Category: Local Government

Source: Auckland Council

North Shore families can look forward to a safer, more accessible play space at Narrow Neck’s Allenby Reserve this summer, with Auckland Council starting construction on upgrades to the space this month.

“I’m looking forward to seeing this play space getting used by local tamariki and their whānau over the summer break, and I’d like to thank the community for their input during the consultation which has helped the creation of the new space,” says local board chair Toni van Tonder. 

Stage one of the upgrade project, which was developed and funded by the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board and informed by community feedback, modern accessibility needs and SunSmart requirements, is hoped to be completed by January 2024. 

New play equipment destined for the play area includes a junior play module, senior playground, swing set including basket swing, inclusive rotating carousel, springer seesaw rocker and mega swing. Picnic tables, landscaping and improved concrete path access and drainage will also be installed. The site of the play space will also be shifted to a flatter, more accessible location on the reserve. 

Stage two of the project will add timber logs as steppers and balance beams, increasing the usable play space. A concrete path is also planned to connect the space to the nearby golf club alongside planting and landscaping of the surrounding area.  

Work is hoped to start on stage two as resources become available. 

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Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council’s Group Chief Financial Officer Peter Gudsell has announced his departure from the organisation after three years in the job, heading for a new role in the private sector.

“It is with mixed feelings that I have decided to leave the Auckland Council and my role as Group Chief Financial Officer,” says Mr Gudsell.

“I am grateful and proud to have had the opportunity to be part of what the council has achieved, particularly over the last three years when Covid, weather events, climate impacts, and a rollercoaster ride of interest, inflation and budget pressures have thrown so much at us.

“I’m particularly proud to have been part of an amazingly talented finance team and an excellent executive leadership team, and I leave knowing that our council is in great hands.

“What stands out for me, above all, is that our kaimahi are passionate, caring and committed to doing the right thing for Tāmaki Makaurau, and for all Aucklanders – what we do matters,” he says.

Mr Gudsell will leave the council at the end of February 2024, after he and his team has delivered the council’s 10-year Budget consultation document. He takes up a new role as Chief Financial Officer at Southern Cross Healthcare in March 2024.

“Three years at this council, six years in local government, and ten years in total in the public sector, has been a challenge and a privilege. I’m excited to step into another sector and challenge myself with making a difference somewhere else. 

“I’m departing at an important milestone in the long-term planning process, but what I hope is a good time for someone else to come in,” says Mr Gudsell.

Chief Executive Phil Wilson acknowledges Mr Gudsell’s contribution to the Auckland Council Group.

“Being the CFO of the largest council group in Australasia is perhaps one of the most complex and challenging executive roles in local government and Peter has given it his all.

“He has led an award-winning team of talented finance experts to deliver budgets, savings targets and innovative initiatives, like our sustainable finance programmes, through one of the toughest periods this council has faced.

“Peter and his team have consistently achieved high credit ratings, met our external audit expectations and our obligations as a publicly listed organisation – no mean feat when dealing with budget gaps and our own high standards when it comes to financial prudence.

“On behalf of us all, I wish him the very best as he embarks on a new chapter in his career and thank him for his service to the financial stability of Tāmaki Makaurau. Ngā mihi maioha Peter, mā te wa,” says Mr Wilson.

The process to appoint an interim Group Chief Financial Officer will begin shortly.

Source: Auckland Council

Transport operators working close to the islands in the Hauraki Gulf are urged to apply for a Pest Free Warrant before they become compulsory in the new year.

Any commercial boat transporting people or goods, including barges, fishing charters and charter vessels, even kayak and jet ski tourist operators, are required to be accredited with Pest Free Warrant status to be able to land or come within one nautical mile of any island in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf.

The Hauraki Gulf is a nationally significant marine park where many of the islands are pest free, or partially pest free. This means they are now home to some of New Zealand’s rarest and most endangered species.

Pest Free Warrants assess whether the required biosecurity standards and behaviours for visiting a pest free island are being followed. The warrant is designed to reduce the risk of pest invasion and spread to the islands with the focus on species that can stow away on boats and in gear: rats, skinks, mice, Argentine ants and the pathogen that causes kauri dieback.

Auckland Council’s Pest Free Warrants Advisor Karen Thode says more than 100 commercial boat operators have already received Pest Free Warrant certification.

“It’s great to have so many jump onboard early, and voluntarily, but we are concerned about the boat operators we haven’t heard from yet; this includes boats coming into Auckland from Northland, Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty.”

Chair of the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee Councillor Richard Hills says the gulf islands are under constant pressure from the potential invasion of pests.

“We’re invested in keeping the gulf islands pest free and need to keep them this way as many of our endangered and threatened species have made them home.

