Podcasts about Auckland Council

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.

Have you done the sums yet to work out how much more you're going to have to pay, how much more you're going to have to find to pay the rates bill? We were talking before the show, for some of my colleagues it's an extra $45 per fortnight, they're in an apartment out of the main city. I can't even imagine how much the increase will be for people living in the leafy suburbs. Auckland Council has locked in a 7.9% rates rise, according to Wayne Brown it's to fund the City Rail Link. They've managed to keep everything else, they've managed to cut costs and reduce spending and keep everything level, this is purely to fund the City Rail Link. He's unapologetic. He said we've got this railway, if we don't pay for it this year, then we're just going to have to pay for it next year. And that's quite true, you can't just keep deferring essential spending. And that's what a lot of councils are finding around the country, that they might have deferred spending, put off investing in the vital infrastructure that needs to be spent, Moa Point anybody, and now they're going to have to, now they're going to have to do it. It's this lot of ratepayers that is going to have to pay because previous years' ratepayers didn't want to. Councillors didn't want to because they might get voted out, ratepayers didn't want to because they said we've got nothing extra in our pockets. Well now we're just going to have to find it. In effect, the rates increase is only an average, but pity the people of Waitaki, councillors there were looking at rates increases of up to 45%. Eventually they opted for a 22% rates rise because they've got to fund their three water scheme. Now that's been put off, put off, put off, they can't put it off any longer and now the people of Oamaru and the surrounding districts are going to have to find the money and pay for it. Many, many people are doing what the councils around the country are doing and what the Government is doing. They're looking at the bills, they're slashing what is not essential, trying not to slash everything that's not essential because you need something that's a bit of a morale booster. But when you've got a finite amount of money coming in, it has to cover so many, many increases. Fuel, insurance, rates. When there's two of you working, it's tough enough, if you're on a fixed income with very little in the way of other money coming in, you've already pared down the spending to the bone, it's even harder. Is this the time you look at selling the house if you have one? You're told when you go into retirement that you have to have a house, that this is one way that you'll be able to ensure a comfortable retirement, you have your own home, you have a roof over your head. But how do you make economies to cover the rates bill to pay for the house when you're already stretched so very thin? If your rates bill has come in, have you crunched the numbers, where are you at? I mean Auckland like Rotorua, and number of other councils around the country, even the Far North, they're trying to keep it into single digits, just skimming the 10%, but other councils, they're having to pay for that work that they deferred for so long and those rates increases are going to hurt. An earlier version of this article stated that “many Aucklanders will face an effective rate rise of between 12% and 15%”. Auckland Council estimates the vast majority of unchanged residential properties (around 94%) will receive a rates increase within 1% of the 7.9% average.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 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.

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.

Auckland Council has approved their first-ever transport policy statement, which, together with the central Government's Policy Statement on Land Transport, will shape the future of transport funding in Auckland. And a petition is being hosted on Our ActionStation that calls on the Government to strengthen protections for the Waitākere Ranges.  For City Counselling, Wire Host Caeden spoke with Councillor Shane Henderson about both of these topics.

