Category: Local Government

Source: Auckland Council

Multiple tracks at Waitākere Ranges Regional Park remain closed due to slips or dangerous trees. We ask the public to respect all closures and not remove any barriers or signage currently in place for their own safety, and to not add to environmental damage in the area, including the threat of spreading kauri dieback disease.  

Our park rangers and staff are continuing to assess damage and accessibility, with a view to opening more areas as soon as practicable, taking into account the impact on residents.

A number of tracks suffered major slips and flooding that are unlikely to be resolved in the near future. However, we are still receiving geotechnical advice to work through what our options are, and no final decisions regarding long-term track closure have been made at this point.

We continue to encourage visitors to check our map of open and closed tracks on the Auckland Council website before heading out.

Tracks that have recently reopened:

• Upper Nihotupu Dam walk

Damaged tracks are likely to reopen in the short to medium term:

• Comans Track
• Ahu Ahu Track
• Gibbons Track
• Muir Track
• Slip Track
• Caves Track (Whatipu)

Damaged tracks that will not be open for some time:

• Laird Thomson Track
• Tasman Lookout Track
• Marawhara Track
• White Track
• Lion Rock Track
• Lake Wainamu Track (full loop)

Damaged tracks awaiting geotechnical reports:

• Gannet Track / Takapu Refuge
• Quarry Track
• Lookout Track
• Edwin Mitchelson Track
• Knutzen and Kitekite tracks (including access to Kitekite Falls)
• Zig Zag track

Note for Piha residents: The Eel bridge (Footbridge) at Piha Domain has recently been inspected by Council staff, and we can confirm the bridge is structurally sound and safe for use. Some minor maintenance issues unrelated to this year’s weather events have been identified, which will be attended to in due course.

Stay up to date

Sign up to the recovery e-newsletter to get the latest updates direct to your inbox.

Source: Auckland Council

Bobby is a star in the biosecurity world; now she’s hoping to be the People’s Choice in New Zealand’s Top Dog with a Job Awards for 2023, an award that celebrates a top dog that makes a positive difference in our society for the work they do to.

Around 400 dogs with jobs were nominated for this year’s awards; these have now been whittled down to just 20 of which Bobby is one.

A Blue Heeler Cattle X, Bobby is part of Auckland Council’s biosecurity dog team and spends her days with handler Brian Shields, working amongst some of the country’s most vulnerable species.

Handler Brian Shields & Bobby

Her nose is in demand as she is trained solely to find Argentine ants, one of the world’s top 100 invasive species which if they get established, would have a huge impact on vulnerable wild and bird life.

One of only two certified conservation dogs to specialise in this species, she works the Auckland region and on New Zealand’s pest free islands where her work helps protect some of the rarest species in the world.

To win the award, Bobby needs Auckland Council employee’s support; go to the website below and vote for Bobby and let’s make her the leader in the pack! Voting closes at 9.00am Friday 25 August.

https://www.frogrecruitment.co.nz/cast-your-vote-for-2023-NZTOPDOG-Peoples-Choice/41

Source: Auckland Council

We’ve created an online webinar especially for Auckland homeowners whose property or neighbourhood was impacted by severe weather in early 2023.

Date: Tuesday 5 September 2023
Time: 6.30 – 7.45 pm (may go over time)
Register now: Register to attend by clicking here

Our team will be covering topics such as:

• The different property categories in the Government risk framework and what it means for you
• The difference between property categorisation and coloured placards/stickers
• How high-risk properties are identified
• Update on the property buyout process
• How to access information and support
• Answering your frequently asked questions (submitted prior to the webinar)

You can expect to receive the most up to date information, presented in a way that’s easy to understand. Some homeowners are feeling unsettled about what the future holds, which is understandable. We’ve allocated time during the webinar to answer questions and concerns. There is an opportunity to submit questions before the webinar starts and we’ll answer them anonymously during the webinar to protect your privacy.

If you haven’t already, please register to attend by clicking here

Frequently Asked Questions

What is property categorisation?

It is a process that categorises the risk to you and your home from extreme weather and it is different to the coloured placards/stickers that have been issued. Property categorisation will apply to you if your property in an area that is identified as a possible risk of flooding in the future or was affected by a landslide. At its heart, property categorisation is all about keeping you and your whānau safe by identifying future risks to property and people when there is a pattern of severe weather.