“Being pest free warranted means everyone is on the alert for these biosecurity threats and are playing their part in protecting our environment.”

Pest Free Warrants become compulsory as at on 1 January 2024 under Auckland Council’s Regional Pest Management Plan 2020-2030.  

There is no fee for Pest Free Warrant accreditation. Free training and support is available from Auckland Council and the Department of Conservation to help businesses achieve their warrants.

Boat operators can get started here

Source: Auckland Council

Summer is here and Auckland sure knows how to turn it on! Tāmaki Makaurau is known for its stunning landscapes, pristine beaches and vibrant culture. This summer, Auckland Council has a diverse range of activities and facilities to entertain the whole whānau without breaking the bank.

To provide the perfect summer vibes inspo, here are 50 free activities across Tāmaki Makaurau for you to make it your best summer ever!

1. Feel the sand between your toes as you party at Mission Bay to the soulful sounds of Che Fu and King Kapisi as Hedlock, in just one of 17 epic Music in Parks concerts this summer!

2. Enjoy a BBQ under the pōhutakawa trees at Wenderholm Regional Park, and walk off lunch on a walking track around Auckland’s first and oldest regional park.

3. Get your steps in with a walk up the Maungawhau / Mount Eden boardwalk, and make sure you get a snap for the gram.

4. Dress in pink and get the whole crew along for a special screening of 2023’s biggest film, Barbie, under the stars as part of Movies in Parks.

5. Head to Auckland Botanic Garden for Holding Ground sculpture exhibition featuring the works of over 47 talented Kiwi artists!

6. Visit Te Wharekura, a cultural and marine education space held in the repurposed 108-year-old heritage kiosk next to the downtown ferry terminal.

7. For a fun activity for the young and young-at-heart, get on two wheels at the permanent bike pump tracks around Auckland at Grey Lynn Park, Waterview Reserve or Birkenhead War Memorial Park.

GREY LYNN PARK PUMP TRACK

8.Celebrate a fantastic family day out with great performances from Savage, Che Fu & The Kratez, Annie Crummer, Rei and more as part of Waitangi ki Manukau.

9. Head to the newly re-opened Arataki Visitors Centre to learn more about our native flora in the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park with the nature identification trail.

10. Explore Devonport’s missing maunga at Mount Cambria Reserve and then discover local history at the Devonport Museum at the base of the maunga.

11. Let the kids run some energy out at Potters Park on Auckland’s iconic Dominion Road, a three-hectare reserve with a playground, basketball court and learn-to-ride track. Then cool them down at Auckland’s first water splash-pad, open seven days a week from 10am to 8pm.

12. Surf down the 100-foot sand dunes at Lake Wainamu, Te Henga / Bethells Beach for the ride of your life with your boogie board.

13. Picnic at Cornwallis Beach on Pūponga Peninsula, which has shade, safe swimming, barbecue spots and plenty of space for the whole whānau.

CORNWALLIS BEACH, PŪPONGA PENINSULA

14. Check out the inaugural Moana Festival celebrating Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s love affair with the ocean with a series of events both on and off the water.

15. Check out Auckland Council Libraries’ eagerly anticipated list of Top 100 books for the year – out soon! See how many you can tick off this summer!

16. Find out where the Rainbow Machine is headed this summer to learn more about the science of creating a rainbows with this interactive experience created by artists, architects and scientists working together.

17. Auckland Art Gallery has new collections for you to spend a day wandering through, including ‘Ngā Pakiaka: Like The Roots of a Tree’ and ‘Portals and Omens: New Work from the Collection’. Head to com to plan your visit.

18. Try your hand at disc golf at the Pae o te Rangi Disc Golf Course at Waitākere! Bring your own disc golf or borrow one from the disc honesty box at the entrance of the park and return when you’ve finished.

19. Check out Te Hokinga Mahara – A Collection of Memories – a sound and light installation that tells the story of Ngāti Manuhiri with a 16 minute-long composition at 8 and 9pm this summer.

20. Go Kiwi spotting after dark at Tāwharanui Regional Park, but leave your four-legged friends at home as dogs and pets are prohibited from the park at all times. Make sure you wear warm clothes; good shoes and your torch should preferably have a red light (red cellophane can work quite well). Remember to give kiwi plenty of space. Note: Gates close at 9pm, but they will let you out when you are ready to leave.

21. It’s not an Aotearoa summer if waters not involved! Head to Lloyd Elsmore Park Pool and Leisure Centre in Pakuranga to make the most of their free splash pad – including fountains, mist sprayers and elevated structures for children of all ages and abilities.

