Category: Local Government

Source: Auckland Council

From increasing public transport options, to decarbonising the council’s operations, to community food initiatives and building resilience to flood events, Auckland Council is delivering tangible, positive climate outcomes for Aucklanders. That’s according to Auckland Council’s Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan 2024 progress snapshot.

Councillor Richard Hills, Chair of the council’s Policy and Planning Committee applauds the progress already made but reminds us that to maintain momentum and achieve our climate goals requires continued commitment from all of us.

“As a region, the scale and speed of climate action needed to make an impact on resilience continues to grow and will require increasing levels of cohesion and investment across both government and our council.”

Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan is Auckland Council’s long-term approach to climate action. It sets out eight priority action areas to deliver our goals to reduce carbon pollution and plan in ways that prevent further climate disruption.

Kataraina Maki, Auckland Council’s Chief Sustainability Officer, believes the council plays a crucial role in forward-thinking to make caring for everyone in a climate-disrupted future a reality.

“Imagine the lives we can all live when, across our communities, we are empowered to take the bold climate actions we need, and know are feasible. Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan provides long term solutions to make wise decisions now that will prevent further disruption to the climate later for future generations.

“Kia kotahi, Auckland Council supports our communities to unite, work together, and adapt to low-carbon, climate-prepared lifestyles to meet peoples’ needs and make our city better for everyone, especially those most vulnerable to climate disruption.”

The annual progress report highlights the council’s contribution towards the implementation of Te Tāruke-a-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan based on the levels of actions that are completed, in progress, and still required in reducing emissions and improving resilience to climate change. It also provides highlights of progress and key challenges for each priority in the plan along with a summary of key initiatives planned for the year ahead.

Key highlights of 2023/2024 report include:

• Collecting and diverting 20,000 tonnes of food scraps from landfill, exceeding the target of 18,000 tonnes for year one
• Investment in public transport to increase patronage up to 100 million boardings by March 2025
• Issuing three new green bonds increasing total green bond holdings to NZ $3.7 billion
• The Auckland Council climate grant funded 32 community-led projects, with approximately a third going to underserved communities
• Approximately 750,000 trees were planted across the region as part of the Urban Ngahere programme
• Several projects including Auckland Art Gallery and Auckland Domain Wintergardens have switched from gas to electricity and alternative energy sources, saving money and reducing emissions.

A planted area and stormwater stream beside the motorway in South Auckland.

Building resilience to future extreme weather events top priority for the council

In response to the 2023 extreme weather events, Auckland Council has partnered with the government to implement a $2 billion flood recovery and resilience package. As severe weather events happen more frequently, the council is preparing for the additional water we know to expect and preventing further flood risks through financial support for affected homeowners, supporting community-led responses and accelerating crucial repairs to affected infrastructure.

The Making Space for Water programme has been integral to this work where $820 million has been given to help build resilience, repair affected stormwater assets and reduce the impacts of future intense rainfall.

Councillor Hills says that rebuilding our infrastructure after big flooding and climate events can prevent worsening climate disruption.

“Rampant carbon pollution has trapped heat like a blanket in our atmosphere and warmed the oceans, leading to a disrupted climate and more extreme weather events. A lot more water is one of the effects,” he says.

“Auckland Council prioritises working alongside mana whenua, communities, and infrastructure experts to redesign our city to be more spongy to soak up this extra water and reduce heat in our neighbourhoods.

“By uncovering our natural waterways and enhancing and maintaining our stormwater systems through programmes like Making Space for Water, we’re giving water space to flow and rise to build resilience and reduce the impacts of future flooding.”

An electric bus on Waiheke Island.

Zero emission transport

Auckland’s public transport network is becoming fully electric. A total of 180 buses are now zero emissions in the fleet, making it the largest fleet of zero-emission buses of any city in Australasia. Investment in the transition from fossil fuels to lower emissions has also seen the construction of the first low emission ferries. The Climate Action Transport Targeted Rate has also increased our frequent bus network to forty routes in total, the most recent addition is the 94, which is seeing almost 400 new users each day.

Te Herenga Waka O Orewa Marae has received funding to repair flooring in the wharekai, an engineering design to improve stormwater management.

