Podcasts about Auckland Council

A group of Auckland dog lovers are planning legal action over a decision to ban off leash pooches at a popular suburban park. Auckland Council is currently reviewing dog rules at dozens of local and regional parks and beaches. Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia spokesperson Jonathan Sweeney spoke to Lisa Owen.

Housing intensification is a key priority for Auckland Council as Auckland's population is forecast to reach 2.3 million by 2050.  But as planning for growth continues, some Auckland residents have expressed concern about the approval of developments in areas on flood plains or particularly prone to natural disasters. With Kāinga Ora selling homes as ‘high risk investments' in areas which were impacted by flooding in recent years, and 15 percent of all granted consents for new builds by Auckland Council being on floodplains, I spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about how the council is taking into account these issues for the coming years.

Buyers could hold all the cards, based on a plunge in Auckland Council home valuations. Numbers have been released today for 630,000 properties across the region, and will affect how the spread of rates from next month. On average, residential homes dropped nine percent from 2021 CVs. Real estate agent, Rawdon Christie, says buyers could use it to help beat down prices. He explained they're making it clear they think they're making a good offer - given values have dropped. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is as expected - if our office is anything to go by, Auckland is a miserable town today because the house valuations are out, and they're bad. Just about everyone has jumped on the computer to have a look by now, I'd say, and just about everyone's house has gone backwards. So my house - it's gone down in value by 8 percent. One of the bosses, not too bad, only gone back by 4 percent. I don't think anyone's house has gone up in the office. Someone's house has dropped by $250,000. One colleague, and this colleague is suffering more than anybody else - her house has gone down by 21 percent. That's $1.15 million down to $900,000. That's another $250,000 shaved right off right there. Someone's feeling agitated. I called a real estate agent today to see if it's wider than just our office. They told me, yep - and people are not happy. Another real estate agent reckons he's already fielding calls from buyers who are mid-negotiation, who are now saying they're not gonna lift their offer anymore. They're just gonna leave it right where it is, because look at the valuation that's out today. Auckland Council says they normally have about 500 people on their website at any one time. When we called, they said they were watching 12,000 people on their website at any one time. As I said yesterday, spare a thought for Auckland. If you have an Aucklander in your life, spare a thought for them because it's a tough day for Auckland today. Because, I mean, we take the mickey out of Auckland, but there is good reason why Auckland feels like this. Houses in Auckland mean a lot, don't they? I feel like probably more than anywhere else in the country apart from maybe Queenstown and the surrounding area, because houses are expensive in Auckland. Young Aucklanders obsess about it. They scrimp and they save, and they try so bloody hard to get into their first house. It's totally understandable that absolutely no one in this town wants to watch their house then go down in value. But of course, bear in mind, it is slightly irrational. If you are one of these Aucklanders doing this, you are being irrational, you realize that, because you're not suddenly poorer today than you were yesterday, are you? I mean, the value of the thing has not changed overnight. It's simply just been written down. In fact, it was written down a year ago, it's just taken them a year to put it out there. And if you're buying and selling in the same market, it really doesn't matter at all. It's only if you're cashing up to move out of town or to get rid of an investment property or something like that, that this actually matters. Now, I say that knowing that none of that is gonna sink in - we're gonna continue to be irrational because it is all in our heads, isn't it? We feel wealthier when the house is worth more, and that ain't what happened today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Data released by Auckland Council shows residential values have fallen nine percent on average since they were last published in June 2021. Jessica Hopkins reports.

Residential property values in Auckland have dropped by nine percent. Auckland Council's chief financial officer Ross Tucker spoke to Corin Dann.

