Category: Local Government

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Transport and Fulton Hogan have completed the repair of an under slip and wash-out at the end of Masterton Road near the Rothesay Beach Reserve in time for the summer holidays.

Before works began, Vector installed a temporary overhead power supply from Rothesay Bay Road to the Rothesay Bay toilet block to keep the construction area free from electrical hazards. Permanent power supply has now been reinstated.

“We built a 27-metre long timber retaining wall and riprap (rock buttress) near the footpath and the edge of the stream to prevent further erosion of the bank,” says AT Project Manager, Ian Bielawa.

“This was especially challenging as the work required significant environmental controls, the temporary relocation of a power line, and the contractor needed to work with soft ground conditions and around spring tides.

“Additional drainage facilities were added, finishing works were made to the road and footpath pavement,” he said.

Masterton Road was closed at the cul-de-sac end throughout the construction period, however access for neighbouring properties was maintained along with pedestrian access to the beach from the northern side of the road.

Watch aerial footage taken during works in September.

Learn more about AT storm repair works on the AT website.

Source: Auckland Council

Two projects have been added to Manurewa Local Board’s Sport and Active Recreation Facilities Plan priority projects list. 

The first is the development of a multi-purpose community facility for WhatHope and the second the installation of an electronic court access system for Manurewa Table Tennis Club.

Board chair Matt Winiata says $44,050 will be allocated to WhatHope to conduct a site analysis and feasibility study, and $10, 950 to the table tennis club.

“Our Sport and Active Recreation Facilities Plan was adopted in 2022 to provide strategic guidance on the local sporting facilities,” Winiata says.

“It outlines the current network across Manurewa, regardless of who owns the facilities, to help identify future challenges and needs.”

About 50 projects have been ranked to offer an evaluation of local needs, with inclusion on the list allowing the board to support projects through grant funding. The list includes 10 school-based, 13 community and 21 council projects.

Winiata says the funding for WhatHope, which has been searching for a suitable youth community facility for years, will allow it to assess a site is has identified.

“WhatHope has delivered informal events for youth that were also open to the community.

“It wants to build a social space on a sports park that will complement existing uses. The location would provide opportunities for any facility user to get active while also allowing the group to deliver youth engagement initiatives.”

He says the table tennis club carried out more than $39,000 worth of improvements and has been able to leverage a further $16,000 of support through a gaming trust.

“The project includes security grilles and new doors. There will also be technology to allow the club to open access to its courts online.

“Indoor courts are in demand with a shortfall across the city and our funding will allow the club to complete alarm installation, switchboard upgrades, light controls and online booking.”

Manurewa Table Tennis, near Homai station, works with Disability Sport Auckland and Table Tennis NZ, and produced the first para table tennis player in 48 years, Matthew Britz competing at the Paris Paralympics.

Manurewa based charitable trust WhatHope focusses on holistic wellness outcomes for local rangatahi by providing programmes at Te Matariki and Manurewa High School.

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Source: Auckland Council

Over the past year, Auckland Council has completed a review of how we are tracking toward making our city accessible for everyone.

Today, on the International Day of Persons with Disability (3 December), co-chair of the Disability Advisory Panel Barry de Geest reflects on the progress made and explains how this has helped set a new benchmark in Tāmaki Makaurau.

“For disability panel members, this year has been a fantastic year because we can see that the advice we’ve provided is really making a difference in our communities,” Mr de Geest says.

“Council staff and key decision-makers, including Mayor Wayne Brown, are keen to engage and hear our suggestions and to keep working with us to find solutions. We feel there is more recognition that input from the panel is valued in the early stages of planning projects, and this is helping to shape better outcomes.”

The council’s policy team has improved the way progress is monitored on actions prioritised in the Disability Operational Action Plan, so that regular updates can be given to the Disability Advisory Panel. This plan aligns with the Auckland Plan 2050 and Ngā Hapori Momoho Thriving Communities Strategy 2022-2032  to ensure everyone in Auckland can participate and feel that they belong, especially those facing the greatest barriers.

In the council’s most recent update to the advisory panel in September, a total of 29 projects have been rolled out to improve accessibility across the region and another 35 are ongoing. 

They include measures to remove language barriers, improve communications, and update design guidelines to improve accessibility in the private sector.

Councillor Julie Fairey, chief liaison officer for the panel, says the advice provided by panel members this year has been invaluable for making Auckland safer and more accessible.

Auckland Transport has introduced multiple measures this year to make ferries more accessible.