Mana whenua partnerships

Auckland Council supports leadership of mana whenua who have expertise in living in harmony with natural systems to care for their rohe and tāngata, using mātauranga Māori to guide how te taiao is valued and protected. The council supports climate resilience programmes across seven Auckland marae as part of the Resilient Marae Programme, and rangatahi Māori-led responses to the environment such as Mātātahi Taio to deliver climate action outcomes using traditional Māori knowledge systems and practices.

About the progress snapshot

The council group this year reports that based on the current allocation of funding for greenhouse gas emissions reduction, meeting the 2050 net zero target set in Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri is becoming more challenging within timeframe and financial constraints. Regional emissions are also starting to rise, after they temporarily decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report identifies that we all face big challenges in a climate-disrupted future. Better, resilient lives for everyone are possible through bold community climate planning, and a sustained collective commitment and effort from government, the council, businesses, communities and individuals to climate action.

Source: Auckland Council

Celebrated artist Fred Graham has unveiled a gift to the town he loves in the form of a sculpture carrying its name.

Waiuku becomes the latest addition to Auckland’s public art collection after its unveiling on the Glenbrook-Waiuku Road / Cornwall Road intersection.

It expresses his aroha (love) and whakawhetai (gratitude) for the town where he has lived, worked and raised his family with wife Norma for more than 30 years.

Franklin Local Board member Sharlene Druyven says Graham (Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, Tainui) is internationally and nationally celebrated and is a taonga of the area.

Now 96, he is still being commissioned – especially in Waikato – where his ancestry anchors him, with Waiuku acknowledging Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua history in the rohe (area) and the immigrants who have made it their home.

Based on the letter W, three of the four inner panels feature the koru, honouring those involved in the story of how Waiuku got its name.

Brothers Tamakae and Tamakou vied for the hand of Waikato chieftainess Te Atairehia – after whom Ngati Te Ata are named – and who is represented by a fourth koru.

Tamakae was the provider, Tamakou the orator. Tamakou was first to meet Te Atairehia but she requested Tamakae be presented. He was working in the kumara gardens and had to be washed in the wai (water) and uku (a type of white clay) at the stream that flows into the Manukau Harbour before he could meet her.

He won her heart and they married, and from then on, the area was known as Waiuku.

Fred Graham’s work is held in international collections.

Graham was born in 1928 in Arapuni, going on to Taita College where his talent was recognised, a gift nurtured at Ardmore Teachers Training College.

From there he developed an interest in sculpture, teaching himself to carve in wood and stone, and later using steel – a cornerstone of Waiuku with its iron sand and mill.

He was part of a collective that ran a Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) initiative in rural Māori communities with artists such as Cliff Whiting and Paratene Matchitt known as the ‘Class of ’66’ after a Hamilton show called ‘Contemporary Māori Painting and Sculpture’.

Friendships with art greats Ralph Hotere and Muru Walters were also established during his early days, while his own works fused Māori and European cultures, often combining wood, stone and modern materials in commissions displayed across Aotearoa.

“Fred is known for drawing on Māori traditions, but that is in the art world. In Waiuku he is better known for his gentleness, kindness and wisdom,” Druyven says.

“This is a man who has walked alongside greats of the art world but who is humble, who celebrates what matters to him, whanau and whenua.

“Very few of us can say we are friends with an art great, and the fact he’s just Fred to so many here in Waiuku tells you everything you need to know.”

Ngaati Te Ata kaumatua Riki Minhinnick leads the blessing of the site.

His son Brett followed his own path, also becoming an acclaimed artist and exhibiting currently with his father and other prominent Māori artists at this year’s Venice Biennale.

Fred Graham received the Te Waka Toi Te Tohu Aroha mō Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu Award in 2017 and a year later the Arts Foundation Icon Award and was also made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

The 5.2 metre tall 1.4 tonne stainless steel work was made in Waiuku by retired engineer Rex Erikson, a long-term friend and collaborator.

Waiuku is the second major Graham installation in the town. In 2020 his work recognising NZ Steel’s 50^th anniversary in 2015, was unveiled at Centennial Park – Lions Lake to locals.

That eight-metre steel statue features triangular panels depicting the three Franklin sites that converge to see steel forged at the mill, Taharoa, Waikato North Head and Glenbrook.

Fifty birds adorn the panels, the cut-outs recognising the lives of those connected to the mill who have passed, and the shaped birds the lives of those now associated with the mill, and the whanau supported by that relationship.

Inside the triangle, pipes can be seen, honouring the pipeline that sees iron sand shaped into steel.