Why is the property categorisation process taking so long?

We know some people are feeling frustrated with the time it is taking to confirm a category for your home. It is a delicate balance between moving as fast as possible to create certainty for homeowners who desperately need it; and making quality decisions that are the right ones for Auckland in the long-term. Find out more with our recent story on Our Auckland.

Have you completed the landslide and flood registration form?

We contacted affected property owners in June to request they complete the flooding and landslide registration form. If you haven’t already done so, please fill out this form here to be part of the property categorisation process.

How can I get the latest news, information and updates on what’s happening with storm damaged properties, infrastructure and communities?

Stay informed by signing up to regional or location specific e-newsletters here.

What if I can’t attend the webinar?

A recording will be available in our e-newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter here.

Source: Auckland Council

From August 21 to September 24, Aucklanders will be asked for their views on whether Auckland Council should have Māori seats on its governing body.  

The Governing Body will consider this feedback in October to decide on Māori seats for the 2025 local elections.  

The feedback provided through this consultation will not be the only factor considered when making a decision. It is an opportunity for Māori and the wider public to have their views heard and considered.  

“This decision is significant for all Aucklanders – not just Māori. Your feedback will help shape a future that’s right for Tāmaki Makaurau,” says Councillor Kerrin Leoni.  

“Many councils around the country have already successfully established Māori wards. We now have an opportunity to create stronger partnerships that will benefit everyone living in our city. 

“Auckland has the largest Māori population in the country but we have no seats representing Māori voters.”   

A key decision on establishing Māori seats is how representatives will be selected. Aucklanders are being asked for feedback on three options:  

• The Parliamentary model (Māori wards) 
• The Royal Commission model 
• A different model 

The Parliamentary model will allow for one or two Māori councillors, according to a formula determined the Local Electoral Act 2001. 

The Royal Commission model will allow for two elected Māori councillors and one appointed mana whenua seat – but requires new legislation.  

Council will be hosting online, in-person and marae-based events for people to have their say.  

Visit Māori seats for Auckland Council website for more detail.  

Source: Auckland Council

We know that for some people, rates are a considerable cost, including those affected by the severe weather earlier this year.

If anyone is concerned about being able to pay rates, we encourage them to get in touch with our credit control team to discuss the options available, including a rates postponement scheme and flexible payment options.

If you have difficulties paying your property rates, there is help available including a range of options for low-income households and community groups.

Our credit control team can be reached on rates.collections@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz to discuss what options are available and how we can help.

When are rates due?

You need to pay your property rates on or before the four instalment dates:

Instalment number	Instalment date
Instalment 1	Thursday 31 August 2023
Instalment 2	Thursday 30 November 2023
Instalment 3	Wednesday 28 February 2024
Instalment 4	Friday 31 May 2024

Can I make part payments?

Yes – you can make a part-payment into your property rates account at any time.

You can use any payment method we offer, as long as you pay the full amount of your property rates instalment by the due date.

What happens if I am late paying my rates?

If you do not pay the full instalment amount of your property rates by the due date, we will add a 10 per cent penalty to the amount left to pay.

What happens if I don’t pay my property rates?

If you have a mortgage recorded on your property, any arrears (debt owing at 30 June) will be notified to your mortgage provider.

If you do not pay the outstanding amount within 90 days after we have notified your mortgage provider, we will request that they make this payment on your behalf.

We notify your mortgagee (usually a bank) after the fourth instalment due date has expired. In early August, we inform them that, if you do not pay the outstanding amount within 90 days, we will request that they (the mortgagee) make this payment on your behalf.

If a property is mortgage-free, our legal team will pursue the outstanding rates directly with the owner. If this does not result in payment, the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002 allows us to demand the sale of a property to recover unpaid rates.

Why is it important to pay rates?

Rates are property owners’ contributions to a shared investment in our community’s well-being – it’s your contribution to creating a city that all Aucklanders can thrive in and be proud of.

Rates support vital services like waste management, maintaining community buildings and playgrounds, emergency management, as well as public transport, pools, public art, and libraries. 

You can read more about what your rates pay for here.

Help for low-income households and community groups

You can apply for a property rates rebate

Follow our guide on the Auckland Council website to check if you are eligible for a property rates rebate. We will help you through the application process and list the information needed to support your application.

