Podcasts about Auckland Council

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.

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.

The Move-on Orders Amendment Bill has passed its first reading in Parliament – this is the bill that would give police the power to issue move-on orders to rough sleepers, people begging or obstructing entrance ways, or showing intent to inhabit a public place. Submissions to the bill close next month. Now, the majority of Auckland City Councillors agreed this week that they want begging and rough sleeping to be taken out of these proposed move-on orders. They see the proposed legislation very much as a tool to deal with destructive, disorderly or threatening behaviours, not to further marginalise those who are already struggling. At the end of the day, the action taken will be at the discretion of the Police. The bill in its current state puts the Police in an awkward position, because it is being sold to us as a bill that is going to get rid of homelessness in city centres. It gives the impression police will be out on the beat daily, moving on those sleeping rough from doorways or bus shelters, and that all of a sudden homelessness will disappear and we don't have to think about it again. In theory this sounds good. It will make city centres safer and more welcoming, respond to the business community's concern that rough sleepers harm economic activity, and help connect homeless people to support services. But we all know the issue of homelessness is complicated and nuanced, and that temporarily removing the problem from sight does nothing to fix the problem. The Police Association said it would be a drain on resources. Retail NZ welcomes new tools for police but doubts their long term usefulness. Those who deal with homelessness aren't impressed. In short, no one seems convinced by this bill. The move-on law may provide businesses and the wider public with short-term relief from visible homelessness and anti-social behaviour. But without meaningful investment in housing and support services, it risks criminalising vulnerable people, fracturing service access and merely “sweeping the problem under the rug”. True solutions require addressing the structural causes of homelessness, building trust with affected communities, and creating inclusive pathways out of homelessness. Police will use the law to move on people who are causing a disturbance, and to get people the care and support they need it, but it's not going to work as it's being sold. Simplifying the Bill to reflect this reality isn't a bad idea – the legislation as proposed is about optics and won't fix the issue. See 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.

On the Matt Heath and Tyler Adams Afternoons Full Show Podcast for the 9th of June 2026, Labour putting a serving police officer 13th on their list got Matt & Tyler discussing the careers ex-cops move on to. Then a great chat about parenting after a Mum's plea: I'm a mum of two toddlers, and I'm miserable every day. Will it get better? And to wrap the day - Spark wants to get on with installing new free to use public phoneboxes but they are being held up by Auckland Council who wants a cut of proposed digital advertising income. Get the Matt Heath and Tyler Adams Afternoons Podcast every weekday afternoon on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

The Carrington Hospital, also known as Building One, was built in 1867 and stands as a monument to Victorian era healthcare in New Zealand. Until 2018, this category 1 heritage building was part of Unitec's Mt Albert Campus, but was sold to the government as part of the Carrington Residential Development - Te Kukūnga Waka. The goal was to build 4,000 new homes in collaboration with Ockham Residential and various iwi. However, concerns have been raised by locals about the degrading state of Building One as well as whether local infrastructure will be able to cope with intensification. I spoke to a range of individuals who want to see the building preserved, and attended some of their protests. This Carrington Building One movement is also active on Facebook and Instagram.  Among the people I spoke to were Chris Casey, Chair of the Cachet Foundation, Helen White, MP for Mt Albert, Gareth Hughes, operator of the Waterview Coffee Project, Allan Matson, President of the Civic Trust as well as a high school student from Mt Albert. I also reached out to the owner's Ockham Residential and Marutūāhu, as well as Auckland Council and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, for comment. 

