Podcasts about Auckland Council

Anyone planning a spring camping trip to Piha on Auckland's West Coast is currently out of luck. Auckland Council has shut the beach's only campground... and when, or even if, it will reopen is uncertain. Council says it's investigating flood risk and safety of campers, while the long time camp manager says she's in the dark, and out of pocket. Ross McNaughton reports.

For Dear Science this week, we chat with our experts, Professor Sebastian Leuzinger and Dr Syrie Hermans,, about plants and their senses. For our Weekly Catchup with the National Party, Host Alex speaks with MP Ryan Hamilton about the CRL, Auckland Council's troubles with Fast-Tracked developments, and NZ's condemnation of Illegal Israeli Settlements Producer Thomas chats to Public Service Association National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons about an internal review into Ministry of Social Development errors, and how they may have been caused by cuts to the workforce. Thomas also talks to University of Auckland Associate Professor Helen Petousis-Harris, about New Zealand's flu vaccination rates being critically low. And this week we have a City Rail Link special. News director Castor and Producer Liam caught the very first train on the opening day and interviewed members of the public. Liam also interviewed Viv Beck from Heart of the City and Bevan Assink from KiwiRail about how significant this moment is for Auckland.

Auckland Council is considering all legal avenues available to challenge fast-track consents for housing outside planned areas, and whether to reduce or withhold services from unanticipated developments. Richard Hills says the council could face a potential $5 billion bill from 50,000 to 60,000 new houses, while several councils are calling for a pause on fast-track residential consents. Chris Bishop spoke to John Campbell.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Sue Kedgley and Peter Field. First up, the Greens have released their supermarket election policy, and it would see the Government buy 120 existing supermarkets and start its own competitor, called Kiwimart. Grocery Action Group chair Sue Chetwin joins the panel to chew on the ramifications. Then, the Auckland Council is considering turning off basic services to fast-track developers. Councillor Rcihard Hills says the unanticipated growth will hit the council in the back pocket, potentially to the tune of billions of dollars. He joins the panel to explain his position. Following the headlines, central Christchurch is facing the closure of a post shop that could affect thousands of residents. Councillor for Hornby Mark Peters explains the issue to the panel. Then, the All Girl Big Band is celebrating its 10th anniversary. They just played their anniversary gig, and the panel checks in with them to see how it went.

Rosetta catches up with Desley Simpson to ask about the Auckland Council's stance on National's proposed rates cap, and the $2.2 million investment in the Te Kawerau ā Maki marae. Whakarongo mai nei!

The developers behind the Waiwera Thermal Springs north of Auckland say they aim to honour the special place Waiwera holds in the hearts of many New Zealanders. The $58 million project to redevelop what was once one of the country's largest water parks has now been granted resource consent by Auckland Council and is aiming to open to the public in 2028. Joint managing director of Waiwera Thermal Springs Craig Mitchell spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Port of Auckland has reported a record profit of $111 milion, up 30 percent from last year. It's seeing strong container and car volumes, and is delivering a $55 million dollar dividend back to Auckland Council. The port has had a remarkable turnaround after historic issues with worker safety, disputes and delays. Port of Auckland Chief Executive Roger Gray spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The government will cap Council rates increases at 4% from 2029, with limited exceptions. It says the move will ease cost-of-living pressures, and get councils to focus on the basics. At the same time the historic city deal between Auckland Council and the Government is under pressure, after the Prime Minister ruled out a bed tax if National is re-elected - the deal committed to consider an accommodation levy in 2027. Minister for Local Government and Minister for Auckland Simon Watts spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A community is up in arms over plans to send stormwater runoff into a native forest where an 800-year-old kauri tree lives. Resource consent has been granted for a housing development near Parry Kauri Park in Warkworth, which allows stormwater from four of the 12 lots to be diverted into the park's stream. Auckland Council says any adverse effects on the park will be minimised. Luka Forman reports.

A 'hospo hub' to help businesses find their way around council requirements has been set up.

Should Takapuna Golf Course be a flood storage wetland, and how should Auckland manage feral cats? With fewer than a third of Aucklanders voting in the 2022 and 2025 local elections, Auckland Council has been holding 'citizen juries' to ask residents how they'd solve the challenging issues facing the region. Jessica Hopkins reports.

