Podcasts about Auckland Council

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.

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.

Swearing. Most of us do it. Unless you're a Bishop (or maybe they do it in private, too?). Especially in New Zealand. We all know what a GC is and it's nothing to do with the white sandy beaches of Queensland. You don't say them in front of mum, and you shouldn't shout them in anger at people, unless they really deserve it. But have you noticed the media's obsession with calling out people for swearing, lately? Exhibit A: furious Benji Marshall's (Wests Tigers coach) expletive-laden presser. The media had been saying he was in a spat with a now former player, and they were at war, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. None of which, according to Benji, was true. So, he responds and they say he's ranting and swearing and 'going nuclear'. Isn't that what they used to call gaslighting? Then there was Winston Peters... Media called that one a foul-language outburst. How can a word so many people use be so offensive or worthy of mention? Christine Fletcher, Auckland Council, complains about swearing in the council chambers. The Dunedin council boss was done for swearing about councillors and calling them bad words behind their backs. Who hasn't done that? The truth is most Kiwis don't mind, occasionally. Too much and you sound like trash. Too little you sound too cautious. Directed in anger? Never a good idea and should not happen at work. The obsession with people using it from time to time, especially in the age of the internet where people do and say what they want? Waste of f***ing time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

Wayne Brown: NZ being run 'like a wrecking yard' Running on a strident anti-Wellington platform, Auckland mayor Wayne Brown was re-elected to a second term in 2025 by a more than 100,000-vote majority. In April of this year, he signed New Zealand's first-ever city deal with central government, an agreement which contains no new funding arrangements for Auckland, and kicks one of Brown's biggest campaigns - a bed tax - into discussions for 2027. He joins Jack Tame to discuss Auckland's City Deal, Auckland Transport, and his pitch for a grand coalition between National and Labour in 2026 - a path he describes as the only way to reverse the long-term decline of New Zealand. Behind the scenes of Auckland's $5.5 billion rail project When Auckland's City Rail Link opens for business in the second half of 2026, the city will boast New Zealand's longest escalator, three brand-new stations, and a whole suite of costly but essential improvements to existing infrastructure. The price tag sits at $5.5 billion, split between central government and Auckland Council - with the Super City's largest-ever rates increase, 7.9 percent, mooted to cover the ongoing costs. Is a longer life always better? Dr Ezekiel Emanuel is an oncologist and bioethicist in Washington DC and the author of 'Eat Your Ice Cream: Six simple rules for a long and healthy life'. In New Zealand for the NIB Health Innovation Summit, he joins Jack Tame to discuss how NZ stacks up internationally when it comes to health outcomes, what our Pharmac model gets right, and why he says he will refuse medical intervention after he turns 75. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

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.