The Government will stop unelected individuals from voting on council committees, a move an Act MP has described as closing an anti-democratic loophole. It seems like a no brainer. Why should unelected individuals have the right to vote on council committees? Of course people who have never been elected to a council or a government shouldn't be given voting rights. You can certainly ask people for their opinion, their informed comment, but voting rights? The issue of unelected New Zealanders being appointed to council committees and then having voting rights has been in the news recently, predominantly around the Far North where hapū representatives were confirmed to be put on a committee tasked with shaping Māori strategic relationships and embedding Te Tiriti based partnership in council decision making. Fair enough, getting their opinions. Absolutely. You would imagine that hapū representatives are the best people to talk about how to shape Māori strategic relationships and how they see Te Tiriti being enacted through council decision making. Totally fair enough. Where it gets a bit murky is that they have full speaking and voting rights alongside elected representatives. They're also paid the daily rate. They don't have to accept it, but they are paid a daily rate of around about 250 bucks plus travel costs plus any childcare, just as elected representatives can ask for. They can volunteer their time and their knowledge, but if they want to be paid, they will be. They wouldn't make final decisions, but they would vote on the issues that would be heard at full council. ACT leader David Seymour said anyone voting on council decisions should be accountable, including facing elections, and the party lodged a member's bill to prohibit voting rights for unelected appointees. But Simon Watts, Local Government Minister, has basically cut their lunch and announced that non-elected individuals can be appointed to offer their professional advice, they can represent communities, but they will not be able to vote or count towards a quorum. The statutory committees and appointments, including those agreed as part of a treaty settlement though, will be excluded. WATTS: This is a specific board set up for Auckland Council. Short answer is, is that for the Independent Māori Statutory Board, those members will only be able to vote on council committees where the law specifically enables it, and what that means is, is that that committee's set up under a different act. HDPA: So they retain their voting rights? WATTS: If it's related to the specific act. So it relates to where they're doing the management of natural and physical resources. If they're on a subcommittee doing that, then they're able to vote. Anything else, they're not able to. So, does that clear it up? I would be really interested to hear from a range of interests as to how council decisions will impact, and some will vary more than others. If you're in Wellington right now, for example, and you're in council, you would want to hear from businesses as to how decisions made by the council have impacted upon them. The cycle lanes, the development of, or the neglect really, the lack of development around the bridge, the Paremata Bridge and the library, the reopening of the library, the cost of that, the redevelopment of the Michael Fowler Centre. You would want representatives from business to say, look, this is our experience, this is what's happening, make your decisions perhaps based on that. If you're Māori in the Far North and you're dealing with issues around Māori land or the rating of Māori land, the re-rating of Māori land, or water, tourism perhaps, you would definitely want a Māori lens, a Māori perspective. But if you're going to be making decisions so that some issues don't make it to full council, elected members might not even know that there was an issue because it's been dealt with by these unelected representatives and they have voted on what the elected members of the council will actually see, I think it's a different story. Imagine if the Government asked a panel of Newstalk ZB hosts for their reckons to shape policy and then vote on it as to what would get to Parliament. You know, basically act as a select committee. I don't think so. You wouldn't stand for that. And if we want to have our reckons represented at a council level or government level, then we stand. We stand as councillors, mayors, we stand as MPs. There are 33 Māori across all parties in Parliament, representing a huge range of views and lived experiences, which is fantastic. We have councillors, chief executives, highly regarded mayors, all Māori. And I'd be really interested to hear the views of Māori, particularly in how it relates to land and water management. But if you're not elected, I don't think you should have a vote. Have a reckon by all means, but not a vote. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There was a story on the news last night about the government's push to have fewer local councils and how it's given them just a few months to come up with a plan. The threat being that, if they don't, the government will force it on them. And a couple of things struck me. First, it occurred to me how successful the government has been in getting these councils to toe the line. The councillors and mayors on the news last night were all going on about having the opportunity to choose their own destiny. Which, for some of them, will be looking for another job. One of them said it was great to do it to yourself instead of having someone else doing it to you, which they might have phrased a bit differently if they were given the chance. Nevertheless, I thought that if the government's objective was to make these councils sit up and take notice, then objective achieved. The other thing that occurred to me, and I see that Wellington mayor Andrew Little is saying the same thing, is that this local government reform has rip, shit and bust written all over it. Yes, 67 councils in a country the size of New Zealand is too much. And yes, amalgamating these councils makes perfect sense. I mean, I'm a big advocate of the greater Christchurch councils joining forces. Have been for a long time now. But, as Andrew Little is pointing out, establishing the super city in Auckland wasn't an overnight or rushed thing. He says the Auckland Council was created after a Royal Commission that ran for years. And he reckons it's going to be impossible for councils to properly design and submit proposals in the timeframe set by the government. And he's right. Although we know why the government's got the rush on, don't we? It's election year and it needs to be able to say before the election that it's delivering on its promise to overhaul the local government sector. But that's where the risk comes. Because if the government's motivation is to put itself in a position where it can trot out that line about getting stuff done, then we may end up with a local government structure no better than the one we've got. Yes, we might have fewer councils, but that might be about it. Because sometimes there's nothing wrong with taking your time to do something properly. And, for me, this is one of those times. We were talking about the Waimakariri Council yesterday and it's back in the news today, with this public consultation it's started as part of the plan it has to deliver to the government in just over two months from now. It's put three options on the table: staying on its own but picking up the work that ECan does in its neck of the woods, amalgamating with the Hurunui and or the Kaikōura councils, or joining forces with Christchurch City and Selwyn. Which is all horse before cart, just like the government's approach is horse before cart. Because right now things are still up in the air in terms of what these councils are going to be responsible for, especially with the government's intention to do away with regional councils such as Environment Canterbury. And until that becomes much clearer than it is now, it is futile asking councils to find another council or councils to join their team, because none of them have got any idea at the moment what they're going to be responsible for. So yes, press on with your local government reforms, but do it in a way that means we do actually end up with something better than what we've got now, and not just a rearrangement of the deck chairs. 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.

