Category: Local Government

Source: Auckland Council

Rates are an essential part of the funding that allows Auckland Council to maintain a vibrant and sustainable Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s how we fund the services and facilities that matter and helps creates a city where all Aucklanders can thrive. 

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

Auckland Council is an $8-billion enterprise, managing its finances to ensure essential services and infrastructure are provided for the ongoing wellbeing of our community. 

Council’s financial decisions balance the needs of today with the demands of the future.  

Just like a household budget, Council budgets are how we allocate where the money that comes in gets spent. Rates and other fees and charges are like household income on a large scale, providing the necessary funds for maintaining and improving the region. 

The Annual Budget 2023/2024 includes an overall rate increase of 7.7% for the average-value residential property and an average general rates increase of 11 per cent (or $4.87 a week). 

What is the purpose of rates? 

Rates are property owners’ contributions to a shared investment in our community’s well-being. Rates help maintain and enhance the infrastructure, parks, facilities and services that make Tāmaki Makaurau a great place to live. 

Council’s assets such as parks, roads, libraries, community centres, and other public facilities provide value to the community and enhance our quality of life. 

Auckland Council acts as a responsible steward of community assets, ensuring they are well-maintained and utilised efficiently. Just as you take care of your home and its value, council manages assets to preserve their long-term worth for the benefit of the community. 

We’re continuing to support the region’s long-term future by investing a record $3.2 billion in new assets or replacing old ones in the 2023/2024 financial year. Libraries, pools, leisure centres, community buildings and many other the services loved and well-used by Aucklanders are maintained and run by rates funding.  

It also includes work on some of the most complex projects ever undertaken in New Zealand, like the City Rail Link and Central Interceptor for wastewater, and continuing to invest in sports fields, urban regeneration, new parks and open spaces, local facility upgrades and better public transport.  

Rates are how we share, between property owners, a portion of the cost of services the council provides across the region. 

Aucklanders share access to all the services the council provides across Tāmaki Makaurau. Rates are not calculated by individual service, nor are they a fee for service. They fund all council activities not fully funded by other funding sources like fees and charges or central government funding.  

Individual ratepayers might not use every council asset or service either by choice or other circumstances. However, the principle is that they are made available across the region and create an Auckland we can be proud of.

How do Auckland Council’s rates compare to other cities? 

Many other councils generate between 60 and 74 per cent of their income from rates; for us that figure is around 40 per cent.  

However, comparative analysis of council rates should always be treated with caution as service provision and funding policies vary from council to council. 

In Auckland, water supply and wastewater services are provided separately and invoiced by Watercare Services Limited (WSL). Other councils recover the cost of these services through rates.  

Another example is that one council may fund rubbish collection from rates whereas a different council may fund it from the sale of rubbish bags.  

One council may have a significant investment in tourist attraction whereas another council may only provide a minimum service.  

Auckland Council rates also cover the services previously delivered by the former Auckland Regional Council, whereas non-unitary councils do not include the rates for regional council services. 

How can I have my say on how rates are spent? 

We ask for Aucklanders’ feedback on the proposed spending for the region and for their local board areas through our Annual Budget and 10-year Budget processes. 

More than 40,000 Aucklanders gave their feedback on Auckland Council’s proposed Annual Budget 2023/2024, the most feedback received for any public consultation by the council. 

So, how does Auckland Council spend your rates? 

For any given year council prepares an Annual Report where you can see exactly where the money was spent as well as the services provided for that. 

Rates support services we all think of like waste management, libraries, public transport, parks, and community facilities. 

However, it is so much more than that – rates are your contribution to creating a city that all Aucklanders can thrive in and be proud of. 

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council decided on 27 July 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. 

Group Recovery Manager for the Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Office at Auckland Council, Mat Tucker, said for those who require it, we’ll be offering the same 100 per cent rates relief in the following rating year as well.

“We are thinking of those whānau who have been uprooted from their homes and continue to face hardship and uncertainty. Our staff have observed the trauma many of you are feeling, and we recognise its tough right now. Many households are under financial pressure paying mortgages for homes they can’t live in plus additional costs in temporary accommodation. Our support is targeted at those most severely affected to help ease the financial burden they are facing.”

What is available for uninhabitable homes?

