te Ara Awataha – Northcote’s new greenway – made all the difference in the face of the deluge that hit Tāmaki Makaurau. These were the daylighting of the Awataha Stream and the transformation of Greenslade Reserve into a stormwater detention park. 

“Bringing the Awataha Stream to the surface provided better stormwater management in Northcote by allowing flood water to be channelled along the stream bed, rather than through private property. Having the water flow through an open channel provides much greater capacity than the older piped network. And, in this instance, it had the added benefit of keeping the parts of the older pipe in place, diverting a portion of the higher flood flows back into the pipe to provide even more flood capacity,” says Nicholas Vigar, Head of Network Planning at Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters.

Te Ara Awataha greenway network links existing and new reserves, providing areas for recreation and conservation. When not in flood, the returned stream bed will improve water quality and create habitat for manu (birds), ngāngara (insects) and tuna (eels) once more. The paths alongside the stream have rapidly become a valuable means of connection – both to local destinations and to nature.

Greenslade Reserve makes up another critical part of the greenway and stormwater infrastructure. The reserve was transformed last year to address flooding problems. This included a planted urban wetland and detention basin.

The reserve was designed to manage a one in 100-year flood event by detaining and slowing the release of water (able to handle approximately five Olympic size pools worth!). In late January, this proved critical.

At its peak, January’s downpour exceeded a one in 100-year event. Water overflowed into the street network, but the detention of 12 million litres of water on the sport field meant that flooding downstream was predominantly within the street network and damage to property was minimal compared to previous (lesser) events.  When not in flood, Greenslade Reserve now provides a top-class sports field and recreational facility.

Kate Cumberpatch, Eke Panuku Priority Location Director – North, said: “The weather conditions were unprecedented, but we’re delighted that the new stormwater management infrastructure provided protection for the residents of Northcote! It did what it was designed to do, diverting and managing the extreme amounts of rainwater and preventing the extent of flooding we have seen in the past.”

Source: Auckland Council

Emerging Kiwi songstress Cassie Henderson has just found her name in the same sentence as Dua Lipa, Coldplay and Six60.

Cassie’s song Seconds to Midnight was too good to miss.

For the young star, hearing her hit song alongside the biggest songs of the year – and opening and closing the soundtrack with two much-loved Kiwi anthems – will be a pinch-me moment this New Year’s Eve in Auckland. 

Seven songs make up the ‘midnight moment’ soundtrack, put together by MediaWorks to synchronise with the Vector Lights lightshow on the Auckland Harbour Bridge and SkyCity’s fireworks display from the SkyTower.

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is the first major international city to welcome in the New Year and people will enjoy watching from vantage points all around the city.

Aucklanders can livestream the audio on MoreFM 91.8fm or online at vector.co.nz/lights. A livestream video of Vector Lights can also be watched online at facebook.com/vectornz.

The mix of seven songs bringing in 2025 are:

• Cassie Henderson – Seconds to Midnight

• Shapeshifter – Electric Dream

• Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso

• Coldplay – feelslikeimfallinginlove / A Sky Full Of Stars remix

• Dua Lipa – Training Season

• Benson Boone – Beautiful Things

• Six60 – Kia Mau Ki Tō Ūkaipō / Don’t Forget Your Roots

For all details about where to watch, road closures, transport, and how to stay safe if you decide to travel into the city centre, please visit OurAuckland.  

Sky Tower Fireworks

The five-minute and 30-second-long Sky Tower fireworks display, which is the highest in the Southern Hemisphere, will start with a 10-second countdown projected onto the base of the tower. Following this, 500 kgs of pyrotechnics will be launched from three purpose-built firing sites mounted onto levels 55, 61 and 64 of the Sky Tower (200-240M above ground.)

Planning of the fireworks display started six months ago, with pre-production and programming of the firing field computers and address signal boxes. The installation of the equipment required for the big event will take 250+ hours and includes 14 kilometres of electrical cabling and wiring and 1500 lines of programming code.

Photo Credit: Skycity Entertainment Group.

Vector Lights

90,000 colour-changing LEDs on the Auckland Harbour Bridge, as well as 100 spotlights under the roadway, will blackout before a pulsing effect counts down to the new year from 10-seconds to midnight. A dynamic and colourful display will burst on the bridge for the next five minutes and will replay every 15 minutes; last showing at 1.00am.

Vector Lights has been installed on the harbour bridge since 2018, showcasing Vector’s smart energy technology and innovation. 248 solar panels situated in Wynyard Quarter generate energy that is then stored in a Tesla Powerpack (battery) at the Jellicoe Street Car Park. Smart meters at the battery site and on the bridge relay data between each other every 10-seconds, ensuring the energy used to power Vector Lights is released back into the energy grid (peer-to-peer system).

Due to critical maintenance work by NZTA, some of Vector Lights will not appear on the west side overarch of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Completion of the work is expected by 31 March 2025.