Auckland Council is aiming to reduce drownings and improve safety by upgrading its Navigation Bylaw. The most significant change would make life jackets mandatory for everyone on vessels under six meters long whilst it's in motion. Current rules only require for them to be carried, with the person in charge of the vessel making the decision on whether it's necessary. Auckland Councillor and Bylaw Review Panel member Alf Filipaina told Kerre Woodham this is the first review since the bylaw's approval, and five years on, they want the community to have their say. He says they're hopeful the majority will come in and say wearing life jackets while a vessel is on the water and in motion is common sense. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council wants to hear from you. It's consulting on proposed changes to the Auckland Navigational Bylaw. Right now, Clause 20 of the bylaw requires personal flotation devices, also known as life jackets, on vessels six metres and under. Unless, and here comes the thorny bit, unless the person in charge gives permission not to wear one. So that makes it all pretty cloudy, doesn't it? The proposed changes aim to clarify expectations and support safer decisions on the water. The proposed change to Clause 20 makes the rule clear, according to the council, and protects everyone on board. What they want to change to is personal flotation devices must be worn on recreational vessels six metres or less in length. So no faffing around with, oh, the person in charge says I don't have to – if you're on the boat, you wear them. Submissions opened yesterday and are open until the 7th of June 2026, so you've got a bit over a month to have your say. Is this sort of explicit rendering of the law necessary? Well, if you look at the stats, yes, it is. On average, between 15 to 20 people die every year in recreational boating accidents. And the majority of the accidents don't happen in rough seas miles from shore, they occur in the northern part of the North Island and in coastal waters within two kilometres of shore, and when you drill down, within 400 metres of shore. Vessel types: kayaks, canoes, small powerboats under six metres are the ones most frequently involved. Capsizing and falling overboard are the primary causes of accidents, often happening suddenly, and over half of those who died in the boating accidents were, guess what, not wearing a life jacket. So you can understand the frustration from Coastguard New Zealand, from the first responders turning up seeing the devastation that occurs when a loved one dies from what was supposed to be a fantastic day out. And it's all so unnecessary. With the right flotation device, you get wet and you go home, and a family's not torn apart. I understand that for a lot of people, going out on the boat is the last freedom. You know, the wind through your hair, if you've got any, the salt water and sound of the seabirds, the light glinting off the water, and you're catching food for dinner. It's a fantastic experience, but it can all go wrong so quickly. And being sorry is all very well and good. “Oh my god, I should have insisted they wear a life jacket.” Yeah, you should have and it's too late now. Do we leave it to God's little pruning fork? Like if you choose not to wear a life jacket and you know the stats, for heaven's sake, if you're a boatie, you know the stats. But is it a case of other people? Oh, it'll happen to other people. I'm very cautious, I'm very careful, I know what I'm doing. I can swim well. I was a lifesaver 42 years ago, I can look after the grandkids if anything happens. It's always other people until it isn't. But do you still want to be able to make your own choices and if the worst happens, oh well, there we go, it's just one of those things? Or should people be saved from their own stupidity and poor decisions? Every single boatie I know has really strict rules around their boat. When the kids go on board, they understand that the captain's in charge, you follow the rules, what he or she says goes, and life jackets are compulsory for everybody. It's not just for the kids and the adults don't wear them. Everybody wears them. I understand people want to go to hell in their own way, but I can also really understand the frustration of first responders and Coastguard who have to deliver the news to people back on shore that because the person they loved was wilful and obstinate and refused to believe that they were mortal, they're not going to be with them ever again. To me, it seems a no brainer. And I'm sure if you're that sort of boatie, you'd be like, how can you not? How can you not insist that people stay safe? It's not an onerous burden these days. So do you just leave people to, like I say, go to hell in their own way? 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.

Auckland Cricket is officially on the move. The organisation is set to depart its long-time home at Eden Park and set up shop at Colin Maiden Park in Glen Innes. It follows the signing of an agreement by Auckland Council, the Crown, Eden Park, Auckland Cricket, and Auckland Rugby that outlines a pathway for modern, permanent, for-purpose facilities for cricket and rugby. Auckland Cricket Chair Brendon Gibson told Piney that while there are people with differing views, the general concensus is the move is in the organisation's best interests. “We're happy with where we've ended up.” 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.

Councils are renewing calls for an overhaul of dog-control legislation after a second serious dog attack in a week. Auckland Council's General Manager of Licensing and Compliance Robert Irvine spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

This morning we spoke to the Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon; We spoke to Auckland Council, they're asking for the government to do more about dog control laws; There's pushback from homeless advocates following the government's new move-on laws, we spoke to Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson; Julie White from the Travel Agent's association joined us as confusion grows over UK passport and visa requirements; And, we spoke Shaun Robinson from the Mental Health Foundation about the rise in weather anxiety.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop has outlined changes to housing densification plans for Auckland - with cabinet agreeing to lower the maximum number of houses in Auckland from 2 million to at least 1.6 million. The U-turn comes after Auckland Council had been progressing a new plan to accommodate up to 2 million homes in the coming decades.

Auckland Council's planning has been thrown for a loop after what looks like yet another government-imposed rule change over housingGovernment interference in planning rules for Auckland housing has reached new heights with another u-turn frustrating the councilGuests:Richard Hills- North Shore Councillor Kristen De Monchy- Sandringham residentPhilip Bradley- Sandringham residentLearn more:Read more about Richard Hills and intensification on RNZ NZ Initiative opinion piece on the intensification rowAuckland Council clarifies the 2 million myth Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details