Atop the structure three birds rise into the sky, the past, present and the future.

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Source: Auckland Council

ShakeOut, New Zealand’s national earthquake drill and tsunami hīkoi will take place on Thursday 24 October at 9.30am.

Councillor Sharon Stewart, chair of Auckland Council’s Civil Defence and Emergency Management Committee says she encourages Aucklanders to embrace this opportunity to practice for a real earthquake.

“I urge all Aucklanders to join in with the rest of Aotearoa and take part in ShakeOut.

“Even though the risk of a major shake in the Auckland region is small, it pays to be familiar with what to do if you are caught up in a real earthquake or tsunami.

“ShakeOut day is also a great opportunity to for Aucklanders to think about their preparedness for a natural disaster – including having a

household emergency plan.

“It’s also an opportunity to talk to family and friends about what to do in an emergency and how to

stay informed.”

What you need to know about ShakeOut

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is encouraging all households, schools, and organisations to officially sign up for ShakeOut. When you sign up, you’ll have the option of going into a draw to win a prize.

• ShakeOut will take place on Thursday 24 October at 9.30am
• It is a self-run earthquake and tsunami drill. An Emergency Mobile Alert (EMA) will not be sent out
• You can start the drill in whatever way works for you. All you need to do is Drop, Cover and Hold for 60 seconds and practice your evacuation if you are in a tsunami evacuation zone by walking to high ground or inland by foot or bike
• There are resources you can use to encourage your friends, family and colleagues to practice earthquake and tsunami drills. Download posters, factsheets and more here.
• All of New Zealand is at risk of earthquakes and tsunami. Practicing your tsunami hīkoi is an easy way for you and those around you to learn the right actions to take.

Before the ShakeOut drill

Drop, Cover, Hold

In an earthquake, Drop, Cover, Hold. It stops you being knocked over, makes you a smaller target for falling and flying objects, and protects your head, neck and vital organs.

• DROP down on your hands and knees. This protects you from falling but lets you move if you need to.
• COVER your head and neck (or your entire body if possible) under a sturdy table or desk (if it is within a few steps of you).

If there is no shelter nearby then cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.

• HOLD on to your shelter (or your position to protect your head and neck) until the shaking stops. If the shaking shifts your shelter around, move with it.

If there is no shelter near you, crawl to an inside corner of the room and cover your head and neck with your hands and arms.

Do not run outside or stand in a doorway. Many people are injured while trying to move during the shaking.

It is safer to Drop, Cover, and Hold until the shaking is over.

If you use a walker or a wheelchair

If you use a walker or wheelchair, Lock, Cover and Hold. 

• Lock your wheels and get as low as possible. 
• Bend over and cover your head and neck as best you can. 
• Then hold on until the shaking stops.

Long or Strong: Get Gone

Earthquakes can generate tsunami.

It is important to recognise the natural warning signs of a tsunami and remember, if an earthquake is Long or Strong: Get Gone.

Source: Auckland Council

Retro arcade machines are transformed into art installations at Studio One – Toi Tū, Auckland Council’s community art facility in Ponsonby, this month.   

Arca Arcade “Round One”, is an immersive exhibition that combines retro and new technologies with playful, hands-on art experiences, designed to engage and entertain visitors of all ages. The exhibition blends nostalgic technology with contemporary art under designer Preston Khan McNeil’s guidance. Wall-mounted, playable arcade machines are transformed into nine artistic installations adorned with te ao Māori influences and styles from prominent Aotearoa New Zealand artists.  

McNeil collaborated with local artistic talents Gina Kiel, Flox, Otis Frizzell, Joe Sheehan, and Otis Chamberlain for the project, and what transpired is art with a distinctive style that is uniquely Aotearoa New Zealand.  

“What started as an industrial design passion project has transformed into an art initiative, now serving a community deeply influenced by 80s and 90s arcade gaming”, says McNeil.  

“When I began designing the arcade cabinet, my brief was to create something compact and elegant, that looked like art, and that my wife wouldn’t mind having in a living space,” he says.  

“The collection stands as a poignant homage to the enduring allure and cultural significance of arcade gaming. Arca Arcade isn’t just a throwback to yesteryear, this modern take on arcade cabinet design becomes a canvas to explore the intertwining of inspiration and fabrication, to create the unexpected.”  

