A progressive agenda for a thriving and inclusive Auckland

We will consider the views of, and impact on, Māori in all Council and Local Board decision-making.

We will seek Memoranda of Understanding and partnerships with Māori.

We will promote Te Reo Māori naming, signage and information boards.

We will incorporate local Māori tikanga and kawa in our celebrations and events.

We support the right of Māori to have direct elected representation at Council and local board level and will promote initiatives that will build Māori participation, engagement and action.

We will support initiatives that promote Māori economic development.

We will choose Auckland Council representatives for the Tūpuna Maunga Authority from wards and local board areas where maunga are located.

We will strive to give real effect to Auckland’s compliance with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.

• Auckland Council’s Governing Body, Committees, Local Boards and all CCOs must be open and democratically accountable.

• Our elected representatives will act in accordance with City Vision values and policies.

• Our elected representatives will engage with their constituent communities and be accountable to them.

• We will work to ensure maximum input and delegated decision making by Local Boards in promoting the interests of the neighbourhoods and communities they represent.  This will be in the context of broader concerns for all Aucklanders and wider responsibilities for people and planet.

• We will retain the Advisory Panels for Pasifika, Ethnic, Youth, Disability, Seniors, Rural, Rainbow Communities, the Central City and Heritage. 

• We support participatory democracy and citizens’ assemblies.

• We will require that the CCOs work closely with Local Boards when any project or decision affects the local community and abide by relevant local board decisions on local projects.

• We will advocate for local boards to be funded and empowered to deliver projects to make neighbourhoods and town centres better places to be.

• We will work more with CCOs and project teams, to ensure projects are consulted with and, delivered as supported by communities.  Projects should be on time and on cost. 

• When CCOs are reformed, we will retain and enhance the skills and knowledge of CCO staff, alongside better co-ordination with Council staff and elected representatives.

We will build thriving communities with a sense of belonging and self-reliance, high employment, enhanced opportunities and reduced inequality.

We will support regional and local business enterprise and innovation.

We will support regional and local employment initiatives.

We will reduce unnecessary regulation and compliance costs. 

We will support the development of innovative businesses through Youth Development programs.

We will support our Business Improvement Districts and town centre business groups in enhancing economic prosperity and the vitality and sense of place of our town centres.

We will support the growth of our Creative Arts and Technology sectors, recognising the economic value, jobs, attractions and vitality they give Auckland.

We support developing a sustainable regional stadium strategy, recognising the importance of listening to community views.

We support the implementation of business support measures as a norm during significantly disruptive projects.

We fully support a target of zero-net emissions by 2040 in Auckland and Council taking a leading role in creating a net-zero carbon city to make Auckland and New Zealand a world leader in addressing the climate change crisis.

We will prioritise meaningful and accurate reporting on carbon emissions as an essential step towards achieving verifiable reductions.

We will support a sponge city approach, including the provision of rain gardens, porous surfaces and blue-green corridors in high-risk flooding areas, to improve community resilience.

We will support the provision of green roofs, walls and balconies on Council facilities and encourage them elsewhere.

We will promote the provision of solar energy, and minimised energy use, in Council facilities, businesses, schools and homes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Our transport, building consenting, fee setting, and other policies will prioritise requiring substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

We will develop and prioritise Council, community and other initiatives and programmes to combat climate change and the utilisation of a climate-change targeted rate to enhance these.

We support a Just Transition, including labour impact assessment and opportunities for skill development, which ensures workers and their representatives are fully involved in these processes.

Elected members will consider the climate impacts when making decisions.

Elected members will consider future generations as well as existing property rights in making decisions around adaptation to coastal erosion, greater heat and flooding risks.

Council and Local Boards will promote the economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing of their area.

Community well-being also requires well-maintained local shopping areas, libraries, community centres, parks, beaches, sports grounds and recreational, arts, cycling and walking facilities. We will support these initiatives.

We will support a diverse city that welcomes new migrants and refugees, enables inclusion and encourages participation of people from a wide range of social and ethnic backgrounds.

We will seek to make Auckland compliant with the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

We will support Council directly providing services unless there is evidence that alternative providers deliver better outcomes. 