The closing date for property rate rebates for the 2023/2024 financial year is 30 June 2024. However, we suggest that you submit your completed application early to avoid missing the closing date. It can take up to two months to process a rebate if you submit an application between August and November, or between April and June.

You can apply for remission (reduction) of property rates penalties

If you make a property rates payment after the due date, we may apply penalties.

We may be able to remit (reduce) your penalties under some circumstances. For example, if you have paid after the penalty date for no more than one instalment, but you have not received a property rates penalty remission under the policy within the past two years.

When a small balance is overdue which is uneconomical to collect, we may write off the balance in line with our other procedures. We will not apply penalties in these circumstances.

You can request a postponement of a property rates

Postponement of residential property rates payments provide you an option to postpone all or part of your property rates payments for an agreed period of time.

Rates relief, support and information for Aucklanders with storm impacted properties

Is there rates relief for those properties impacted by the severe weather?

On 27 July, the Governing Body agreed to provide a 100 per cent rates remission for 2023/2024 for properties uninhabitable as a result of severe weather events from the first half of 2023 with a further remission of 100 per cent in 2024/2025 for properties that remain uninhabitable as at 30 June 2024.

Red placarded properties automatically get 100 per cent rates relief applied to their rates invoices. Yellow placarded properties will need to apply using this online form.

What does uninhabitable mean?

All properties with red stickers on 30 June 2023 are considered uninhabitable.

If your property has another coloured sticker and you believe it is uninhabitable because of the extreme weather events in the first half of 2023, please apply using the online form and we will assess your situation. All applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

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.

For all other properties, your rating valuation will remain as it is until the next city-wide revaluation which is due for publication late 2024. This ratings valuation will be used to set rates for the 2025/2026 rating year.         

What other financial support is available for displaced homeowners and tenants?

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, 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 or email our recovery team.

Auckland Council has met with representatives of the banking industry, and they have assured us that banks are committed to working with their customers experiencing financial hardship. We urge people to contact their mortgage provider to discuss what support is available.

Source: Auckland Council

Another major milestone in Auckland’s storm recovery will be reached on Monday with the lifting of the Motutara Road cordon, at Muriwai.

The main road into Muriwai, Motutara Road was closed in February due to a landslide during Cyclone Gabrielle.
Mace Ward, Auckland Council’s Deputy Group Recovery Manager says that though the landslide was eventually cleared, Auckland Council had ongoing concerns about the area and work has been underway to ensure it could be safely reopened.

“We engaged geotechnical specialists to thoroughly assess the area, and their advice is the road can be safely reopened with the removal of unstable properties above the road. These properties were successfully cleared this week, and we’re pleased to confirm the road will reopen on Monday.

“As part of our work to clear the road, we were delighted we were able to retrieve some personal belongings of great value to the owners of the homes that were damaged, including some jewellery and some precious vinyl records that were thought to be lost.

“The removal of these houses is bittersweet for the owners of these properties, and we must recognise the major impact the weather events this year had on people’s homes and families.

“While restoring access through Motutara Road is a milestone we are pleased to have reached, there is still more work to be done in Muriwai. Six months on, this community is still hurting from the impact of the extreme weather events.

“Many people are still displaced from their homes, and we’re working to support them as we get closer to having clarity on next steps. Our geotechnical assessment of the wider area is almost complete, and homeowners will start receiving initial property risk categories at the end of the month.

“This technical work will also enable us to accelerate the removal of building placards, meaning that some people will be able to safely return to their homes.”
The cordon at Domain Crescent will remain, with residents’ access only and 24/7 security in place.

Driving on the beach

Vehicle access to the beach via Coast Road will reopen on Monday 4 September. Mr Ward says that four-wheel drivers will be pleased to return but wants to remind permit holders that additional care will be needed.

“There have been significant changes on Muriwai Beach over the last seven months, with dunes starting to revegetate and some wildlife returning. Those using the beach may encounter a lot more bird life and a few seals. As a visitor to their environment, please ensure that your actions minimise any disruption to them.

“We would encourage you to take this opportunity to ‘reset’ how you use the beach – refresh yourself with the skills you need to drive on a beach and please be respectful of the environment and community. Make sure your tyre pressure is correct (lower than for general road driving), and that you have the right equipment. Check out the tides, and be aware of no-go areas.