Auckland home values have fallen, down nine percent on CVs released in 2021. New capital values are being released tomorrow for 630,000 properties, with inner-city suburbs taking a bigger hit. Central Auckland areas - including Mount Eden and Maungakiekie - fell about 13 percent. Auckland Council Group CFO, Ross Tucker, says a few reasons have driven the slump. "We've seen apartments fall 12 percent, converted flats fall 12 percent as well - also, we're seeing some of the areas where there's a lot of development potential have bigger than average falls." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new policy's been voted in by Auckland Council which will see housing developers pay a much greater share of future infrastructure costs. The council's looking to raise an extra six billion from developers to cover future infrastructure costs. Suburbs such as Redhills and Tamaki will have to up to pay three times as much as they did before – more than 70-thousand per new build. Head of strategy at Subdivide Simplified Troy Patchett talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the changes. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Shanan Halbert about Budget 2025, particularly its impact on rangatahi, and the Regulatory Standards Bill. For International Desk, they spoke to Greenpeace campaigner Juressa Lee about the upcoming United Nations Ocean Conference.  For this week's City Counselling, Producer Sara spoke with Councillor Shane Henderson on Auckland Council's recent approval for new development in the city centre, as well as the latest updates in the Western Springs speedway v stadium debate For her second topic, of national and global military spending, she spoke with Massey University Defence and Security Associate Professor Anna Powles, as well as Peace Movement Aotearoa coordinator Edwina Hughes. 

Isn't it cruelly, cruelly ironic that yesterday we were talking about just how tough it is in retail, and we have the news that after 145 years, Smith and Caughey's, the last of the great, grand department stores, famous for the high-end goods, the beautiful Christmas window displays, will close its doors for the final time by July 31st. Ninety-eight jobs will be lost, but it's more losing a bastion of retail, it goes beyond the closure of just the store. It survived two world wars and two severe depressions. It was battling online retail but then a “perfect storm” in 2024 and 2025 meant that it just couldn't carry on. Once it's gone, we won't be seeing the likes of that again. So ironic that we were talking just yesterday about the man from JLL saying we need more retail space, a quarter of a million more square metres of retail space over the next five years, and we were like really? How about filling the retail space that exists? That led into the conversation about just how tough it is selling stuff in this day and age. Mike Hosking was talking to Viv Beck of Heart of the City this morning, and they agreed that the changes made to the inner city had proved too difficult to navigate. “We hoped they'd be able to get through to the opening of the CRL and we have absolutely laid it out, clear as day, to both Auckland Council and Auckland Transport what they needed to do to reduce the barriers to get into the central city. And I think the lack of action is inexcusable. There are fundamental flaws in the way this is being managed, and it has to stop. “The reality is it's been an obsession with getting cars out. We've already lost 44% of them since 2015, and yet Auckland Transport seems to think fining people in our nighttime district in Queen Street is acceptable. But the reality is we've got so much good stuff and it is a positive future. The City Rail Link will make access easier, but we cannot tolerate this behaviour anymore. It has to stop.” There's so much that went wrong all at once, that so many businesses have been trying so hard to navigate and it's not just an Auckland. We're talking about Auckland right now, but look at Wellington and Hamilton as well. The inner cities are really struggling because of the ideological brain farts of city planners, because of the ideological bent to get vehicles out of the inner city without actually replacing them with any kind of decent public transport, because of Covid, because inner city hotels and motels were turned into waste stations for transients and waifs and strays making it an unappealing place to visit, because of online retail – there are so many reasons why it has been incredibly difficult. They're trying to hang on trying to hang on until the promise from these urban planners, the promises from the transport departments, the promises from the ideologues, that this is going to be a new and bright and beautiful future. That the streets are going to be teeming with throngs of happy people who are desperate to buy whatever it is you've got to buy. And so these businesses are hanging on by their fingernails. “Better days are coming. Better days are coming.” Well, some of them cannot hang on any longer, their fingernails are losing the grip in there, slowly scraping their way down the side of the wall. I was on Ponsonby Road yesterday and a fashion designer who's been on Ponsonby Road in the same store for 26 years, she's conceded defeat. She can't do it anymore, she said, she just can't. She's been waiting and waiting and waiting for things to come right and she's run out of money and run out of time. And again, it's the economy, it's Covid, it's the new employment relations rules, it's all of those things. And then just when things start to come right, along comes Trump. There's so much that's happening. But she also made the same comment that a lovely young woman from the New Zealand fashion powerhouse Zambezi made – Zambezi's not renewing its lease on Ponsonby Road. Both women said that along with all the difficult times they've experienced over the last five years, they said that their customer base had aged out and they weren't being replaced. That they were trying to reinvigorate their customer base, but the younger generation are just not interested in buying the more expensive New Zealand designed, New Zealand made fashion. The younger woman don't want to pay those prices. So, the kids may well bunk off school to take part in climate emergency protests, and they may well harangue the older generation for bequeathing them a world on fire, but they're not willing to settle for one outfit a year from a New Zealand designer when they could have 50 dresses from Temu. Rather than actually putting their money where their mouths are and not contributing to the ecological environmental climate change disaster of fast fashion, and rather than support New Zealand designers in New Zealand, machinists in New Zealand, pattern makers in New Zealand, they'll go and do their climate protests at lunchtime and then be home in time to make some clicks on Temu and Shein to get their fast fashion. You can see the mountain of fast fashion waste from space. And the kids could do something about it, but they choose not to. And that means that we're going to see more of these closures and more skills and crafts lost as the younger generation just don't care. So I don't think I'll be harangued by a young one about the state of the world anytime soon and take that lightly. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As of May last year Auckland Council had removed more than 2300 public rubbish bins as a cost cutting measure. Auckland Council's website describes Musick Point as an 8 hectare reserve near Buckland's Beach, with spectacular views over the Hauraki Gulf. But locals are concerned the vista is being blighted by an increase in rubbish dumped around the reserve, a problem they believe is linked to a lack of bins. Liz Domett spoke to Lisa Owen.