The number of hot days in the country's largest city could at least double by 2050, and heatwaves will be longer and more frequent. That's according to research just published by Auckland Council, which found the number of hot nights will also increase. Health and building researchers say prolonged heat harms and even kills people, and at the moment we are not ready for it. Climate change correspondent Kate Newton reports.

Several Auckland Councillors have come out against plans to reinvestigate a second Waitemata Harbour crossing from Meola Reef in Point Chevalier. The government has commissioned a detailed business case for an additional crossing, and it will look again at the option of a bridge from Meola Reef to the North Shore if Auckland Council wants that and is prepared to split the bill. The Mayor is keen, but some councillors aren't so much. Mayor Wayne Brown spoke to Lisa Owen.

Auckland Council has secured legal protection for 700 more hectares of regional parkland in Tamaki Makaurau. 

The Transport Minister's defending the more than $100 million already spent exploring a second Waitemata Harbour crossing. Cabinet's agreed to a new Crown-led case into the pros and cons of a bridge or tunnel, and will also investigate a Meola Reef crossing option. The Government's not ruling out tolls, or potential co-investment from Auckland Council. Chris Bishop told Mike Hosking the reality is that these things cost money. He says it's a multi-billion dollar project, and the consultancy work already done won't go to waste. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've been waiting for decades for somebody to build a new bridge, or a tunnel, or anything across Auckland's harbour. The consultant bill is now $100 million across the current National and former Labour Governments. The most galling part of that was the $50m spent on consultants for Labour's plan to put an almost $1 billion cycling bridge over the harbour. Can you imagine sitting on the car bridge in peak hour traffic, looking across and seeing a gold-plated bike bridge being constructed? With no option for driving! Madness. 80% of those living in outer urban areas commute by car to work. So, we're a $100 million down. A lot of the old promises, we're told, didn't even involve anybody going to have a look at the sea floor to investigate. It was all done with computer modelling. The barge in the harbour we've talked about on this show previously with Wayne Brown... that's apparently doing some actual testing. We now have three plans or options on the go: A new study on the costs, timeframe, and benefits of a bridge or tunnel. A new $1 million Meola reef study as a sop to Wayne Brown. And a private consortium with an idea we know very little about. For anyone about to hit rush hour traffic, don't hold your breath for any quick fixes, or even decisions, anytime soon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's cruise industry is in decline, with nationwide visits down 40 percent - and no hope of improvement forecast for the 2026/27 season. Auckland's Shed 10 played host to the annual New Zealand Cruise Convention, where industry experts are hoping to turn those numbers around for a late-decade recovery. Meanwhile, Auckland Council's economic development arm has pitched plans to boost high-value cruise visitors. Port of Auckland CEO Roger Gray says they're investing in new infrastructure and improving the customer experience in order to attract more people. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's cruise industry is in decline, with nationwide visits down 40 percent - and no hope of improvement forecast for the 2026/27 season. Auckland's Shed 10 played host to the annual New Zealand Cruise Convention, where industry experts are hoping to turn those numbers around for a late-decade recovery. Meanwhile, Auckland Council's economic development arm has pitched plans to boost high-value cruise visitors. Port of Auckland CEO Roger Gray says they're investing in new infrastructure and improving the customer experience in order to attract more people. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council's Tataki Auckland Unlimited has released a ten-year plan to improve cruise ship infrastructure and bring more ships to the city. Ingrid Hipkiss spoke to Karen Thompson Smith, Tataki Auckland Unlimited Head of Tourism and Cruise Industry Association board member, about the plan.