“At any one time around a quarter of New Zealanders identify as being disabled, with many experiencing disability in an ongoing way or at specific points throughout their lives. It’s important we work together to remove barriers so that everyone can fully participate in their community” Cr Fairey says.

Auckland Transport has also worked closely with the Disability Advisory Panel to make considerable progress this year on the Auckland Transport Accessibility Action Plan, enhancing the city’s transport system with accessibility improvements.

This includes measures to make ferries more user-friendly, like reducing the height of door sills so wheelchairs and prams can easily move around, installing extra handrails, and including New Zealand Sign Language in on-board safety videos.

Visual service updates have started at Waitematā /Britomart train station featuring New Zealand Sign Language, along with English and reo Māori scripting, resulting in the first public announcements in all three languages.

For the first time in New Zealand, public service announcements have been made using New Zealand Sign Language, English scripting and reo Māori at Waitematā /Britomart train station.

Audio announcements including reo Māori have been rolled out on 1,228 buses around Tāmaki Makaurau. New ramps and ground markings that improve accessibility are ongoing. Drivers and ferry operators have received additional training this year to help them provide support to passengers with low vision. 

Mr de Geest says while these changes will be a huge positive for many passengers with disabilities, they will also ensure an enhanced travel journey for all commuters – as accessibility improvements result in wider community benefits. 

“These measures are certainly not insignificant. We see an overall improved experience for so many others who previously struggled to take part – like the elderly, or young children, and carers or family members,” he says. 

The Disability Advisory Panel members remain committed to sharing their knowledge and lived experiences so that further improvements can be delivered by the council and wider council group, Mr de Geest says.

“As people living with disabilities, we don’t just see the problem – we are absolutely committed to try and come up with solutions,” he says.

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland’s Regulatory and Safety Committee has backed plans for public consultation on updates to the region’s dog rules. The Dog Policy and Dog Management Bylaw is reviewed every few years to check it still meets the needs of Aucklanders.

Chair of the committee, Councillor Josephine Bartley, says testing the proposed changes with Aucklanders is a key part of the policy review process.

“Dogs can be a great part of life in Auckland. They can become our best friends, and we have lots of

fantastic places to get our and enjoy with our dogs in Tāmaki Makaurau.

“The aim of this update is to help keep pooches a positive part of our lives. We want to maintain a mix of dog-friendly and dog-free spaces, so there are public spaces that everyone can enjoy, and to help keep Aucklanders, our environment and wildlife safe too.

“We know many Aucklanders love their dogs, so updating this policy is not something we are doing lightly. The changes being proposed have been shaped by robust data and feedback. They also reflect the different ways that some public places are being used now, compared to when the policy was last reviewed in 2019. For example, some areas are no longer suitable for dogs, as there are now endangered birds nesting there, kauri growing, or they’re well-used by families.

“Now we need to test the proposed changes with communities. Everyone will have a chance to have their say on this policy update,” she says.

Next, Auckland’s mayor and councillors will be asked to decide when the public consultation will take place.

Evidence-backed proposals

Reviewing evidence is the first step when updating policies or bylaws. It shows where the policy works well, and where it could be improved.

Preliminary feedback from a public survey in March 2024 shows the common issues for Aucklanders are owners not picking up after their dog, packs of dogs taking up pathways, and dogs wandering off-leash in an on-leash area.

51 per cent of respondents had experienced problems when encountering four or more dogs being walked at once – the higher the number of dogs being walked, the higher this percentage was.

An analysis of complaints data found that most dog-related complaints were about dog access rules not being followed, and over one third were to do with situations where multiple dogs were being walked together.

Council staff also analysed statistics from animal management service requests, multiple dog ownership licences, registrations, and the animal management annual report. They also reviewed Auckland data from the National Survey of Dog Attacks, dog control statistics and Accident Compensation Corporation’s dog related claims

From April-May 2024, staff interviewed groups including Auckland SPCA, commercial dog walkers, Chained Dog Rehabilitation and Rehoming, and Friends of Regional Parks.

“Council staff have carried out a thorough review of the data and this has informed the proposed changes to the Dog Policy. This level of due diligence is vital when recommending changes to policies and bylaws, as these are the rules we will all live by if adopted.

“Now we want Aucklanders to have their say on these proposals,” says Cr Bartley.  

You can read the review findings here.

What are the proposed changes?

The proposed changes to the policy and bylaw include:

• Updating where dogs can and cannot go at 14 of Auckland’s regional parks.
• Setting limits on the number of dogs that can be walked at once.
• Making the policy and bylaw easier to understand by clarifying some of the existing rules, such as requirements to neuter dogs classified as menacing, including those that have been relocated from outside Auckland.