We will support Council’s community empowerment approach, which involves community-led development and place-making. We will engage with grassroots community groups who perform important functions in their local areas, and will fund them appropriately to continue their work. 

We support high-quality urban design and proper care of our town centres, main streets and suburbs.

We will support agencies such as the Business Improvement Districts (BIDS) and town centre groups, community policing, Māori, Pasifika and Ethnic Wardens, Community Patrols, housing and social service agencies and Ambassador Schemes that enhance safety and security in our public areas. 

We will continue to honour and support the work of volunteers for the vital work, service and advice they provide to Aucklanders.

We will support locally responsive emergency management planning for flooding, fire and other challenges.

We will support communities that want a reduction in the proliferation of alcohol and pokie machine gambling outlets in their communities, and maintain the sinking lid on pokies, the alcohol bans in parks and open spaces where appropriate, and review where new alcohol bans are needed.

We will extend and effectively enforce bylaws and policies to protect public safety and improve health, including smoke- and vape-free areas covering all places children play.

We will continue to review freedom camping sites to ensure they do not interfere with access to popular recreation activities or create traffic hazards, biohazard risk, waste disposal issues or noise problems.

We will promote responsible pet ownership and animal welfare.

We support strong action to ensure housing and workplaces are safe and resilient from flooding and other hazardous events such as fires.

We support significant developer contributions for greenfield development to recover the full cost to the public of urban sprawl and better incentivise brownfield development. 

We support enabling more homes in the central city, in town centres, and along arterial roads with frequent and rapid public transport routes.  

We will ensure public transport development is an inherent part of the planning process.

Density can and should be done well. We value good urban design that will be attractive to long-term residents who will enjoy the community living. It should offer quality sustainable housing choices at different price points and for different age groups, close to transport links, going up rather than out to ensure adequate open space. Urban design will celebrate and enhance our unique neighbourhoods.

We support form codes, pattern books, multi-proof consents, expert panels for larger developments, and mechanisms that clarify and speed up consenting without compromising on good urban and housing outcomes.

We will support appropriate policies that significantly increase the current amount of affordable housing, including allowing appropriate Council land for affordable housing purposes in conjunction with other agencies.

We support and advocate for changes to the Building Code to make it easier and cheaper to build mid-rise residential buildings, like perimeter blocks, at scale.

We will support greater use of mixed-use zoning, to enable local shops and businesses intermixed with homes.

We support the adaptive reuse of heritage and character buildings.

We support the identification, protection and enhancement of Māori sites of significance, and historic heritage.

We will seek to develop a full set of Area Plans for each Local Board. 

We will pursue simplified planning rules and regulatory change to improve security of tenure for tenants, implement a Warrant of Fitness for all Rental Housing, including short term lets like AirBnBs, and require affordable housing to be incorporated in all significant developments.

We will advocate that the Auckland Council work with central government, Kāinga Ora, Māori and community housing providers to fund and actively deliver homes across the housing spectrum including emergency housing, papakāinga housing, transitional housing, state housing, housing for older people, co-housing, intergenerational housing, affordable housing, assisted rental and assisted ownership.

We will significantly increase the current amount of Council pensioner and affordable housing in the Auckland Council area, particularly in the city centre and isthmus. 

We will continue the Own Your Own Home Scheme to ensure affordable homes for older Aucklanders.

We support the Council’s regional homeless action plan, including the Housing First approach, support for community agencies working with homeless people and rough sleepers, and providing emergency housing and facilities like night shelters, public toilets, showers, lockers, sitting spaces and drinking fountains.

We will lobby strongly for Government legislative and funding recognition of homelessness as a New Zealand wide issue.

We will lobby government and Auckland Council to create a register for boarding house providers to ensure that they are clean, well-managed and appropriately priced, and safe for women, children and all vulnerable groups.

We will build networks that provide genuine transport choice so that people and goods can move around Auckland with ease and safety.     

We will work with government to urgently progress completion of the regional-wide Rapid Transit Network, and to complete a viable city-wide protected cycling network.