McNeil’s multifaceted expertise—forged by a longstanding passion for arcade gaming, a curiosity for arcade machine tinkering, and a seasoned background in digital design—forms the bedrock of this ambitious venture.   

Siobhan Connelly, Studio One – Toi Tū Manager, says the exhibition is a special opportunity to bring communities together through a shared passion for creativity and the nostalgic joy of arcade gaming.   

“It’s a playful and immersive experience where iconic machines are elevated to art, celebrated for their design, history, and cultural impact,” adds Connelly.   

“Each exhibition we host brings something unique for our visitors and Arca Arcade “Round One” is no different. Not only is it an immersive experience, but it’s also a competition to strive for the top spot on the leaderboards, which is fitting and a pleasant surprise as most exhibits often deter physical interaction,” she says.  

“We’re delighted to offer something new to our visitors, from near and far, to discover and enjoy”.   

Both Arca Arcade “Round One” exhibition, and the competition for the top spot on the leaderboard, are on until 31 October at Studio One – Toi Tū, Ponsonby.  

Source: Auckland Council

The preliminary work for Watercare’s Midtown Wastewater Upgrades begins next week.

Three midtown sites are being prepared and shafts are being built, ready for a tunnel boring machine to be lowered into the ground in 2025. The machine will reach depths of up to 14.5 metres and tunnel a distance of 585 metres below Queen Street.

These underground wastewater upgrades are a key component of the Auckland Council group’s midtown regeneration. The programme is preparing streets, spaces and infrastructure for the City Rail Link, which will bring many more people into the city centre to live, work, study, visit and do business.

The upgrades will renew the workings of the city centre’s century-old pipes, enable the consenting of a pipeline of commercial and residential apartment developments, and help protect the region’s precious Waitematā Harbour.

Chair of the Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee Councillor Andy Baker explains that this wastewater project is essential for Auckland’s future resilience.

“Midtown will become an even more popular place for people to live beyond 2026 when the City Rail Link’s Te Waihorotiu Station is operational. With these important works complete, we will have increased the capacity of our wastewater system and upgraded the quality of our pipes in midtown.

“It is vitally important for us to futureproof the area ahead of the population growth expected in midtown, and we are taking steps also with this work to reduce the risk of wastewater overflows entering the Waitematā Harbour during heavy rain.

“I want to emphasise that Watercare has sited the shafts away from shops and businesses, synchronised the works with other construction in the area for maximum efficiency, and ensured that traffic in Queen Street continues to operate.

“As the safety fences go up around three localised shafts next week to enable this work, we want to remind everyone that midtown continues to be open for business,” Councillor Baker says.

This wastewater work around Queen Street, delivered by Watercare and supported by Auckland Council, is scheduled to be complete by December 2026.

For all information please visit here.

Q&A

What else is being upgraded?

While stage one of Watercare’s Midtown Wastewater Upgrades will increase wastewater capacity, crews will also take this opportunity to reline the Victoria Street section of the Ōrākei Main Sewer. Doing this work during Stage 1 of the pipeline installation eliminates the need for Watercare to return to Victoria Street to do this critical work later. Stage two is in the design phase and will involve laying new wastewater pipes from Vincent Street to Greys Avenue carpark.

Why is this work essential?

The Midtown Wastewater Upgrades support the Auckland city centre’s planned residential and commercial growth, reduce the risk of future overflows into the Waitematā Harbour and safeguard and increase resilience of midtown’s wastewater network.

What are the problems we’re solving?

Currently, the wastewater and stormwater in the midtown area combine into a single pipe which feeds into a large pipe called an interceptor, which takes flows to Māngere Wastewater Treatment Plant for processing.  

Combined networks are designed to overflow during rainfall events at designated overflow points rather than back flow up your toilet or sink.

The focus of the Midtown Wastewater Upgrades is to redirect most of the wastewater away from the combined network and channel it through a dedicated 1.2km pipeline.

The project also involves reconfiguring the current wastewater network to better use under-utilised pipes.

After the Midtown Wastewater Upgrades are complete, overflows from the combined network will become less frequent after heavy rainfall events.

How will the tunnel boring process work?

A large portion of the pipeline will be installed using a method called horizontal directional drilling (HDD). The benefit of using this method is that it will get the job done more safely, faster, and with a higher quality result. Horizontal directional drilling is also better for the environment than open trenching as it lessens the impact on surrounding critical assets and reduces fractures and soil disturbance. This method is also less disruptive for the community as there is much less digging up of the street.