I've tried very hard to understand the Government's decision to essentially cancel SailGP in Auckland next year and I just can't. I cannot understand what has gone on here because, as I understand it, this has come down to a few hundred thousand dollars. Let me run you through the timeline. We've been fighting for SailGP to stay in New Zealand - particularly in Auckland - for the past few years. In October last year, the Government and Auckland Council agreed to pay a combined $5 million for SailGP to be held in Auckland. That agreement was made in October. Then, in February, SailGP requested additional funding, which would have come out of the Major Events Fund. That request appears to be what prompted Louise Upston to say no. Finding out how much that request was for was incredibly difficult. No one wanted to give me a number. Eventually, I was told it was less than a million dollars and may have been closer to $500,000. If that's true, then turning down SailGP over $500,000 is frankly nutty. That is peanuts for a Government - and money that would almost certainly have paid for itself. I would argue it was a wise investment. SailGP is not just about what people spend in Auckland when they come here. Just like the America's Cup, it's about what people around the world see when they're watching. They see Auckland's beautiful harbour on a stunning day. They see crowds having fun. They see beautiful buildings and incredible maunga. You cannot buy that kind of international exposure. We have blown tens of millions of dollars on the America's Cup over the years. We paid for Linkin Park, for God's sake, to come to Auckland. We set aside $70 million for major events just like this - and yet we turned down one of the hottest sailing events in the world over $500,000. Even on a purely political level, this makes no sense to me. Auckland has been desperate - begging the Government - for help with events like this to revive the city. We've only just got that momentum underway and then this happens. It's an election year, in a city you must win to win the election, and it's a city already showing signs of leaning left. I am open to arguments to the contrary - but to me, this just looks like a really bad decision. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Tourism Minister says SailGP simply wasn't economically viable. The sailing regatta won't be held in Auckland next year after the Government's withdrew funding for it. Auckland Council's economic development agency, Tataki Auckland Unlimited, says it's done everything it can to get the fixture across the line. But Minister Louise Upston told Mike Hosking the numbers ultimately just didn't add up this time around. She says they need to look at ways to get more people to attend, both locally and from overseas. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Sue Kedgley and Rajorshi Chakraborti. First up, Donald Trump's latest nemesis is an unlikely character: Pope Leo the 14th. On Truth Social, Trump called the Pope "weak on crime." But what is the role of religion in war, if any? Otago University senior theology lecturer Andrew Shepherd shares his thoughts. Then, Wallace paid a preview visit to Auckland's City Rail Link, which is inching closer to opening day. A date still hasn't been set, but Andy Baker is the chair of Auckland Council's Transport and Infrastructure Delivery Committee, and he explains what's coming.

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.

Last week saw public transport usage in Auckland reach a 7 year high, on account of high fuel prices across the country. While high usage bodes well for public transport, the network is facing difficulties around overcrowding. In addition, Auckland Transport is pushing for central government support to lower fares, which ministers have rejected.  Auckland Council has also conducted a review into its resource management consenting processes, and found multiple spots for improvement. And central government has announced dog control law reforms, which Auckland Council has welcomed given its extensive existing operations in animal control. To discuss each of these issues, News Director Castor spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson.

Auckland Council says the government needs to move at pace with its review of the Dog Control Act. Auckland Council's Director of Community, Rachel Kelleher spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A Glendowie resident disputes her property is flood prone despite it being designated as such on Auckland Council's online maps. 

Hopes of retaining an 18 hole golf course are sunk, but 12 could still be on the cards for the Takapuna Golf course. Auckland Council is turning half of the existing 18-hole golf course at A. F Thomas park into a floodwater catchment to mitigate the city's increasing flood risks. Thousands of people signed a petition to keep the course, but last year the Council decided to push ahead with plans to reduce the course to nine holes. But Takapuna Golf Course is taking another swing at the proposal. Head Greens Keeper Steven Dowd spoke to Lisa Owen.

More than a million dollars is being put into desexing dogs to tackle uncontrolled breeding in Auckland and Northland. Auckland Council's director community Rachel Kelleher spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Let's talk food now because Connie Clarkson, the manager of Auckland Council's The Kitchen Project is with me, with a great sounding duck breast recipe.

Auckland Council is campaigning for changes to the Dog Control Act that is almost 30 years old. General manager; Licensing and Compliance, Robert Irvine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Auckland's mayor and the Government are locking horns over reworked housing density rules for the city. A fortnight ago, the government agreed to slash the number of houses Auckland has to plan for from over two million down to 1.6 million. Auckland's Mayor says the government now expects Auckland Council to provide maps of intended zoning changes ahead of law its law changes, that's something Wayne Brown has given a hard no. Mayor Wayne Brown spoke to Lisa Owen.

A heated dispute between dog owners and Auckland Council is playing out at the High Court in Auckland. Last year, the Puketapapa Local Board voted four to two to ban dogs from running free in part of Hillsborough's Monte Cecilia Park. Locals set up a formal group, the Monte Cecilia Dog Lovers Incorporated Society, which is roughly 600 members strong, to challenge the decision with a judicial review, which began today. Jessica Hopkins reports.