LLOYD ELSMORE PARK POOL AND LEISURE CENTRE SPLASH PAD

22. Watch one of the Vector Lights on the Harbour Bridge shows from Silo Park or Westhaven on a warm summer evening. For show dates and times, go to the Vector Lights website.

23. Te Rau Pūriri Regional Park, South Head is situated along the eastern coast of Te Korowai-o-Te-Tonga (South Head) Peninsula and offers breathtaking views of the magnificent Kaipara Harbour. Start your journey from Omokoiti Bay, where you’ll encounter a series of carefully crafted ponds that were used as fresh-water prawn farms in the 1980s.

24. Try a self-guided tour of Auckland’s heritage with the Walk Auckland app.

25. Explore Auckland’s foreshore by foot or bike from below the Harbour Bridge through Westhaven and along the fantastic tree-laden Quay Street to Mission Bay, or extend the walk an extra three kilometres and continue to St Heliers’ Achilles Point for stunning views back to the city centre.

26. Get up close and personal with a range of farm animals with a stroll around the Ambury Farm Path at Ambury Regional Park in Māngere Bridge.

AMBURY REGIONAL PARK, MĀNGERE BRIDGE

27. Explore internationally significant heritage landscape of Ōtuataua Stonefields Historic Reserve near Auckland Airport. A wāhi tapu (sacred place), it is a great place to observe how innovative Māori farmers were in using volcanic stones to keep the soil warm for tropical crops like taro and kumara.

28. Head to Auckland War Memorial Museum for Twilight Tuesdays as the museum opens late every Tuesday evening until 8.30pm. Take in the relaxed atmosphere as the whole Museum is open for you to wander at your own pace.

29. Snorkel amongst the mangroves in the Whangateau Harbour or around the coast at Leigh’s Matheson Bay.

30. Celebrate the Year of the Dragon and take in the wonder and beauty at the BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival at the Manukau Sports Bowl.

31. Celebrate the contribution of women in all spheres of life with a visit to the ‘1001 Spheres’ sculpture in Monte Cecelia Park by artist Chiara Corbelletto.

32. Explore the rock pools and the creatures that call those pools home at Tāwharanui Regional Park. Please leave your pets at home and leave everything as you find it as it’s a marine reserve.

33. Play a full-sized game of snakes and ladders, climbing up ladders and slithering down slides at the Bramley Drive Reserve playground in Farm Cove.

34. For a unique after dark adventure, look for bioluminescence in the water at Mahurangi Regional Park. Note: Gates close at 9pm, but they will let you out when you are ready to leave.

MAHURANGI REGIONAL PARK

35. Shoot some hoops at the newly opened Archibald Park basketball court in Kelston!

36. Pop in your headphones and check out the new season of Ngako: The Collections podcast from the Auckland Council Libraries team while you run, rest or recover this summer, then head to Central City Library to see some of the incredible materials mentioned for yourself!

37. If you’ve never been to Point View Lookout in East Tāmaki, now’s the time! Gaze out at Rangitoto and the beaches of Waitākere through to Manukau Heads, then turn around and check out views of the East Auckland beaches. With 29-hectares to explore, Point View Reserve offers a range of bush paths and an open countryside to explore.

38. Marvel at the incredible plants and architecture at the recently re-opened Auckland Domain Wintergardens. 

AUCKLAND DOMAIN WINTERGARDENS

39. Take in the colour and culture of the Ōtara Markets, time your visit with a special edition of Music in Parks held at the iconic markets for the first time ever!

40. Wander through the city to discover vibrant street art scattered throughout our city. Head to com to plan your walk.

41. Just behind Toi O Tāmaki / Auckland Art Gallery, Albert Park proudly watches over the city centre. This summer, make a date to sit under an old majestic tree or on the steps of the beautiful Victorian band rotunda and relax.

42. Keep the kids busy this summer school holidays with a reading challenge at Auckland Council Libraries, and once school returns, check your local library for after-school programmes.

43. Visit the newly refurbished Greenslade Reserve in Northcote as it hosts a special screening of Super Mario Bros. Movie as part of this year’s Movies in Parks

44. Take a stroll along the waterfront and find Te Wānanga on the seaward side of Quay Street – a modern architectural take on a rocky tide shelf with openings like rock pools and steel balustrades like giant kina shells.

45. Stroll around the stunning 64-hectare oasis of horticulture beauty and diversity that is Auckland Botanic Gardens to see rare and threatened native plants, stunning African plants and native forest!

46. Challenge yourself to a brand-new set of staircase climbs at Ōwairaka / Te Ahi-kā-a-Rakataura / Mt Albert. As part of ongoing construction work to protect important archaeological sites on the maunga, new tracks have been built!

47. The Auckland International Buskers Festival returns over Auckland Anniversary weekend to showcase some of the best street performers in the world!