Read more about the city centre’s transformation here.

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is embarking on official visits to Brazil and China aimed at increasing trade and fostering relations between New Zealand’s largest city and countries with a combined population of over 1.6 billion.

He will be supporting senior delegations of Auckland-based business leaders seeking to promote their products in these key markets.

The potential creation of a dedicated passenger and freight air link between Asia, Auckland and South America – the Southern Cross trade connection, also known as Southern Link – will be a key discussion point on both legs.

“Trade between China and Brazil totals around $490 billion annually – there is a huge opportunity for Auckland to tap into that with an air link that stops here and allows our businesses to get their products into these markets reliably, quickly and cost-effectively,” Mayor Brown said.

“This is all about driving new investment in Auckland and helping companies based here to tap into export opportunities.

“We have to be proactive and unapologetic about reaching out, building links and letting the world know that Auckland is a thriving and progressive place that welcomes trade and investment.

“I’m very pleased to have a number of Auckland-based business leaders joining me at their own expense who see value and opportunity in taking our city to the world.

“Modern Auckland is a cultural melting pot – we are a Pacific city in Asia, with more than 170,000 people who identify as Chinese alone living here. It’s important to keep reinforcing that we are proud, outward-looking people wanting to participate in the world around us.”

The Mayor is well-acquainted with both countries, having been to Brazil on several occasions and written a book that was translated into Portuguese and sold well in Brazil. He has also led business delegations to China while he had his own interests.

In 2008, he was invited by then-Prime Minister Rt Hon Helen Clark to travel to Beijing for the signing of the China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, where a particular highlight was attending the formal lunch to celebrate the signing with Premier Wen Jiabao.

He is an official invited guest of the New Zealand Government whilst in Brazil, departing October 20 and returning October 25. It will be the first time an Auckland Mayor has made an official visit to Brazil, with a population well in excess of 200 million.

He will accompany Trade Minister Todd McClay to a bilateral meeting with the Vice-Governor of São Paulo and participate in an economic and business briefing.

There will also be a roundtable event hosted by NZ Trade and Enterprise, a partnership signing between New Zealand companies and their Brazilian customers and a NZ Business Technology Showcase featuring local companies in the technology and manufacturing sectors.

The Mayor will return to Auckland before travelling to China on 31 October, leading a delegation of New Zealand business leaders for a series of official events.

It will be the first time in five years an official delegation from Auckland has gone to China – New Zealand’s biggest export market worth more than $20 billion annually.

He will have meetings with members of the Hainan Government in Haikou, support Auckland businesses exhibiting at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, meet the China Chamber of Commerce in Ningbo, meet the Mayor of Ningbo and speak at a function in Guangzhou recognising 35 years of Auckland’s sister city relationship.

While in Guangzhou, the Mayor will visit Auckland companies with operations there, including Zuru, before attending the International Friendship Cities Cooperation and Development Conference in Chengdu at the invitation of the Sichuan Government.

The Mayor will be taking a particular interest in China’s approach to rapid infrastructure development – noting it has rolled out 46,000km of high-speed rail in under 20 years – and will look for opportunities for Auckland to benefit from better, faster and cheaper delivery methods.

He will stop briefly in Tokyo en-route back to Auckland for a meeting with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and attend part of the 50th Japan-New Zealand Business Council Conference before returning to Auckland on 17 November.

The travel has been approved by the chair of council’s audit committee and complies with council rules. One Mayoral Office staff member will accompany the Mayor on each leg and the total cost is expected to be around $75,000, with business delegates meeting their own travel costs.

Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson will be Acting Mayor in Mayor Brown’s absence.

Source: Auckland Council

Aucklanders out west will no longer need to use prepaid bin tags from 2 December 2024 as council rubbish collections will be funded by residential property rates.

West Auckland is moving from pay-as-you-throw collections to rates-funded as part of a regionwide move towards a standardised waste service for Auckland.

Auckland Council General Manager Waste Solutions Justine Haves says that standardising waste services across Auckland will give everyone access to the same service at the same cost, wherever they live.

“Having everyone on a unified collection service that includes recycling and food scraps, gives us the best chance to minimise waste and reduce emissions as we work towards Auckland’s goal of zero waste by 2040,” says Ms Haves.