“You have to give way to everybody else if you are a vehicle on the beach. Make sure you’ve sorted your paperwork too – no access without a permit, current registration, and warrant of fitness.”

Click here for information on Muriwai Regional Park, and also see our Rules for driving on Muriwai and Kariotahi beaches.

Source: Auckland Council

Kia ora koutou,

Apparently it is spring already! Let’s hope the weather holds and the land starts to dry out after the wettest year on record.

A few updates from me.

The Waiōrea Community Recycling and Education Centre at 990 Great North Rd, Western Springs opened on 11 August 2023. It is the culmination of 11 years of collaborative work including council departments, dozens of community groups and volunteers and the Albert-Eden, Puketāpapa and Waitematā local boards. Communities of central Auckland are now another step closer to our zero-waste goal. The recycling centre is a hugely valuable resource to help locals learn more and actively reduce waste to landfill. It is part of the council network and is being run by MPHS who also manage the Tipping Point in west Auckland. It is open Thursday-Sunday 9am-4pm. More on what they do here.

In August, the much-anticipated basketball court at Coyle Park in Pt Chevalier was completed. A huge thanks to Pasadena Intermediate School for being there on the day with their kapa haka roopu and showing us how to shoot the best of hoops.

Last month, we approved our local board budget for the next 12 months. We had to find $210,000 in cuts to our programme and services but overall, we hope the changes won’t be too noticeable. We will not be able to fund the Movies in Parks series this year after 12 years of great movies, being screened in local parks. We have trimmed our community grants budgets and stopped other programmes too, however I hope you can agree with these as we have done what we can to preserve the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of our communities as key objectives and this year’s budget targets were hard!

The council has released a new website called Flood Viewer. You can find out if your home or somewhere you care about might be affected by flooding. It also explains more about the causes of flooding, and how to help prepare your whānau and property. The map shows areas that are expected to flood in extreme rainfall events. View it here.

In October, there will be a range of events funded by the local board as part of the International Day of the Older Person (IDOP). Look out for information and events on our Facebook page.

Finally, thank you to those that commented on our draft local board plan. We will review your comments and suggestions, and sign off the final version in October 2023. The plan will then set our priorities and direction for the next three years, to guide the budget, programmes and services over that time.

Mā te wā,

Margi Watson

Albert-Eden Local Board Chair

Source: Auckland Council

Mayor Wayne Brown and Council’s Governing Body have unanimously agreed to support legislation that would put Aucklanders back in charge of the city’s transport system and enable more integrated, long-term decision-making with the Crown.

The Governing Body voted to accept the Mayor’s recommendation that the council support legislation to fix the governance of Auckland’s transport system, including by taking the initiative to promote a local bill with a ready-made solution.

The Mayor and Council will be seeking to confirm support for these changes from all political parties prior to the election.

“There is a strong sentiment in Auckland that Aucklanders do not have enough influence on the decisions made about their transport system. Too many things we do and spend money on are dictated to us, and too much time is wasted on mega projects imposed by Wellington rather than the smaller-scale initiatives that will really help Aucklanders get around easier. This has to stop.

“Transport accounts for more than 30% of Auckland Council’s budget over ten years. Despite this, Auckland Council is the only council in New Zealand that does not have a formal role in preparing and approving the strategic direction for transport and the allocation of funding to support that direction.

“The Auckland Transport Board itself has acknowledged that the governance and funding arrangements for Auckland are no longer working and have asked council to give serious consideration to how a more simplified, transparent, and robust planning and funding framework for Auckland can be created.  We’ve acted on that,” says Mayor Brown.

The proposed bill would establish a Joint Transport Committee between the Crown and Auckland Council and a new Auckland Regional Transport Committee to provide more integrated and efficient planning and funding related decisions in Auckland.

“This will provide a legislative basis for Auckland Council and the Crown to agree to an Auckland Integrated Transport Plan which will set the long-term direction. We have made some good progress on this already with the Government, but it needs a legislative basis to have the most impact.

“The legislation would also mean Auckland Council will have the lead role in preparing and approving the Regional Land Transport Plan, which sets the strategic direction for transport and the allocation of funding in support of that direction and that the council will also be able to make other key regulatory decisions about the Auckland transport system, including setting parking fines.