48. If your New Years’ Resolution is to get into e-biking, head to E-bike experience for guided rides for those comfortable on e regular bike but curious about going electric. Bring your own bike or borrow one of ours.

49. Head to the much-loved weekly Takapuna Sunday Market to take in the newly opened Waiwharaiki Anzac Square which makes the most of Takapuna’s incredible lake and beach location.

50. Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett will headline Waitangi @ Waititi concert at Parrs Park, Glen Eden to celebrate our national day on February 6.

Source: Auckland Council

Mayor Wayne Brown is proposing to consult Aucklanders on a new regional wealth fund that would provide a better return on investment from Auckland Council’s assets. The Auckland Future Fund would make provision for climate change risks through self-insurance and help mitigate rates rises for Aucklanders.

Auckland Future Fund

• A better return on investment

• Increased non-rates revenue

• Reduced risk by diversifying markets and geographic locations

• Provision for self-insurance against climate change risks

• Protection of intergenerational assets and their value.

The Auckland region faces long-term risks due to climate change, as demonstrated by the Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle, including damage to Auckland Council’s physical assets, restricted access to capital and insurance, and the cost of moving to a net-zero economy.

“Any natural disaster or pandemic would impact Auckland’s airport and ports, as well as the Council’s other strategic assets. It just makes sense to spread our exposure to risk across different markets and geographic locations. The last thing you want is to have all your eggs in one basket,” says Mayor Brown.

The Auckland Future Fund’s initial capitalisation of $3-4 billion would come from the proposed contribution of the Auckland International Airport (AIA) shares and the proceeds of a port operating lease.

“Our biggest assets have not performed as well as we could expect from a well-managed diversified fund. While Ports of Auckland is turning around, it still doesn’t cover the average cost of capital. The dividend from Auckland International Airport doesn’t cover the cost of capital either. This means the council has lost money and ratepayers are subsidising our ownership of both the port and airport,” says Mayor Brown.

“Auckland Council has relied on borrowing money to bridge the gap between revenue and expenditure. And, a big part of why revenue is always behind expenditure is because we have large-scale investments that have not generated returns to cover the cost of owning them.

“Auckland’s strategic assets have been built up over generations. I don’t believe in using these assets for short-term gain, but I do believe in making better use of what we have.”

At least $1 billion from the proposed Auckland Future Fund would be earmarked for self-insurance, saving Auckland Council almost $25 million in annual insurance premiums. During the current financial year, Auckland Council’s property insurance costs have risen more than 44 percent.

“The cost of insuring council property is rising, particularly against climate-related risks, and self-insurance would be a smart way to manage those risks and our money. There are also critical assets that the council group can’t get insurance for, such as roads and pipes, and we need to make some provisions to repair or replace those too,” says Mayor Brown.

Once fully capitalised, the proposed $3-4 billion Auckland Future Fund would be mandated to achieve a return of at least 7.5 percent, of which Auckland Council would receive a minimum cash return of $180 million, or around 6 percent. This would generate greater non-rates revenue that would help offset rates increases.

Any surplus would be reinvested in the fund to preserve and grow its capital and protect the value of Auckland Council’s intergenerational assets, so they continue to benefit future generations.

The proposed Auckland Future Fund would be designated a strategic asset under Auckland Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy, protecting it from divestment for short-term gain, but leaving fund managers free to trade.

Making the most of Auckland’s Waterfront

Mayoral proposal recommendations:

• Return Captain Cook Wharf and Marsden Wharf to Auckland Council within two years, followed by Bledisloe Wharf within 15 years.

• Consult on two options – enhancing the status quo, or leasing the Port’s commercial operations.

• Port is not for sale: retain all Port land and strategic assets in public ownership

• Improve Port efficiency and development

• Provide certainty to businesses and workers about the future, by keeping the port in Auckland for at least 35 years.

The Mayor remains committed to his vision of delivering Aucklanders the most beautiful and loved publicly owned waterfront of any harbour city in the world.

“The majority of Aucklanders want prime waterfront land released back to the public, so they can make the most of the Waitematā Harbour at the heart of our city centre. Ports of Auckland has agreed that Captain Cook Wharf and Marsden Wharf can be released within the next two years. And the release of this land will have no material impact on the port’s commercial value, with all trade retained,” says Mayor Brown.

“While I am pleased that Ports of Auckland has a turnaround strategy and is delivering healthier dividends, it would be a missed opportunity if we didn’t look at other ways to get a better return on this valuable asset. We have narrowed it down to two options – enhancing the status quo, or leasing the port’s commercial operations – and aim to consult the public on both.”