We will prioritise public transport and better bus, ferry, light rail and train services, together with bus shelters, interchange hubs, cycleways and safer walking and micro-mobility routes. We will advocate for light rail.

We will support and fund measures to increase the number of people walking and cycling for recreation, shopping, education, short trips and commuting.

We will advocate for an additional Waitematā harbour crossing that prioritises the missing active and rapid transit modes. 

We will give priority to efficient, low-carbon and sustainable transport solutions for freight movements. 

We will advocate for greater government funding of major regional public transport projects identified by the region. We will also support retaining control by Auckland Council of transport projects, regardless of the level of funding provided.

We support an equitable system of time-of-use charging, with funds directed to providing public and active transport. 

We support the 12 transformations under the Transport Emissions Reduction Pathway, to ensure Auckland achieves its climate goals.

We will reduce rat-running on Auckland streets and roads, through the expansion of safer and quieter low-traffic residential neighbourhoods.

We support the development of the Te Ara Hauāuru Northwest Busway, future-proofed to enable surface light rail or a metro-style system.

We will encourage the provision of a network of electric car charging stations. We will work to electrify 100% of the council fleet and replace diesel buses and ferries with electric.

We want our city to be a safe place to walk, cycle and drive. We will implement the Vision Zero strategy, working towards the elimination of traffic fatalities and serious injuries. 

We will repair and upgrade unsafe footpaths.

We will upgrade and improve transport infrastructure when undertaking renewals. 

We will pursue grade separation for rail level crossings, while maintaining access for people.  

We will do all we can to reinstate the safer speed limits introduced with community support.

We have championed the CRL and will advocate for a fast and frequent region-wide service to maximise its value.

We will promote ecological sustainability, including biodiversity and biosecurity programmes and ecologically appropriate weed control, phasing out glyphosate and other agrichemical spraying as far as practicable.

We will protect newly identified areas with significant ecological value.

We will care for our environment by reducing pollution.

We will protect and clean up our harbours, beaches, coastal areas, streams and their catchment areas.

We will support berm planting, well-organised community gardens, regenerative gardening and urban farms in our parks and communities. 

We will enhance composting, waste minimisation and reuse programmes and educational and resource recovery centres at Waiorea /Western Springs and across Auckland. 

We will develop urban green spaces that encourage biodiversity, improve amenity, and lead to climate resilience, including blue-green flood corridors.

We support greater protections of the Hauraki Gulf areas including banning fishing methods that impact the ocean floor and making 30% of the Gulf “no take.” 

We will conserve and enhance our heritage by taking on the guardianship of the landscape features that make Auckland unique: our harbours, the Hauraki Gulf and the waterways that feed them; our beaches, parks, maunga and the wonderful ranges that ‘bookend’ our region.

We will protect our ecological heritage, including seeking the restoration of the law to allow appropriate stronger tree protection, scheduling more mature notable trees, planting more trees in suitable sites and restoring native bush.

We will protect and enhance our precious Maunga, and support the application for World Heritage status in conjunction with iwi. 

We will support and expand the work of the Urban Design Panel, including a review to consider empowering it further.

We will advocate that any changes in resource management and planning laws support quality urban design, adequate open space provision, liveable communities and appropriate enhancement of heritage structures and landscapes.

We will support the accessibility and development of regional amenities and facilities. This is particularly important for people with disabilities, as well as in terms of affordability, transport, and safety for vulnerable and discriminated against groups.

We will preserve, acquire and expand our local and regional parks and other public open spaces with a range of opportunities and equipment for play, particularly where more housing is built, and maintain free access.

We will increase the number and /or size of parks and open spaces in our communities to cater for a growing population and where communities are underserved.

We will provide a diverse range of organised free community events on our public open spaces and protect them from commercial use.

We believe libraries, sports and recreation grounds, swimming pools, community leisure, amateur sporting activities, and arts and cultural facilities and events are an integral part of a vibrant region, creating many opportunities for fun and enjoyment, and will continue to support them.

We will work with community organisations to promote good facilities and services that are accessible and affordable to all.

We seek to ensure entry fees are not a barrier for lower-income families to visit the zoo, our museums and art galleries and our recreation centres and swimming pools.