“Previous attempts by the council to take back control of transport decisions have not worked. I have done the groundwork and already engaged with both the government and opposition and, while there is detail to work through, both have expressed support of the direction we are heading in with this change. 

“It will bring Auckland Council’s responsibilities in line with other unitary councils and will provide agencies with a transport interest in Auckland with greater funding certainty.

“While we think this should be taken up as a government-led priority after the election, we are not waiting around and will put forward our own suggestion as a local bill too. Before the election, I will be asking political parties to confirm their support for these changes,” said Mayor Brown.

More information on the progress of the Auckland Integrated Transport plan will be released soon.

Source: Auckland Council

Update on GHD’s landslide risk assessment

GHD is still on track to complete their landslide risk assessment and deliver a final report by late September, as previously advised in the timeline shared in the 25 May newsletter. The Recovery Office are currently working with GHD on how results from this work will be shared with affected property owners prior to the final report being made public.

In the past two weeks, GHD has completed its review of the background information (research). These results will support the RBA placard reassessment as well as the government’s property categorisation process. This includes information from property files, LiDAR information (‘Light Detection and Ranging’ – a 3D remote sensing method that uses light to measure and produce pictures of the exact distance of an object), aerial photographs, historical data, anecdotal evidence collected, geological maps and the NZ Geotechnical Database. GHD has also carried out geomorphological interpretation (this is the analysis of the shape of the land to help understand how it formed and how it has changed over time) based on the above review and field mapping.

Geotechnical evidence to support RBA placard reassessments

GHD is also focusing on completing the bulk of the remaining assessments for the presently defined ‘purple zone’ properties in the Piha and Karekare areas. Their assessment will include their site inspections, assessment of damage from landslips and potential remediation options.

Following the outcomes of these assessments, we expect some properties could have their placards downgraded or removed (which will likely begin in the coming weeks). Final inspections of these properties will be carried out by Council compliance staff, and property owners will be informed, including with a formal placard change letter. In some cases, this may mean people can return to their homes sooner than expected in cases where current and future risk can be managed.

Recapping the Colour Zones map from 22 June newsletter

In our 22 June Piha and Karekare newsletters, we included a map with colour zones to communicate which properties GHD is doing site-specific risk assessments on. To recap, the colours do not represent different levels of risk – they are simply to indicate how soon the results are expected to be delivered.

Please note these colours are separate to the RBA placards as well as the government’s property categorisation process.

Because the colour categories are not showing risk, they will not be recorded on properties’ Land Information Memorandum (LIM) reports.

We have grouped properties in Piha and Karekare into three groups – brown, purple and no colour.

Brown – These properties are in an area where the future land instability risk is relatively complex, with more work needed to understand the risk for these properties. The expected delivery date for GHD’s work for the ‘brown zone’ will be in late September.

Purple – These properties are in an area where the future land instability risk is simpler, so results can be delivered before the full area-wide assessment is complete. The expected early delivery date for the risk assessment will be towards the end of August. Preliminary results will be able to be used to support reassessment of RBA placards. Full results will be published in the same report as the rest of the area-wide assessment due in late September.

No colour – These properties are believed to be outside the main large-scale slope instability in Piha and Karekare. Some of these properties have been affected by smaller-scale local landslides, resulting in RBA placards.

We continue to ask all owners of placarded properties to fill in the online form here. This will give us the information needed to apply a risk category to your property.

If you don’t want to take part in this process, then our previous advice still applies – we recommend that you work with your insurers and engage a professional chartered geotechnical engineer or chartered engineering geologist to inform you about the next appropriate steps. The relevant geotechnical documents supporting placard downgrade can be submitted to Council for review, comments, and approval.

Your geotechnical professional is encouraged to contact the council directly to discuss the level of geotechnical investigation and/or assessment they need to undertake in support of the placard downgrade.

You can find advice about how to get a geotechnical report here.

You can also find more details about the process for resolving an RBA placard here.

Background about the geology and landslides across Piha and Karekare

Geology

Piha and Karekare are built on a mixture of sand dunes and rock.

Sand dunes are quite variable, ranging from well cemented (i.e. the sand particles stick together well) to loosely deposited sands. Loosely deposited sands can contain thin layers of clay or silt, which can have variable consistency, strength, and stability.