A benefit of the lease model is that any port operator or investor would be expected to pay for the right to partner with Auckland Council, somewhere in the region of $2-3 billion, which would be reinvested in the Auckland Future Fund.

“A couple of billion up-front, while ensuring the port’s future, growth, and jobs – compared to Port dividends of only $355 million over the past decade – seems like something we should explore,” says Mayor Brown.

Ownership and protections

Auckland Council currently bears all of POAL’s financial and operating risks but has very limited direct influence on port operations.

Contrary to common perceptions of public ownership in this space, the Port Companies Act prevents Auckland Council from interfering in port operations and makes clear that the principal objective of the Port must be to operate as a successful business. This means the Council cannot direct POAL to subsidise trade for the benefit of the Auckland economy or ask the Port to implement any particular employment relations.

“While Ports of Auckland is 100 percent owned by Auckland Council, the idea that we have any day-to-day operational control is nonsense. Our only real power is to appoint directors, who must then act independently,” says Mayor Brown.

“I am not proposing to sell the port. Under a lease operating model, the Council would continue to own the port, its land, and strategic assets. A lease gives us considerable control and choices. The operating partner would undertake the port’s commercial activities under strict conditions set by us. And the port’s commercial operations would return to the Council at the end of the lease term,” says Mayor Brown.

“The Council would enforce its lease conditions through financial penalties, a right to step in and fix any problems, and a right to terminate the lease early for any serious breaches.”

The Mayor is aware of concerns around privatisation and would consider a lease model for the port if:

• We keep council’s waterfront land in public ownership in perpetuity.

• We make better use of the port footprint and return port land for public use as soon as practical.

• The port partner invests in rail, port road infrastructure, and has a plan to take trucks off our busy roads, particularly during the day.

• The port ceases coal imports and other ‘dirty, dusty trades’ as soon as practical, where alternatives exist for these trades. We want a cleaner, greener port moving forward.

• We set improved operating, safety, and environmental standards, including a reduction in Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, with transparent reporting to council of performance against these standards, and penalties for falling short of our requirements.

• We ensure port jobs are safeguarded and workforce entitlements are protected for those working at the port, including union representation, ideally with requirements to ensure local employment and business procurement are prioritised by any operating partner.

• The operating partner pays for all future investment at the port to create growth and jobs, including a mandate to deliver on minimum asset maintenance standards to ensure there is no asset stripping, and invests in infrastructure ahead of the demand curve where commercially feasible.

• We have the right to be consulted on matters we consider important to council and the community.

• Port prices and access are properly regulated.

“These are my minimum requirements, and I have asked council staff to explore how these requirements could be delivered while ensuring that Auckland Council receives value for money under any arrangement,” says Mayor Brown.

“I will not allow unconstrained commercial activity on our waterfront at the cost of local businesses, but Auckland ratepayers cannot continue to subsidise importers because the Port is not recovering its operating and capital costs.

“I am not looking at this solely through the lens of financial performance. My proposal to return part of the waterfront to Aucklanders provides an opportunity for us to reimagine the way that we engage with the Waitematā Harbour. In 35 years, the port operations will return to the council and Aucklanders will have the Auckland Future Fund for generations to come.”

Contestable advice on the two port options will be commissioned by councillors, who will also have oversight of the appointment of investment advisors.

The Budget Committee will vote on what items from the preliminary mayoral proposal go to public consultation in February 2024. The final 10-year Budget (Long-Term Plan) 2024-34 will be adopted in June 2024.

“I want to encourage councillors to enter into this process with an open-mind, and to for us to consult with the public on a range of different options. We will listen to what matters most to Aucklanders,” says Mayor Brown.

Source: Auckland Council

There is a significant effort underway to help Tāmaki Makaurau recover from devastating and severe weather events earlier this year.

The response is widespread across all Auckland Council responsibilities including, communities, individuals, facilities and infrastructure. This includes water supply, roading and transport, water flows, parks and facilities.

Given the unique circumstances of these weather events, Auckland Council has also agreed a funding package with Government to provide assistance for private properties in a very specific situation: where future weather events would pose an intolerable risk to life. Support offered to reduce this specific risk will depend on the situation and may include either a buyout, a property-level mitigation, or a community-level mitigation.

Properties are being assessed by experts and provided a category indicating whether the risk exists at the property and if buy-out or mitigation support may be available.

Indicative timelines for categorisation

We are doing our best to carry out property assessments as fast as we can, but with over 2100 properties on our list this will take some time as we undertake property level risk-based assessments. We are prioritising properties where there is urgent need, including those with whānau displaced.

In the meantime, we will continue to support affected residents through this period and encourage you to reach out to our Navigators who can walk you through the process and connect you with support.