I'm trying to work out in this council amalgamation back and forward, how many who aren't amalgamating are genuinely stuck, versus how many are simply sticking it up the Government because they don't like them and/or they don't like being told what to do? Councils are the bane of our lives. We are over council-ed, we are overrated and we should be immeasurably grateful to the central government who are capping rates and reducing the number of these groups. The deadline to submit your plan is this weekend. As always there are a decent number who haven't been able to get there, or if they have it will be close to deadline. Another part of the problem is of course we don't care. Our participation rate via voting is a joke. I noted ironically the other day Auckland Council set up a committee to work out why their turn out was only 28%. I could help them there – get rates down and produce fewer committees. The only reason you can argue against amalgamation is you're power hungry. There are 70+ councils in this country. A tiny island nation with a handful of people and we need, they argue, over 70 councils? Tiny little operations with duplication of services all over the place, all with their own rules, regulations and staffing costs and all with their weird variation and interpretation of rules. If ever there was a case for “less is more”, we have it. But no. Like recalcitrant children they are holding out. I assume some of them because they hope Labour get back and let them get on with their orgy of waste and inefficiency. When those who don't submit rely on the so-called back-up plan, they will moan about that too. The sad truth or outworking of this sort of behaviour is the revelation that these people are not really about us. They are not really about their community. They are about themselves. They are power grabbers and control freaks. They love their insignificant little fiefdoms and love to laud their perceived power over others. Come deadline and come the capping of the rates and the reduction of the council numbers, not to mention the water amalgamation, is there a single person outside those whose power is being disabled, that will actually miss what we currently have? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fridays means food here on Afternoons .. hospitality legend Connie Clarkson is with Jesse .. she's currently the manager at Auckland Council's Kitchen Project making sure the future of hospitality is bright! Her recipe for egg drop soup can be found HERE

An Auckland Council committee has knocked back a proposal to give Watercare board members a pay rise of 33 percent. 

Plans for intensive housing growth in Auckland and issues with wastewater overflows is driving the largest ever investment in water services for the city. Last month, the water company said splitting from Auckland Council had allowed it to raise $1.5 billion to pay for fixing old infrastructure, upgrades and new projects. But households will also pay for it. Watercare CEO Jamie Sinclair spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Auckland's Watercare is taking a mixed approach to funding a $15.2 billion capital investment. This includes $4.3 billion for renewals, upgrades to prevent wastewater spills, and lifting the daily flow of drinking water from Waikato River to $300 million by 2033. Watercare CEO Jamie Sinclair says separating from Auckland Council means the utility will need to explore new funding streams to get this through. "We've got to go find our own debt funding, which we've been pretty successful at, I'd have to say, over the last year or so." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's Watercare is taking a mixed approach to funding a $15.2 billion capital investment. This includes $4.3 billion for renewals, upgrades to prevent wastewater spills, and lifting the daily flow of drinking water from Waikato River to $300 million by 2033. Watercare CEO Jamie Sinclair says separating from Auckland Council means the utility will need to explore new funding streams to get this through. "We've got to go find our own debt funding, which we've been pretty successful at, I'd have to say, over the last year or so." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council has purchased 100 hectares of land for a future cemetery - despite opposition from Iwi and the local board. The rural site near Karaka in the city's South cost the council $16 million. It's as Tamaki Makarau's cemeteries approach their burial capacity. Auckland Council's General Manager of Parks and Community Facilities, Taryn Crewe spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Tensions have escalated as the government's fast-track planning process has begun overriding Auckland Council objections on several major infrastructure and housing developments, coinciding with a controversial $60 million state funding package to keep Fletcher Building's domestic cement plant operational. Thomas also discusses corporate expansions as Kiwi brand-tracking firm Tracksuit acquired Australian AI startup Hall to monitor digital brand presence, and AFT Pharmaceuticals secured crucial regulatory backing in the US and Japan for its novel iron injection treatment. Thomas Manch is a senior journalist at BusinessDesk.

In a bid to turn around its most dismal voter turnout since it was set up Auckland Council is considering introducing general election-style polling booths. Jessica Hopkins reports.

Auckland Council is considering general election-style voting booths to increase voter turnout. Only 29 percent of eligible Aucklanders voted in the last local election. Franklin Local Board member Gary Holmes spoke to John Campbell.

A planning botch-up means areas earmarked for high rise housing around Auckland's new Maungawhau CRL station are likely to be slashed. Council rules allow the most intensive housing, up to 15 stories, within an 800 metre radius of the station. But the high density housing zones around Maungawhau were based on the station having three pedestrian entrances, in reality there is only one. It means dozens of landowners will be caught short. Auckland Council's General Manager of Planning, John Duguid spoke to Lisa Owen.