Red placarded houses

Red placarded houses as of 30 June 2023 will receive 100 per cent rates relief for the full 2023/2024 rating year.  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 apply for rates relief using this online form. 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 recoveryadvisors@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.

“We will continue to advocate on behalf of Aucklanders displaced by adverse weather events and will keep you updated on what assistance is available”, says Mr Tucker.

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 liveability 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 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 this 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. 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.

Can I provide feedback about my flooding experience and suggest improvements for the future?
Yes, we encourage everyone to have their say to support the recovery of Auckland and help build flood resilience for the future. From 3 August until 31 August 2023, Auckland Council are running a consultation and we’re keen to hear your feedback. More information can be found here: akhaveyoursay.nz/stormrecovery

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, 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?
We are hosting two webinars in the near future with an update on property categorisation. Attendees will also have an opportunity to submit questions in advance. More details including how to register will be posted on the Recovery page soon.

Who do I contact if I have more questions that are not answered here?
If you have further questions, please contact our Recovery Office Support team on recoveryadvisors@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Source: Auckland Council

The impacts of climate change have hit Tāmaki Makaurau hard this year, through more intense rainfall events, rising sea levels and higher temperatures. While reducing emissions is vital to addressing the climate emergency, our climate action plans include a variety of other initiatives. Here are three of them:

Zero-waste by 2040 – Reducing food waste

Whether it’s scraps or uneaten food, food waste often ends up in landfill where it decomposes and releases harmful greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and methane). Food waste is created in two main ways, both of which we are targeting.

Firstly, Aucklanders throw out tonnes of perfectly good food each year which could have been eaten but, for various reasons, was not. Auckland Council is one of the 52 councils and community groups who support Love Food Hate Waste in their efforts to reduce the amount of edible food thrown out each year.

Secondly, the food scraps we toss out make up nearly half the weight of the average household’s rubbish. If you have a garden, many of these scraps can be turned into compost, but technology now exists in New Zealand for them to be collected and converted into renewable energy and fertiliser.

Parul Sood, General Manager Waste Solutions at the council, says around 180,000 lockable 23-litre food scrap bins with kitchen caddies and compostable liners have so far been distributed to Auckland households. It’s part of the service rollout that aims to cut food scrap waste by 30 per cent.

Since the start of the rollout 1400 tonnes of food scraps have been sent to Ecogas’ organics processing facility in Reporoa, which uses anaerobic digestion to turn food scraps into liquid fertiliser, and biogas that is then converted into renewable energy, which is used in greenhouses to grow more food.

Food scraps are converted into biogas and liquid fertiliser at Ecogas’ organics processing facility in Reporoa.

The Urban Ngahere (Forest) Strategy – Quantity and quality

As temperatures rise, we need to make our urban areas cooler, and we’ll also require ways to slow water run-off during heavy rain to reduce pressure on stormwater systems. Planting more trees can do both – and more.

Our Urban Ngahere (Forest) Strategy aims to increase regional tree canopy cover to 30 per cent across urban areas, and at least 15 per cent in every local board area by 2050. The council has an annual tree planting programme and, on average, plants around 10 hectares of new trees each year in regional parks and thousands of trees in the road corridor and local parks. The tree planting effort is enhanced by other initiatives, such as increasing the capacity of local tree nurseries and planting fruit trees in parks. Work is now underway in the central city to turn Victoria Street into a linear park (Te Hā Noa), with a swathe of vegetation creating a green corridor connecting Albert Park to Victoria Park.

Howell Davies, Urban Ngahere Specialist at Auckland Council, says the species of tree selected for planting is now more important than ever. It is essential that only tree species that are climate ready are being planted to ensure the urban forest is resilient to rising temperatures. Council is continuously reviewing the resilience of tree species alongside the impacts of climate.

The council is also now starting to use the i-Tree Eco software developed by the United States Forestry Service and specially adapted for New Zealand to gather information about individual trees. This provides data about the ecosystem benefits the trees provide, including their ability to reduce pollution, sequester carbon, produce oxygen, retain (intercept) stormwater runoff, and enhance the energy savings of nearby buildings.

The software can be downloaded for free and can be used to assess existing trees and predict the benefits of planting in specific areas. The use of the software is expected to assist not only council, but also community groups, volunteer organisations, schools, and housing developers.