Assessments and Categorisation Approximately 19 weeks to Category confirmation for new registrations (dependent on the complexity of the property and community situation, priority level, and registration date).	To opt in to the Categorisation process, and to qualify for support under the scheme, you need to register for a property assessment (land stability and/or flooding). So far, we have contacted almost 1000 property owners to arrange an onsite flood/landslide assessment, and our team have done almost 900 site visits. However, there is a lot of work involved in assessing each property, and given the volume of properties registered, most will not receive a final decision until 2024. We anticipate our work on property assessments continuing until March, and category confirmations through to mid-year 2024 – with most geotechnical and priority situations sooner. We are looking at how we can provide more information about what step each property owner is up to within the categorisation process. In the meantime, see our land stability assessment steps, and an overview of flood risk assessment steps will be available shortly.
Category 3 3-6 months to property purchase	If your property is confirmed as a Category 3, you will be eligible for a property buy-out under the scheme, and we’ll start voluntary buy-out conversations with you. If your situation is straightforward and there are no unforeseen delays or disputes, you can expect the process to take between three to six months, which includes one month for you to consider the offer. The timeline can be shorter where the situation is straight forward but conversely this timeline will extend where there is more complexity in the buy-out process, such as when there are special circumstances to be considered, a dispute is raised, or it takes longer than expected to provide insurance claim information. See our Category 3 homeowner handbook for the steps involved and for further details.
Category 2P Timing based on property works required	If your property is confirmed as a Category 2P, you will be eligible for financial support to mitigate the intolerable risk to life at your property. We will fund the work up to an agreed amount, but as the homeowner, you’ll be responsible for getting the work done. We will provide approvals for the work as soon as we can, but you can help by making sure you provide us with the necessary information as soon as possible. We are finalising details of how this scheme will work and expect to provide this information to you at the end of November. See our Category 2P scheme explainer for an overview.
Category 2C Timing dependent on community mitigation	If we identify an intolerable risk to life at your property, and a community project will mitigate this risk, you will receive a Category 2C status.  Community mitigation projects involve feasibility work, a business case, consultation, land acquisition, consenting and physical works. In Auckland the situation is especially challenging because we will be working in areas that are already developed with housing, businesses, infrastructure, and community facilities. However, once completed, this work stands to make thousands of properties safer, not just for those where there is an intolerable risk to life. We will provide more details as key information and milestones are confirmed.
Category 1	If your property is confirmed as a Category 1, it does not present an intolerable risk to life, and you do not qualify for support under the Government’s framework. Many Aucklanders in this situation have already completed, or are currently undertaking, works to repair damage and manage risks at their properties. Please see the Insurance Council’s advice for more information.

Source: Auckland Council

There are just ten days left to have your say on how the council manages hazardous dams in Tāmaki Makaurau.  

Now open for public consultation until 7 December 2023, the council’s proposed Dangerous Dams Policy sets out how the council will implement new Building Act requirements to administer and monitor earthquake-prone, flood-prone and dangerous dams in the region.  

“Prior to these new regulations, New Zealand was one of the few countries in the OECD without a consistent dam safety framework,” says Auckland Council’s General Manager of Building Consents, Ian McCormick.  

“Now, all councils will be better equipped to prevent the catastrophic failure of a potentially dangerous dam, and to ensure issues in an earthquake-prone or flood-prone dam are addressed. We have worked collaboratively with other Regional Authorities on a consistent draft policy, and we want to hear from the public about whether we’ve got it right.”  

 Who will be affected?  

The new Government regulations will apply to all ‘classifiable’ dams, which are dams that:  

• have a height of four or more metres and store 20,000 or more cubic metres of water or other fluid  
• have a height of one or more metres and store 40,000 or more cubic metres of water or other fluid.   

What will dam-owners need to do?     

From 13 May 2024, owners of all classifiable dams in Auckland will have three months to register their dam details with us. This will include confirming the potential risk their dam would pose in the event of failure, put in place dam safety plans and undertake regular dam inspections.   

Find out more about the regulations and registering your dam details with us or email damsafetyteam@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.  

What’s in Auckland Council’s draft policy?  

The draft Dangerous Dams Policy covers Auckland Council’s regulatory and legislative responsibilities, our priorities when performing these functions, and how the policy will apply to heritage dams. The policy must come into effect by 13 May 2024 to meet the requirements of central government’s Building (Dam Safety) Regulations. 

Have your say now 

“There are over 1000 dams in the Auckland region, and we are particularly keen for the owners and operators of those dams to weigh in on the draft policy,” says Councillor Andy Baker, Chair of the Rural Advisory Panel and Ward Councillor for Franklin.  

“Similarly, if you live downstream of a dam or are in any way invested in the safety and regulation of dams in the region, we would like to hear from you.”  