North Auckland oyster farmers have been hit with a wave of uncertainty. Norovirus has been found in the Mahurangi River where the shellfish are grown, resulting in contaminated product and closures until further notice. They're blaming Watercare and Auckland Council, claiming they let sewage flows get out of control before infrastructure could catch up. Watercare says a new pipeline should be completed in 2028. Matakana Oysters co-owner Tom Walters told Mike Hosking it's too little too late for many of the businesses, who have been begging for measures to be introduced for years. He says there's been no accountability from Watercare or the council, or compensation after the growth and development of the area cost them their farms and livelihoods. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 20 May 2025, Leader of the House Chris Bishop speaks to Heather after his surprise move to delay the much anticipated debate about Maori Party MPs' punishments. Former Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell defends the MPs right to haka in the house without being punished. Auckland Council has spent $3 million dollars on PR and marketing for its food scrap bins - and Heather is delighted with a campaign to get rid of them. Plus, Stacey Mowbray from concussion and brain injury charity Headway calls for a controversial Runit straight competition to be called off. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, journalist Clare de Lore and Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The suspension debate for the three Māori Party MPs has been postponed until June 5 in a surprise move. Do we think this is the right call? It's been revealed Auckland Council spent $3 million on communications and advertising for the green food scrap bins - do we need to scrap them for good? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After years of delay, Aucklanders can expect to receive their property valuations early next month. Auckland Council says it expected to deliver the new valuations, commonly known as capital values (CVs), in the week of June 9 to June 13. Property commentator Ashley Church says it's unlikely this will make a difference in overall valuations. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New figures from the Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance show Auckland Council has invested $3 million on communications and advertising alone for the green waste bins. This follows the email campaign aimed at mayor Wayne Brown opposing the $36 million spent on the green bins so far. Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance spokesperson Sam Warren says this doesn't make sense from an economic perspective. "Auckland Council spends about $36 million a year on the programme - that's a lot. And only a third of Aucklanders actually use it - and even that number seems a little high." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council is defending its process on deciding the future of Auckland Western Springs stadium. Public submissions on what to do with the site opened on Monday. It includes three options - some of which have local support. But there are others which have people up in arms - and there are even calls for the consultation process to be halted. Alexa Cook explains.