I can't wait to get onto Auckland's CRL. I can't wait to check out the overly grand stations. And I can't wait to experience moving around our city in a way residents of other modern cities around the world have been doing for decades. More so, I can't wait to see if it does what it was intended to do - transform the city's rail network from a "one-way cul-de-sac" into a two-way through-system, designed to double the network's capacity and improve accessibility across the region. It's been a monster of a ride getting this underground railway built, and yes it's costs a bundle, but I was intrigued this week that those most vocal about the decision making and costs are the people responsible for the project. Good on former CRL boss Sean Sweeney for coming out and calling it how he sees it. We need people with experience expressing views on how we do things in this country. Sweeney oversaw the CRL, and its many cost increases and associated challenges for six years, and admits he would do things differently if he had his time again. He feels the main issue with the CRL was that it was over-specified. It's not just the CRL, he also thinks the Christchurch stadium could have been built for less. As much as Cantabrians are enjoying the stadium, I'm sure there are many who feel the same way. Building infrastructure is a bit like buying a house. When you buy you're convinced you're being ripped off and then 7-10 years later you're generally pretty happy with the price and capital gain. I'm sure that over the next 10, 20, 100 years we'll feel pretty pleased with ourselves for future proofing these investments: a platform long enough to cope with extra train carriages in anticipation of Auckland's population growth, and a roof on Christchurch's stadium. Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop took the opportunity to reinforce National's ‘fiscally responsible' stance by ordering a review into the build, while still trying to stay positive about a project which will open on his watch. It was a bit of a headline grab. An effort to look proactive in response to the criticism. But anything that costs $5.5 billion, and was as difficult and disruptive as the CRL has been, should be reviewed and learnt from. Preferably before we launch into a second Auckland Harbour crossing. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown also piped up, expressing his long held view on the cost of the CRL, saying the project was “set up poorly” and he would take a tougher approach to projects. But weirdly, I don't hear Aucklanders talking about it the same way as those who were or are involved in it. Remember City Rail Link Limited was formed between the National Government and the Phil Goff-led Auckland Council in 2017 to jointly fund and oversee it through to completion. Both local and central Government are responsible for this project. While the CRL has been a torturous affair, especially for those living, working or trying to run a business around its construction, most locals just want it to open, for it to make a fundamental change to how we get around our clogged up city, and can't wait to give it a try. Spending $2 billion more on the CRL is worth a discussion, but maybe we need to keep it in perspective. Superannuation currently costs the country over $24 billion annually and is estimated by Treasury to cost over $45 billion in 10 years. The reluctance of political parties to thoughtfully address this is neglectful. So, enjoy the fancy infrastructure where you can, there's unlikely to be much more on the way. LISTEN ABOVE See 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.

A deal signed by Christopher Luxon and Wayne Brown was announced today to work together to bolster Auckland. The partnership aims to boost economic growth and improve living standards across New Zealand. Some of the key commitments of the Auckland City Deal include; investing in Eden Park and the Auckland Tennis Centre to support international events, jointly developing a destination and major events strategy, establishing a c30-year transport strategy, and working together on the additional Waitematā Harbour crossing project and more efficient transport network management. Wayne Brown told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "there'll be an end to sort of unexpected bits of legislation which don't work that we haven't been told about, or it'll be an end to unfunded mandates that we haven't been told about." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send Us A Message! Let us know what you think.Are landlords losing their leverage? In Episode 8 of New Zealand Property Insights, Paul and Debbie Roberts unpack a massive divergence in the national rental market, explain how homeowners are fighting back against inaccurate council flood maps, and break down the government's brand new regulations for property managers.In this episode, Paul and Debbie cover:The Rental Market Divergence: A tale of two cities. We break down the latest data showing Wellington's rental stock has surged by 54.2%, causing average rents to drop by 8.9%. Meanwhile, regions like Hawke's Bay have seen stock skyrocket by over 115%. We explain why landlords need to drop their egos, prioritize cash flow, and focus heavily on tenant retention right now.Fighting Council Flood Maps: We look at a recent case of a Glendowie homeowner fighting Auckland Council over a "flood-prone" designation based on broad-brush 2016 LiDAR data. We explain how sellers can protect their property value with private drainage reports and insurance history, and how savvy investors can use these limb notations to negotiate massive discounts.Property Management Regulated: Finally! Associate Minister of Housing Tama Potaka has announced a new government-backed framework to regulate residential property managers. We explain what the new public register means for you, and why the mandate for separate audited trust accounts will finally force the "cowboys" out of the industry.Whether you are trying to fill a vacant rental, looking to buy a discounted property, or want to make sure your property manager is handling your money legally, this episode is packed with essential advice.Resource Links:

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.

Rosetta and Milly catch up with Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson to chat about the Auckland Council's annual plan which is now out for public consultation, the proposed rates rise, and fires in rubbish trucks started by lithium batteries. Whakarongo mai nei!

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.

Auckland Council has less than two weeks to respond to a letter from the government wanting the council to outline its plan for housing intensification. Pretoria Gordon reports.

Auckland Council has less than two weeks to respond to a letter from the government wanting the council to outline its plan for housing intensification. Housing minister Chris Bishop spoke to Corin Dann.

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.