Aucklanders have between now and Thursday, December 7 to provide feedback in one of the following ways:  

The Dam Safety Team Building Capability, Building Consents department 
Auckland Council 
Private Bag 92300 
Victoria Street West 
Auckland, 1142  

More information is available at akhaveyoursay.  

Please note that Watercare’s High and Medium PIC dams meet thresholds that are much greater than moderate earthquake/ flood and earthquake/ flood-prone dams threshold events, as defined in the proposed Dangerous Dams Policy or Building (Dam Safety) Regulations 2022. 

Source: Auckland Council

If you’re unsure of what you can or cannot place in your kerbside recycling bin, you’re not alone. Juice boxes? Plastic lunch containers? Do you leave lids on or take them off? Do you crush cans or not?

Across the motu, it has often depended on where you live as to what items are accepted. That changes in February 2024, when the whole country moves to a national standard for kerbside recycling collections.

Auckland Council has already updated our list of what can and can’t go into recycling bins in line with the government’s guidelines.

Find out how to recycle right and do your part to waste nothing.

What you can put in your kerbside recycling bin

• glass bottles and jars

• tin, steel and aluminium cans

• household plastic containers (grades 1, 2 and 5 only – look for the number in a triangle)

• cardboard, newspapers, magazines, paper

• empty pizza boxes, egg cartons and envelopes

• If you live on Aotea / Great Barrier Island, you need to flatten and securely bundle or bag your paper and cardboard items and place them next to your crate.

Top tips

• Keep it clean – empty and rinse all containers

• Remove the lids and put them in the rubbish bin

• Don’t crush or flatten containers. Only cardboard packing boxes should be flattened.

• Let it be loose and free

• If in doubt, leave it out.

What you cannot put in kerbside recycling bins

• Absolutely NO food, textiles, carpets, clothes, batteries, appliances, nappies, medical waste, garden waste, chemicals…

• No soft plastic, no plastic bags

• No bagged recycling or rubbish

• No plastic containers that are not grades 1, 2 or 5

• No window glass, mirrors, cookware, drinking glasses or lightbulbs

• No aerosol cans

• No containers larger than 4 litres

• No liquid paper board (e.g. tetrapak, juice boxes)

• No coffee cups or compostable containers

Make sure there’s no food or liquid left in your recyclable containers as they can’t be recycled with food in them and may contaminate other recyclable items. Any leftover food scraps can go into your home compost or your food scraps bin.

Soft plastic can be recycled, but not in your kerbside bin. Participating supermarkets and retailers have a special bin for soft plastics to be returned. Did you know your soft plastic gets recycled into fence posts?

Extra information on kerbside recycling

Help us reduce Auckland’s recycling contamination rate by recycling right. Always get it right by downloading the Binny app on your phone from the app store.

Never miss your kerbside recycling day even during the holidays – sign up for the Holiday Text Bin notification.

For more comprehensive lists of what can and cannot go into your recycling bin and downloadable brochures in other languages please visit the Auckland Council website. You’ll also find alternative ways to dispose of things that cannot go into your recycling or rubbish bin.

Do you have to recycle?

Our goal for Auckland is zero waste to landfill by 2040. Recycling is an important part of reaching that goal, alongside reusing items, repurposing materials, composting or anaerobically digesting food scraps, and preventing waste in the first place.

If you have alternative uses for items that usually go in your kerbside recycling, ka pai!  Green Bottle’s mission to see New Zealanders think differently by reusing glass beverage bottles is a great example. Find out more at drinkdifferent.co.nz.

If we all do our part, together we can waste nothing and save valuable resources.

Source: Auckland Council

Vulcan, Durham, High, O’Connell, Fort, Snickle, Elliott, Federal, Galway, Tyler, Little Queen – our list of vibrant, quirky, charismatic laneways is growing.

This summer there’s no need to look across the Tasman for the street vibe of Melbourne’s laneways. Our very own joined-up laneways network is right on your doorstep.

Walk with us through our laneways – some with refreshed design and artworks, some with new trees and rain gardens and some with long-time loyal fanbases.

Federal Street zen

The Sky Tower end of Federal Street has long been a magnet for delicious food, glamour and good times, but there’s a new kid on the block bringing a zen vibe.

The newly upgraded Mayoral Drive end of Federal Street was opened by Auckland Council in July 2022 with an inclusive feel, enhanced lighting, 13 new native trees, nine rain gardens filtering stormwater before it reaches the waterways, and a shared space.

Feel the freedom of walking or riding down the middle of the street, breathe the clearer air, and notice a new mural by artists Teare Turetahi and Abigail Aroha Jensen (Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri) who blend their solar, lunar and stellar knowledge into a stunning work of art.