The owners of a Mt Eden villa has voiced disapproval after Auckland Council demanded they remove double-glazed windows from their house to comply with heritage rules - claiming the order is 'expensive' and 'unnecessary'. The new windows have aluminium frames instead of the traditional timber frames - and open up to the outsides, rather than side upwards like the traditional sash windows. Alex Witten-Hannah, a lawyer representing the homeowners, hopes the council will take a 'common-sense' approach and back off. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland won't be scrapping its green food scrap bins any time soon. Whanganui District Council is dropping its kerbside service to save a 1.5 percent rate increase. Local Government Minister Simeon Brown believes Auckland could do the same. It costs much more to offset carbon with food waste bins - than the carbon credits system. Auckland Council Waste Solutions general manager Justine Haves says the service reduces landfill waste. "We regularly hear from communities that they don't want more landfills, so in order to achieve that, we need to achieve waste minimisation." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 13 May 2025, even more details have come to light about the kind of pornographic material that Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming allegedly had on his work device. NZ Herald investigative reporter Jared Savage tells Heather the details. Auckland Council's Justine Haves defends the little food rubbish bins, after Minister for Auckland Simeon Brown claimed the council could shave 2% of our rates bill by getting rid of them. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls gets into a heated debate with Heather about who is allowed into the Budget lockup. Plus, Public Service Minister Judith Collins on why she is thinking about getting rid of DEI hiring policies for the public service. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The issue of dog attacks is back front and centre after a young girl was attacked on a West Auckland sports field. Auckland Council says the rise of off-leash dogs is a concerning trend. Auckland Council's Licencing and Compliance Manager Robert Irvine talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about how the Council's monitoring the issue, how the prosecution process works and more. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A decision to ban off lead dogs from a popular Auckland park has some residents gearing up for a fight. Auckland Council's currently reviewing dog rules at dozens of local and regional parks and beaches. The popular suburban Monte Cecilia park is one of them, at the moment pooches can roam free in designated areas. Almost 90 percent of submissions on its future wanted to keep the off leash areas, just 10 percent supported a change. Ella Kumar, Puketāpapa Local Board chair said they want their community to feel safe when enjoying their parks and reserves in Puketāpapa. "Our decision to change some locations from off-leash to on-leash will ensure these spaces are more accessible for all park users," she said. Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia spokesperson Jonathan Sweeney spoke to Lisa Owen.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 2 May 2025, Heather and Deborah Coddington pay tribute to their good friend, Sir Bob Jones. Jones passed away today after decades as one of the great characters of NZ politics and business for many decades. There's speculation that Shortland Street might not be coming back next year with TVNZ refusing to confirm that its future. Former Minister for Women Jan Tinetti goes head-to-head with Heather to convince her that the job of Women's Minister shouldn't be done away with. Plus, the Sports Huddle debates why Auckland Council isn't just saying "yes please" to a new stadium paid for by billionaires at Western Springs. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Numerous political figures including Ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour have spoken out in the media this week with allegations that Auckland Council is trying to usher in ‘co-governance' on a local level, with their proposal on the management of the Waitākere Ranges. CEO of Te Kawerau ā Maki Edward Ashby called out the political lashback as “fear-mongering” and ‘misinformation', affirming that the proposal is not actually a co-governance structure.  The proposal is for a decision-making committee of 50% representation from the Crown and tangata whenua to manage the land under a deed of acknowledgement. The council says the deed of acknowledgement is in line with the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Act 2008, and follows on from the existing management structures in place.  Producer Sara spoke with Councillor Shane Henderson during his bus commute about this topic and the political commentary that's been witnessed this week. Here is that interview