Pest Free Auckland – Ensuring natural environments flourish

Planting the right trees in the right places is vital for addressing the climate emergency. To safeguard biodiversity and restore council-managed land, Auckland’s Pest Free initiative collaborates with landowners and groups to control pests and plant native species on public and private land.

Wendy John is one of the cofounders of Ngā Ringa o Te Auaunga Friends of Oakley Creek, which has been working since 2004 on restoring central Auckland’s longest stream and its surrounding environment. The group is one of the most successful and busiest in Tāmaki Makaurau, coordinating hundreds of volunteers from community groups, educational institutions and corporate and organisations to plant trees, trap pests, pull out weeds, monitor water quality and grow native plant seedlings.

Wendy John, one of the cofounders of Ngā Ringa o Te Auaunga Friends of Oakley Creek.

One of the biggest supporters of Ngā Ringa o Te Auaunga is Auckland Council, which allocates funding and provides equipment like animal traps. Wendy says there’s a huge difference in the environment since the group was established in 2004. In the first six months of its trapping programme, around 1150 possums were caught – that’s down to just two or three now.

Planting more native trees also means welcoming more native birds. “Kererū used to be quite rare so the first time I saw them there, I was so excited,” says Wendy. “We’ve even had a couple of kākā who have flown over from the Hauraki Gulf.”

Last year, Ngā Ringa o Te Auaunga ran 271 events – not including trapping and guided walks – providing numerous opportunities for the community to join forces to ensure the natural environment flourishes.

Revegetation and pest trapping at Te Auaunga (Oakely Creek) has seen more kererū return to the area.

Source: Auckland Council

Manurewa-Papakura ward councillor Angela Dalton has added a role as Eke Panuku Development Auckland link to her workload.

Eke Panuku is the council-controlled organisation charged with delivering urban regeneration in Auckland.

“It works in many areas, including in my own ward and with our neighbours in Manukau and Franklin,” Cr Dalton says.

“Eke Panuku is involved in some long-term projects but also with smaller projects designed to meet the needs of the city’s growth, including in providing more affordable homes.

“It’s an exciting opportunity to work alongside people with a vision for the city that isn’t about right now, but about long into the future. It’s also about creating sustainable communities and enhancing not only our built environment, but the overall environment.”

In charge of council’s land and buildings, a portfolio that runs to billions, she says its purchase of 7.6 hectares of land around the Manukau Super Clinic for the Puhinui Stream regeneration programme is an example of its good work in the south.

“As the only land along the stream not publicly accessible, buying it to guarantee restorative work in a largely urbanised catchment that flows into the Manukau, is visionary. Had that land not been secured, a once in a lifetime opportunity would have been lost.”

Over time, the land will form part of a three-kilometre connection along the Puhinui from the Botanic Gardens to Hayman Park in Manukau.

Dalton has been flat out dealing with the fallout of this year’s weather disasters, which have left people homeless, displaced others, and caused millions of dollars in damage.

As Planning, Environment and Parks committee deputy, she says communities are desperate to get their assets back and council staff continue to focus on cleaning up areas where there are still public safety risks.

“We are trying to get minor repairs completed quickly but there are a lot of them.”

She says communities have shown immense patience. “We all want to get our parks, tracks and playgrounds operating again.”

More than 1,000 damage reports have been made across the city, more than 300 of those for slips on council land, and its estimated more than 1,300assets have been damaged, with repair costs expected to be as high as $55 million.

But Dalton says more than 500 jobs have been completed, mainly clean-ups, access restoration, minor repairs and flooding damage.

“The recovery process will take time, but we are making progress.”

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Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says negotiations for a cost sharing agreement for voluntary buying outs of high-risk (Category 3) residential properties in the region are progressing, and he is optimistic the two parties will reach a resolution soon.

“Auckland, like every other region, will require significant support from central government to be able to afford the cost of the proposed property buyouts, and longer-term investment to improve the city’s resilience to these events.

“Affordability and cost control will be key, and decisions on the scope and speed of the fix up will depend on the extent of government support.

“We understand people want clarity on this as soon as possible. We are working as fast as we can, but it is complex work and we owe it to all ratepayers to proceed carefully,” Mayor Brown said.