An Auckland charity says New Zealand needs a 24/7 desexing clinic to tackle the country's roaming dog problem. Auckland Council's Community Director, Rachel Kelleher spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Auckland Council will no longer be stumping up for flood damaged homes. It comes after a $2.57 billion bill for its 2023 weather response, which included 1,200 home buyouts and infrastructure upgrades. Mayor Wayne Brown says councils can't be the insurers of last resort, and they're calling on central government and the insurance sector to take greater responsibility for disaster recovery funding. Litigation and Insurance Lawyer with MinterEllisonRuddWatts, Andy Horne told Mike Hosking this was always going to happen – it was only a matter of time before the money started to run out. He says ratepayers and taxpayers can't be expected to continue funding those who buy properties that are subject to natural disaster risks. However, there are still some circumstances in which the council will be liable, Horne says, and the changing approach means they'll have to start identifying what they are and aren't liable for. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fridays mean food here on Afternoons. Hospitality extraordinaire and Auckland Council's Kitchen Project Manager Connie Clarkson is here with me to share a delicious recipe. 

A former Heart of the City board member says the organisation's lost its focus. Six of the Auckland city-centre business association's seven voting members have quit after months of turmoil which saw its chief executive temporarily stood down. Its board says the organisation isn't compliant with its own constitution and recommends Auckland Council withhold funding and consider an audit. Murray Crane told Mike Hosking Heart of the City's no longer effective. He believes it's become very bureaucratic and members are dealing with a lot of things they shouldn't have to. Crane says it comes at a stressful time for Auckland businesses, and if times were good and businesses were humming, the organisation would work really well. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm going to make a prediction that I'm fairly certain is going to bear out: no one is going to be shocked by reading in the Herald that Wayne Brown might be a bully. This has kicked off again this week with a complaint from a new Auckland councillor, Bo Burns, that Auckland Council is so dysfunctional she has packed up and walked out of meetings twice because of behaviour she considered unacceptable. Then, the Herald dropped a much bigger piece expanding on all of this, featuring the accounts of multiple councillors who also complain and who then hone in on the mayor in particular. Mike Lee says the mayor revels in put-downs and insults and pulled him off the Auckland Transport board as punishment because he voted against him on something. John Watson says the mayor is a narcissist. Lotu Fuli says the mayor drops the f-bomb all the time. And on and on the complaining goes. Now, look, I'm not completely hard-hearted. I have some sympathy for these people because I don't think I'd like to work in a place where I got punished for taking an opposing view. The mayor is not an easy bloke to work with and I thank the Lord every single day that I don't have to work with him. But I also don't have sympathy for them because this is not a normal workplace—it's a council. It's supposed to be robust. And Bo Burns should probably reconsider whether she thinks ratepayers will feel they're getting bang for their buck if they've elected someone who isn't robust enough to hack it at the big boys' table. As for Wayne Brown, claiming he's a bully is not going to hurt him, is it? Because it's not a shock to anyone. This is the guy who called the media “drongos” and barely apologised for it. This is the guy who emailed the Ratepayers' Alliance with two words: “f*** off.” Have you ever met him? The fact that he swears is not a surprise. What probably hurts him more, I would say, is that he hiked rates in the city by 7.9% this year. But finding out he's a bit mean to people and swears a lot? Not news. What would be news is if everyone around the Auckland Council table grew a pair and stopped complaining about him. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's suburbs will be mostly untouched by the housing intensification proposal, as councillors voted to send two options out for consultation. Matthew Theunissen reports.