“We want to protect Auckland’s natural environment by reducing reliance on landfills, while keeping costs for Aucklanders as low as possible. A universal rates-funded rubbish collection helps us to deliver a more consistent and cost-effective service and makes it easier to engage with Aucklanders on how we can all reduce waste,” she says.

The targeted rates charge for a property’s rubbish collection will depend on the size of the bin. With a choice of three bin sizes, Aucklanders can choose the size that best meets their individual household’s needs.

“If households use their food scrap bins and recycling bins regularly, most will find that a smaller rubbish bin than they have now will work for them. Many people don’t realise that food scraps contribute significantly to harmful greenhouse gas emissions from landfills, and prior to the introduction of the food scraps collection, waste audits found that up to half of the weight of rubbish bins consisted of this waste,” says Ms Haves.

“For larger households that require a larger bin even after they are using all three waste bins correctly, there is an option for the ratepayer to request a larger bin from Auckland Council, for a slightly higher cost to that household’s rates.”

Bin tags will be accepted on council bins until Friday 29 November in West Auckland. After this date, West Auckland residents can get a refund from local libraries for any unused bin tags for a limited time – from Sunday 1 December 2024 to Friday 31 January 2025.

The changes are being rolled out in pay-as-you-throw areas over the next 12 months. After Waitākere, the next areas to move to rates-funded rubbish collections are: North Shore, Papakura, Franklin and Rodney. Central Auckland and Manukau already have rates-funded rubbish services.

Anyone living in a rural zone who would like to continue using bags should email ratesfunded@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Rural residents will still have options on the number of waste bags they would like to use, depending on their household requirements, and this is reflected in the targeted waste rate for each household.

For more information, including how to request a refund for unused bin tags, please visit aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/ratesfunded

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council has approved the award of new contracts for the operation of 20 pools and leisure centres across the region, that are outsourced.

The decision to award contracts to two suppliers – Community Leisure Management (CLM) and YMCA North Incorporated (The Y), was made by the council’s Revenue, Expenditure and Value Committee on October 15. Previously, three suppliers held the council’s outsourced contracts. The council is now working through the award process with CLM and The Y.

Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson, who is chair of the committee, says the new contracts mean Aucklanders will continue to have a number of excellent options where they can swim, get fit and connect with others.

“The council is committed to providing outstanding service for our communities and making sure we are getting the best for Aucklanders.

“CLM and The Y currently operate a number of the council’s pools and leisure centres across Auckland and have track records in providing safe and efficient services to the community.

“We believe these two operators have the expertise, professionalism and customer and community centric values to run the centres to the highest standard while delivering good value for money.

The new contracts will take effect from April 2025. The Y will operate seven centres and CLM will operate 13.  

Rachel Kelleher, Auckland Council’s Director Community says the awarding of the new contracts will enhance the region’s pools and leisure network.

“Grouping closely-located centres enables more efficiency across staff, resources and leadership for both the council and its service partners.

“This model will also save ratepayers money, compared to maintaining the status quo.

“The centre groupings have been designed to reflect local board areas, common community needs, and the specialist expertise required to operate some services, for example our outdoor pools that open over the summer period.”

“As a result of the competitive procurement process Belgravia Leisure will no longer manage any of the council’s pools and leisure centres. We would like to thank and acknowledge Belgravia Leisure for their management of four centres across Auckland over the last 10 years and have appreciated its partnership with the council over this time.”

The inclusion of the living wage as the minimum payment level to staff working at the outsourced centres will be part of all new pools and leisure service delivery contracts. This had not been a requirement within previous contracts.

On 1 August 2024, the service delivery model for the council’s pools and leisure services was confirmed, with the council’s Governing Body deciding to proceed with enhancements to the current mixed model, which features partially outsourced services for the region-wide network.

Feedback from the nine local boards with outsourced centres was incorporated into the options analysis and final recommendation to the Revenue, Expenditure and Value Committee.

Auckland Council owns 43 pools and leisure centres across the region. This decision sees the continued delivery of pools and leisure services across the region. Twenty centres are outsourced, one facility is operated under a lease arrangement (The Olympic Newmarket) and 22 are operated by the council.

Please visit the Auckland Council website to see the locations of all our pool and leisure centres.

If you have any questions about these changes, please email poolsandleisurefeedback@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.