Famous ridgeline 

The free spirit of Auckland’s city centre, Karangahape Road forms the southern bookend of the city centre. Fresh from a significant makeover completed in 2021, K Road is edgy, diverse and authentic while also a charming, uber-modern, smoothly functioning street aka laneway. Discover the energy, colour, people, music, lights, art, nightlife, shops and new design elements which celebrate the Māori adventurers who walked this ridgeline between harbours hundreds of years ago. Read more here.

Labyrinth of lanes

Pinch yourself as you wander through the laneways in our High Street District – Vulcan Lane (upper and lower), High Street, Freyberg Square, O’Connell Street and Fort Lane.

Let the romantic in you take over for a milli-second and imagine you are meandering through the intimate walking lanes of Barcelona or Bilbao or Berlin. While our laneways are young, by comparison, they are starting to nourish the soul in the same way.  

Whether it’s sitting at tables along curbsides of narrow streets or strolling through the heart of our fully pedestrianised lanes, you are largely protected from through-traffic. You’ll find places to sit and spend time, smell delicious food and hear live music.

This summer, passionate people are bringing diverse expressions of art and music to these special city centre streets and squares.

Eastside

On your journey along Queen Street towards the sea, veer off to the east and look up to the sky. Durham and Vulcan Lanes are often adorned with overhead art.

If it’s a Thursday evening in the second half of December you might hear sultry saxophones and toe-tapping beats, laced with the rich character of our historic Vulcan Lane. Read more here.

Queen of streets

The design of Queen Street has been renewed from Mayoral Drive to the sea, giving priority to people who walk. So get your stride on (or scoot or ride) and discover the new eight-metre-wide footpaths (in places) and our new Waihorotiu path. Read more here.

Once you reach our downtown square, Te Komititanga, weave a path to the east and find stunning Galway Street. Let yourself be captivated by the area’s urban charm as the smoothed edges of this walking street lead you to one of Auckland’s hospitality gems: Britomart and Takutai Square. Read more here.

Waterfront lanes

Not strictly a lane, but take a stroll along our new, calmer, leafier Quay Street and find Te Wānanga on the seaward side. It’s an award-winning architectural take on a rocky tidal shelf, with openings like rock pools and steel balustrades like giant kina shells. Its organic shape was inspired by the sandstone headlands of the Waitematā Harbour. Read more here.

And don’t miss the space between Halsey and Daldy Streets in Wynyard Quarter called Tiramarama Way. Featuring foot-powered fountains and purposeful puddles designed to rise and fall with the tides, the laneway provides an opportunity for fun. And if you hear the song in your head – Where do the children play? – click here.

There’s a laneway for everyone this summer.

Find out about the next big development – the midtown regeneration – at ProgressAKL.co.nz/Midtown.

Source: Auckland Council

What does it mean for rural Aucklanders and their water supply?

It means we can expect stronger or more frequent winds from the west which will encourage dryness in eastern areas and more rain in the west with periods of unseasonable warmth followed by sharp cold southerlies.

While it’s looking like it’s going to be a hotter than normal summer and that’s great news for holidaymakers and beachgoers, it’s not so good for rural Aucklanders who don’t have access to mains water supply.

Auckland Council’s General Manager Healthy Waters Craig Mcilroy says if there were lessons to be learnt from the 2019-2020 drought, it’s the need for rural communities to be prepared.

“As the summer rolls around, it’s a timely reminder for rural residents to think about their water supplies.

“If you’re reliant on rainwater tanks for your drinking water, check the tank levels regularly, use water wisely and book a delivery early.

“Forward planning is key to avoiding the experience of 2019-20, so it’s important to keep your “eye on the ball” adds Mcilroy.

Facing the prospect of another dry summers Auckland Council has established 26 permanent community water sites around rural Auckland to help mitigate the situation and assist with future drought management should it arise.

These bollards (water refill stations) provide a back-up drinking water supply where, during water shortages, residents can collect 20 litres of water per person per day. They are available as normal drinking fountains all year-round.

Auckland Council has a network of 78 rain gauges across the region which are monitored for rainfall levels. Automatic alerts for low rainfall notify the operations team to set up the bollards for bulk bottle filling with all the sites meeting current drinking water standards.

Find your closest community water bollard here:

Steps to take now before you run out of water:
• check your water tank levels regularly
• monitor your water usage and make lifestyle changes – shorter showers
• consider the needs of livestock if they are using your rain tank supply
• find out the local water supplier, in case you need a top-up over the holidays
• plan and book water refill deliveries early
• ensure tanks are well maintained and roof guttering is free of debris
• install water-saving devices in showerheads and taps
• consider investing in extra tank capacity.