Proposed changes to where dogs can and cannot go at some local parks and beaches are also being considered by local boards. Any changes will be included in the public consultation on the policy and bylaw.

What happens next?

Auckland’s mayor and councillors will now be asked to set a date in 2025 for public consultation on the proposals. 

Keep an eye on OurAuckland for more information.

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council is reviewing some of the region’s regulatory policies and bylaws. The council does this every few years to make sure that local rules keep working for local people.

Louise Mason, General Manager of Policy at Auckland Council, explains that policies and bylaws are rules that apply to a particular region. 

“We have our own policies and bylaws in Tāmaki Makaurau. They’re designed to respond to local issues and needs.  

“The council creates, monitors and updates them. As part of this process, Aucklanders get a chance to have a say on proposed changes to these ‘rules’.  

“Each and every change recommended is backed by significant evidence and data,” she says. 

Two important policies and bylaws you can have your say on in 2025 relate to dogs, and council cemeteries and crematoria. Read on for a overview of what they cover.

Dog Policy and Dog Management Bylaw

Many Aucklanders love their dogs, and they are often a very positive part of life in Tāmaki Makaurau. 

Unfortunately, our furry friends are not always without issue. The most recent animal management annual report found that our staff responded to 37,558 requests for service between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024. 

A big portion of the data represents dogs that have been reported roaming alone without their owner. It also shows a 14 per cent increase in dog attacks on people and 19 per cent increase in dog attacks on other animals compared to the previous year’s report.

Auckland Council’s policy aims to address these problems by encouraging responsible dog ownership, setting out where dogs can be taken in public, and applying measures to minimise problems, including a bylaw. 

We recently reviewed the Dog Policy and Dog Management Bylaw and found its approach is effective, but that improvements could be made.  

The proposed changes include a limit on the number of dogs that can be walked at once, updates to where you can take your dog on and off-leash at some parks and beaches, and changes to make the policy and bylaw easier to understand.  

There are many off-leash areas in Auckland, but it’s important to remember that not everyone is a dog person, and not everywhere is suitable to take a dog. This review aims to maintain a balanced mix of dog-friendly and dog-free spaces across Tāmaki Makaurau so there are public places for everyone to enjoy. Dog rules also help to protect wildlife, our natural environment including kauri and stream banks, and our cultural heritage. 

This policy has been to the Regulatory and Safety Committe. It will now go to the council’s Governing Body, who will be asked to decide on a date for public consultation in 2025.

Council Cemetery and Crematoria Bylaw 

Auckland Council oversees more than 50 cemeteries in Auckland, including Manukau Memorial Gardens, North Shore Memorial Park and Waikumete Cemetery. 

There are rules to keep our cemeteries and crematoria safe, and which help to meet Aucklanders’ social, cultural and physical needs. They’re currently set out in a bylaw, a code of practice made under the bylaw, and operational guidance.  

Council staff have reviewed the rules in the bylaw and code and have found they’re working well and generally don’t need to change.  

However, we did find that some rules in the code are outdated and duplicated. We plan to move most rules that are currently covered in the code of practice to the bylaw. Everything else will be covered in operational guidance.  

This will not impact the day-to-day service in our cemeteries and crematoria – we recommend that the rules stay much the same as they are now.  

Even though this will be more of an administrative change, you will still be able to comment on these proposals in early 2025 on the council’s Have Your Say website.

How can you have your say? 

The council consults with the public every time a change is made to our regulatory policies and bylaws, so Aucklanders can have a say on the rules in their area.  

Consultation on proposed changes to these policies and bylaws will open in the new year (2025).  

Source: Auckland Council

Celebrate a waste-free festive season this summer with these top tips to protect the environment and keep Auckland beautiful.

Bin it right

The easiest tip for a Zero Waste festive season is to make good use of your kerbside recycling and food scraps bins.

Remember, with the new recycling standards introduced this year, to only recycle grocery packaging containers made from plastic with the numbers 1, 2, 5 (check the package for the number), glass and metal, as well as flattened cardboard and paper. It helps a lot if you empty and rinse your containers before placing them loose into your recycling bin. No plastic bags and no lids please, as they get caught in the sorting machinery.

When you use your food scraps bin and avoid throwing the scraps in the rubbish, you’re making sure they are transformed for good. Instead of going to landfill where they emit harmful greenhouse gases of methane and carbon dioxide, your food scraps are turned into renewable energy and liquid fertiliser.