A council trial giving the owners of impounded dogs a chance to pay off their shelter fees has seen fewer animals euthanised and more claimed since being introduced. The uptake of a buy-now-pay-later option at council shelters has been increasing month on month. Auckland Council's regional shelter manager Nikki Cripps spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

There's debate over the future of the country's nearly 2000 remaining phone booths. Spark's planning to use the aging payphones for free calling, wifi, phone charging, and for digital advertising. But Auckland Council wants a share of the return due to the booths being on public footpaths. Spark Chief Brand Officer Leela Ashford told Heather du Plessis-Allan there are lots of little costs that go into running the booths. She says it's all on Spark and their partner, and if they have to split revenue with councils and roading authorities, the business case falls over very quickly. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council is trialling Afterpay at its dog pounds as owners grapple with pet costs amid the rising cost of living. After one month of the eight-month trial, 15 percent of payments at the shelters had been made through the option. Auckland Council regional animal shelter manager Nikki Cripps says the trial is still in its early stages, but it's seen positive results so far. "We have seen an increase on dogs being claimed, obviously, the trial's still early days so it's hard to say whether it's solely down to that, we've got a lot of other incentives happening at the same time." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council is asking for public feedback on proposed changes to a regional bylaw that would make life jackets compulsory on recreational vessels. Auckland Council General Manager of Policy, Louise Mason spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Auckland Council has released a new document, seeking potential interest from 'an exclusive funding and naming rights partner for a landmark activation initiative that will transform the Auckland Harbour Bridge into a dynamic storytelling canvas through light.' The project - expected to be a multi-year tourism initiative starting in August next year - is likely to attract widespread interest among marketers and creative agencies. Creative Director at The Goat Farm, Vaughn Davis, says the council's short of money, so whoever's interested is in a good negotiating position - but there's a unique challenge. "The downside of the Harbour Bridge lights is that you can't even put your jolly logo on it...with the lights, you've got to work pretty hard to make that association." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fridays on Afternoons means food and we've got the wonderfully talented Connie Clarkson with us today. Connie is the Manager of the Auckland Council's Kitchen Project amongst many other things. [picture id="4JO8EKM_tofu_recipe_connie_clarkson_jfif" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

A survey of Automobile Association members' views on time-of-use charging has been presented to the Auckland Council's Transport and Infrastructure Delivery Committee.  The survey found that members were open to congestion charging if it worked, even if they thought it was unfair. Labour leader Chris Hipkins gave a ‘State of Auckland' speech last week, focusing on the need for cross-party collaboration on infrastructure projects. Wire Host Caeden spoke with Councillor Shane Henderson about both of these topics.

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland councillor Maurice Williamson and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Government has confirmed there's more public service cuts to come ahead of Budget 2026. What do we make of this? Do we think AI can really replace all these jobs? What are the chances of Auckland Council's rates rise being kept to less than 7.9 percent? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A council operated crematorium is being called out over its charging, with families taking their loved ones a hundred kilometres away for the service to be carried out. Tauranga City Council runs the only crematorium in the city and charges $979 for an adult cremation. That's compared to $695 in neighbouring Hamilton and $630 charged in Rotorua. Crematoriums run by Auckland Council charge $750. Funeral director Carla Turner runs several funeral homes and calls Tauranga's charges a rip off. Turner spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

A largely underutilised local energy solution could be right under Aucklander's noses. In the two years it's been running, the food waste collection programme has converted 62 thousand tonnes of organic material to fertiliser and biogas for the national grid. But only about 40% of the people who received a bin are using it. Auckland Council's Parul Sood told Mike Hosking they'd love for more people to pick up the service, because it does have great outcomes, but there's more work to be done. She says that internationally, cities that are doing quite well have about a 55% use rate. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council is putting tags and stickers on red bins in some suburbs to remind people about council's food scraps bins. Auckland Council's deputy director of resilience and infrastructure, Parul Sood spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Businesses in a south Auckland's suburb say they're sick of 18-wheeler commercial trucks blocking their access paths, doing roadside repairs and leaving oil on the streets. Last month, the Wiri Business Association asked Parliament's regulation review committee to look at how Auckland Council is enforcing the new Vehicle Use and Parking Bylaw, that came into effect in July 2025. The bylaw gives Auckland Transport the power to fine vehicles parking on roads and public places if they're causing obstruction or pose a safety risk. But local businesses say instead they've seen little change as Wiri's still an unregulated dumping and parkports.

Auckland Council has rolled out an AI assistant to help people having problems with things like graffiti, roaming dogs and party noise. Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

It's a civil union of a different kind, Auckland Council and the government have signed a ten year co-operation deal. The agreement sets out how the two will work together over the next ten years, to boost economic growth in Aotearoa's largest city. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown spoke to Lisa Owen.