We will investigate reducing entry costs for Auckland residents to regional facilities.

We will support free swimming for under-17s in council pools. 

We will support professional and amateur arts and cultural organisations and maintain an Auckland Arts Festival.

We will provide exciting, inclusive and diverse free arts and cultural events both regionally and locally.

We will ensure that all new Council facilities and activities meet Universal Design criteria and are fully accessible, and progressively upgrade all existing facilities to Universal Design standards.

We will promote free entry to swimming pools for disabled people and their carers.

Across Auckland we will support the interests, views, events and festivals of Auckland’s Māori, Pasifika, and Ethnic peoples, people with disabilities, Rainbow and other communities, including funding for Matariki, LGBTIQ+ pride, Eid, Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas and Lunar New Year.

We will enhance Auckland as a Peace City, including not permitting “arms bazaars” nor hosting speakers or events promoting hatred and violence on Council property.

We will make Auckland a genuinely Age-Friendly and Child-Friendly city – accessible, participatory, appropriate and inclusive for people of all ages. We will develop and implement a robust plan to give practical effect to World Health Organisation accreditation as an Age-Friendly City and pursue accreditation from UNICEF as a Child-Friendly City.

We will seek to make Auckland compliant with the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

We will support proactive engagement with underrepresented voices in council processes and consultation, including those who otherwise are not able to vote, such as under-18-year-olds.

We will support decision-making to promote the greater good and protect the most vulnerable people according to the best evidence that is available.

We will advocate for Council retaining ownership of community assets that provide important services or generate major long-term income, for which it must be openly accountable and have a democratic decision-making role.

We will ensure Council has an ethical approach towards its own staff that is consistent with core International Labour Organisation Standards, including freedom of association, the right to organise and the right to effective collective bargaining.  We will insist that these rights are upheld across the Council, including CCOs.

We will consult regularly with the PSA and the other unions representing council staff.

We will keep 100% Council ownership of Ports of Auckland. We do not support further extension of the Port. 

Water must be provided as an entirely publicly owned, controlled and delivered service. It must be a sustainable and quality service at a not-for-profit, minimum price that is consistent with conservation and rigorous environmental standards. We do not support water restriction as a means of debt enforcement. We will advocate that any changes from government or any other body to the structures providing water services must conform to the above principles, be accountable to the local voice and closely coordinated into Council’s local and regional planning.

We will foster responsible and sustainable social, financial and environmental approaches to the management of the region, its assets and infrastructure, by our Council, Local Boards and the CCOs.

Wherever appropriate, we support a policy of council work being done by council staff, rather than contracting out to private companies, or through CCOs.

Where it is necessary to use outside contractors and consultants, we will seek that the Council retains in-house capability and capacity so that staff are able to carry out effective monitoring and control.

We will develop a procurement policy that favours local jobs, good employer requirements, a commitment to paying a living wage, and applies appropriate quality, social and environmental non-price criteria.

We support the Living Wage for all Council staff and will introduce the Living Wage for all service providers, CCOs and Council contractors in the next Council term.

We will be responsible guardians of Auckland’s public accounts and assets. We believe the rating system must be fair, at a rate proportional to the value of properties, and take account of people’s wealth and ability to pay. 

We will continue targeted business rates for the City Centre and Business Improvement Districts and a region-wide modest business rate differential, set in proportion to the value of the business, to help fund critical infrastructure, like transport infrastructure, community facilities, stormwater structures and pipes, and to moderate the rates impact on low/middle income residents.

We will consider locally led and supported targeted rates to enable improvements in local areas where appropriate. 

We will oppose any increase in the proportion of Council income coming from uniform charges and seek to reduce such charges. It is important that Council services are affordable and available to all Aucklanders. 

We will maintain a fair and equitable funding formula reflecting population and socio-economic deprivation to allocate funds to Local Boards for carrying out their functions. 

We will exercise prudent financial management. We will not increase borrowing and fees for services more than is reasonable for their effective provision. 

We will advocate to Government to allow Council to gain a fair income outside of rates, so council costs can be more fairly recovered.  This includes but is not limited to a visitor bed tax, parking charges, fines from bylaw breaches and value uplift.