So far, 30,000 tonnes from Auckland’s food scraps bins have helped to produce even more kai by farmers and growers. Ka rawe!

(Bonus tip: don’t miss a collection – check changes to your kerbside collections day during the holidays at Find your rubbish, recycling, and food scraps collection day (aucklandcouncil.govt.nz).

Chill out don’t throw out

More food is thrown out during the festive season than any other time because people tend to over-cater during the holidays. To help you avoid wasting good food, Love Food Hate Waste is running the Chill Out campaign from 4 November to 30 November. They will be sharing a huge range of tips and advice that will save you food and money. Find out more on their website or follow them on their socials.

Start a Zero Waste hobby

Start a worm farm or give composting a go – The Compost Collective has workshops, how-to-videos and resources to get you started, and advice on the right composting method that works for your lifestyle. And for anything that you may not be able to compost, like bones or shellfish, there’s your friendly food scraps bin.

Visit your local community recycling centre

Whether you’re looking for unique upcycled holiday gifts or have a creative holiday project, you are bound to find something special at your local community recycling centre.

If your holiday project is a clear out, then you may be able drop off items at your local centre. You can also visit aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/whereitgoes for options of where to take almost anything. The search tool provides you with places where you can take your items to be reused, repurposed, recycled or, if necessary, disposed of.

Pack in, pack out    

When you’re out and about enjoying summer in our wonderful regional parks, beaches, and the Hauraki Gulf Islands, remember to take your own reusable cups, plates and cutlery and bring any waste home so you can sort it correctly into your kerbside bins.

For even more ideas, check out practical tips for a waste-less Christmas.

Together, we can enjoy our summer holidays in beautiful Tāmaki Makaurau and stay on track for Zero Waste by 2040.     

Source: Auckland Council

Fire and Emergency New Zealand has today announced that all islands of the Hauraki Gulf, including Kawau Island, enter a prohibited fire season from 2 December, until further notice.

A prohibited fire season means no fires are allowed in the open and all fire permits are suspended.

Announcing the total fire ban, Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s Community Risk Manager for Counties Manukau, Thomas Harre, says drier conditions are increasing the chance of a fire spreading rapidly through the light scrub and grass found across the gulf islands.

“We’ve had a relatively wet winter and warm spring which has led to exceptional growth,” he says.

“Now, with the temperature increasing scrub and grasses will start drying out quickly. Combined with periods of extended dry and windy spells, there’s a high risk of wildfires occurring and spreading fast.”

Thomas Harre says the risk only becomes higher with the increase of visitors to the islands in December.

“We’ve had significant wildfires on the islands in previous Decembers caused by visitors lighting fires without knowledge of the surrounding environment. These fires have spread and damaged property and the environment.”

He says the risk of significant fires is increased due to the islands’ isolation.

“The islands are only accessible by sea, and only some have airports. This can make responding to wildfires or evacuations delayed and difficult. We want to do everything we can to decrease the possibility such wildfires appear in the islands this summer.”

The prohibition encompasses all islands of the Hauraki Gulf Islands, including Kawau Island, in the Waitematā District.

People should visit www.checkitsalright.nz before lighting any type of fire anywhere over summer, to check they are allowed to in their current fire season.

Source: Auckland Council

A kaleidoscope of festivity is illuminating the city centre.

A sparkling pavilion and light forest are captivating Aotea Square, Christmas on Queen Street is popping up with live music and tinsel mania, Smith & Caughey’s storybook shop windows are lighting up children’s adoring faces, Commercial Bay’s Santa’s Magic Mail Machine is in hot demand, Vector Lights for a Kiwi Christmas will light up the harbour bridge, and there’s a festive makeover for Hogwash the red ferry crossing the Viaduct Harbour.

‘The Pav’ is the nickname for the much-loved luminescent pavilion which made its Christmas debut in Te Komititanga. It is bringing its toybox of colour and light to midtown’s Aotea Square this season.

Star attraction in Te Komititanga, the square at the waterfront end of town, is a magical new Christmas tree. Te Manaaki is delivered by Heart of the City and Precinct Properties, with Auckland Council’s contribution from the city centre targeted rate. More at Our Auckland.

Waitematā Local Board Chair Genevieve Sage is thrilled to see Aucklanders enjoying a square-to-square experience this year, with festive music, art and lighting filling our public spaces from Aotea Square to Te Komititanga.