Most of the rocks seen locally on the slopes in Piha and Karekare are of volcanic origin. These can be exposed at the surface on higher ground or buried beneath the sand dunes in lower-lying areas. These volcanic materials include basalt and tuff, as well as debris from old offshore volcanoes deposited in massive underwater flows creating conglomerates and breccia (coarse grained sedimentary rocks containing individual blocks held in place by a finer grained matrix). These rocks are normally very stable, but over time the surface breaks down through weathering and can turn the outermost layer into a weaker ‘mantle’ of soil that can slide off as a thin layer.

Landslides

Landslides occur when the driving forces that can cause a landslip to occur are greater than the resisting forces keeping the slope in place. Most steep slopes are stable until a change (which might be only a very small change) either reduces the strength of the ground or increases the load on the ground, causing it to fail.

The factors that commonly trigger landslides include pore water pressure (amount of water in the soil), changes in the physical slope (such as excavations or erosion of the surface), or new loads on the slope (including natural loads like earthquakes or water, and man-made loads like buildings).

Rotational landslides have rounded bases, and commonly form where there are relatively deep weak materials.

Translational landslides have a flat base and are more common in sand deposits, and where rocks where they are covered with a thin weathered soil mantle. These translational landslides are particularly common in Piha and Karekare because of the presence of sand dune deposits and the weathered soil mantle over the rock.

Debris flows are fast-moving landslides that are particularly dangerous to life and property because they move quickly, destroy objects in their paths, and often strike without warning. Translational and rotational landslides can turn into a debris flow if enough water is fed into them as they move (for example, where a landslide falls into a stream).

Both translational and rotational landslides can be damaging to homes built on them. Debris flows can be particularly hazardous as a result of the higher speeds at which they move, making it harder to escape their effects.

GHD has completed field mapping assessment in the Piha and Karekare areas and has identified approximately 100 landslides around each community (about 200 landslides overall).

Most of the mapped landslides appear to be ‘shallow seated’ translational landslides where the upper 1 m to 2 m of soil material has mobilised. These often look large and very dramatic, but because they are shallow the amount of material that has moved can sometimes be relatively small.

Several possible ‘deep seated’ landslides were also identified in the Piha and Karekare areas. These commonly move more material, but in many cases do not travel as far.

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is pleased that the draft Government Policy Statement on Transport, released today, shows the Government is listening and responding to Auckland’s priorities for transport.

“Aucklanders want us to deliver a faster, more resilient transport system. I’ve been focused on securing an integrated plan that includes sensible interventions to speed things up. This is progress,” said Mayor Brown.

Investment priorities and other changes included in the draft GPS for Auckland include:

• Northwest Rapid Transit
• Additional funding to enable Auckland to maintain and improve the condition of our roads
• Enhancement to the Warkworth to Whangarei State Highway, including Warkworth to Wellsford
• Expansion of the third and fourth Auckland rail mains
• An Avondale to Onehunga rail link
• A level crossing upgrade and removal programme
• Refocusing the safety budget, which provides Auckland with more flexibility on delivering sensible safety improvements as part of the broader improvement and renewal programme
• Commitment to integrated planning, including the Auckland Integrated Transport Plan, making the most of the existing system and managing demand

“The announcement today reflects quite a few of the priorities and changes that we have been discussing with the Government as part of our work on the Auckland Integrated Transport Plan, which is how we want things to work. It’s good to see the Government has taken on my board a lot of what we’ve been asking for.

“I particularly welcome the progress on Northwest Rapid Transit, which is a growing area where we can affordably deliver much faster, more reliable public transport. I have been saying that this is an obvious priority and needs to take precedence over the mega dream projects proposed.  

“You only need to look at the success of the Northern Busway. If something works well like that, do it more. We don’t need to reinvent things with new pipe dreams.

“I also like that we will get more funding for maintenance and renewals, which we need to fix the state of our road surface, and that we get some flexibility on the safety budget which has seen a lot of poor-quality spend.

“I will update Aucklanders soon on the progress of the Auckland Integrated Transport plan. This is the next step in getting Auckland Council to where it was meant to be, as a partner with Government, and allowing Auckland to decide what Auckland gets, not Wellington,” says Mayor Brown.