“I am a big fan of Te Manaaki, and it’s great to see the pavilion in its new home. We really are projecting ourselves as the world-class city centre we are, and I am confident Aucklanders will turn out this Christmas season and discover that for themselves,” she says.    

Some highlights:

Giant tree will knock your Christmas stockings off

Standing at a majestic 18.4 metres tall, Te Manaaki is decorated with 10,000 LED lights, 4,000 pōhutukawa flowers and 200 giant baubles. A new centrepiece for Te Komititanga, the giant tree marks the beginning of an exciting new festive tradition for Auckland.

The glow of Te Manaaki radiates into the evening, carving its place in time among the festive capitals of the world. In a contrast of eras, Te Manaaki stands between the glorious Chief Post Office building which has seen 115 Christmases and the buzz of Commercial Bay. The tree will be lit from 5pm every day until 5 January, with a five minute light show every ten minutes.

Te Manaaki tree in the daytime. Photo credit: Sacha Stejko

‘The Pav’ lifts Aotea Square to bright new heights

Co-created by award-winning designers Angus Muir, Matt Liggins, and Auckland Council’s Barbara Holloway, the Christmas Pavilion lit up children’s eyes by day and Instagram by night when it was first unveiled in 2022.

Glittering with more than 900 lights, giant Christmas shapes and a stage for performances, this year The Pav is part of Christmas in Aotea Square. The popular square at the heart of the arts quarter is putting on an array of free entertainment from live music to circus, visual arts to karaoke, and even an outdoor cinema. Learn more at Auckland Live.

Christmas tunes and tinsel antics pop-up on Queen Street

Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in December, shoppers and commuters in Queen Street will discover entertainers and friendly tinsel monsters popping up on footpaths and at intersections bringing cheeky Christmas cheer.

The Saxobros.

Enticing people to dwell, stop and listen, shop and enjoy the streets and spaces all decked out in festive mode, retailers along Queen Street will also capture the imaginations of visitors and encourage them to stay longer in the city centre this festive season.

Storybook of Little Kiwi’s journey lights up the harbour bridge

In the storybook We Wish You a Kiwi Christmas, Little Kiwi dreams of riding through the skies with Santa, and is surprised one Christmas Eve to find Santa with a broken sleigh. With the help of some of her bird friends, Little Kiwi finally gets her wish!

Vector Lights for a Kiwi Christmas is celebrating this festive season from 12 December with an all-new light and sound show based on the classic children’s Christmas book.

Sing along with Pio Terei in English and te reo Māori to the lights on the iconic Auckland Harbour Bridge. Head to vector.co.nz/lights and listen live from your favourite viewing spot. Some of the best viewing places include Little Shoal Bay, Westhaven Marina, and Silo Park.

Ride in a canoe with two plucky pōhutukawa kids

Pōhutukawa kid figurines.

Smith & Caughey’s animated Christmas windows opened last month, with little ones gathering excitedly on a red carpet.

The windows this Christmas season are inspired by the Kiwi classic The Adventures of Hutu and Kawa, written and illustrated by Avis Acres. In an old pōhutukawa tree between the forest and the sea live Hutu and Kawa. With the help of Grandpa Kiwi, Hutu and Kawa build a canoe and set off up the river to explore the forest. On their way they make many new friends – and encounter a fearsome hawk.

A firm favourite with young Kiwis since its publication in 1955, Avis’ watercolours of New Zealand native bush continue to be appreciated for their nostalgic charm. Smith & Caughey’s Queen Street store brings these delightful characters to life in animated art.

Take the festive ferry to Christmas market at Wynyard Quarter

Red Boats ferry sailing past city waterfront.

Hogwash, the beloved red ferry connecting Aucklanders across the Viaduct Harbour, is getting an enchanting festive makeover for the holiday season, with Santa’s helpers on board the weekends before Christmas. The FREE ferry service runs between the Eastern Viaduct and the Viaduct Events Centre every day 7am to late.

On 7 and 8 December you’ll disembark at Karanga Plaza and find a Christmas market. Eke Panuku and Park Hyatt Auckland are bringing you this delightful artisan market experience, with unique handcrafted gifts, delicious treats and more.

Feel the joy of the season with free festive craft workshops and Santa himself. Gather your loved ones and head to Karanga Plaza for a weekend of Christmas magic, seaside sparkle, and holiday cheer. More details on Facebook here.

The festive programme in Aotea Square and Queen Street is brought to the city centre by Auckland Council, funded fully by the city centre targeted rate. For times, dates and venues go to Christmas in the city centre | Heart of the City or Our Auckland for regionwide festive events.