The Deputy Leader of New Zealand First says his party will step in to stop management of the Waitakere Ranges morphing into co-governance. Auckland Council's proposing a board made up of Iwi, the Department of Conservation, and the council. Act Leader David Seymour has also criticised the plan as moving towards co-governance. Shane Jones told Mike Hosking they're not going to stand for it. He says they won't tolerate any slither of the West Auckland heritage land being under that type of arrangement. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Councils are taking millions of dollars of unpaid rates through people's mortgages. A little-known clause of the Local Government Act gives councils the power to force banks or finance companies to cover unpaid rates. It's used as a last resort after exhausting all other avenues to getting rates paid. Taxpayers' Union Local Government Spokesperson, Sam Warren, says it wouldn't be needed as much if there was more sensible spending. "I want to see a lot more done by councils to rein in that spending and get rates down as low as possible so this doesn't happen." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister is calling on Auckland Council to be transparent about its Waitākere Ranges management plan. The proposed plan would see Iwi, the Department of Conservation, the Council and local boards on a committee. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says she's heard a range of views about whether or not it equates to co-governance. She says they should come clean about it to reduce confusion. "And I think they should be very clear with their ratepayers about what they're doing - and why they're doing it." Auckland Councillor Richard Hills says the board doesn't have final say and is only for consultation and suggestions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand First and ACT are opposing an Auckland Council plan for the Waitākere Ranges. The council wants to set up a committee including iwi, the Crown and Auckland Council. NZ First MP Shane Jones says it could easily morph into co-governance and ACT leader David Seymour claims it could let unelected decision-makers close tracks and dictate land use. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says the ball's in National's court on this matter. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Monday submissions close on an Deed of Acknowledgement between iwi Te Kawerau a Maki, Auckland Council and the Department of Conservation. The Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act has been in place since 2008 - so 17 years later the next step, on how to effect the act and actually manage the area is underway.

Since Wednesday last week, Auckland and the wider Northland region were warned of heavy rain and winds expected across the North Island.  On Friday night however, as severe thunderstorms struck Auckland, residents were not sent severe weather alerts until after the worst part of the storm had already arrived. Many Aucklanders have called out the slow response system, in an effort yet again to revitalise discussions around Auckland's storm and natural disaster preparedness. As well, Auckland's public transport system is under the microscope this month as Aucklanders endure just over a fortnight without train services, as workers seek to speed up the completion of Kiwi Rail. Yesterday, Transport Minister Chris Bishop also announced a multi-billion dollar project for a Northland Expressway that he says will improve public transport.  In the meantime, public transport prices have increased — for ratepayers and users —- translating to less bang and more buck for Aucklanders.  Producer Sara spoke with Councillor Julie Fairey about both of these topics, firstly by asking if she was satisfied with Auckland Council's response pace in the lead up to severe weather conditions.

A pest eradication project at Lake Tomarata in Auckland is starting to turn the tide against invasive fish. Auckland Council, with assistance from University of Waikato, has been using nets to remove the pests which have had a devastating impact on the lake's ecosystem. As Victor Waters explains, the work could provide a blueprint to improve the country's waterways.

Ecologists have discovered a handful of rare lizards during a top secret gecko census at an undisclosed location south of Auckland. The Raukawa gecko is considered at risk on the mainland  due to predators. But they are vital little cogs in the environment helping with pollination and seed dispersal. Locating them is helpful for managing threats and restoring their environment. Auckland Council's Senior Ecologist Melinda Rixon spoke to Lisa Owen. 

New Zealand's native freshwater mussels, or kākahi, are a keystone species for healthy lake and river ecosystems.  But in many lakes across Auckland, kākahi have disappeared.  Lake Rototoa near the entrance to Kaipara Harbour is still home to some kākahi, but they're struggling to successfully breed due to invasive fish called perch.  Now, a team from Auckland Council have come up with a plan to help protect the kākahi.  Ellen Rykers joins them out on the water.

I am of the view that it is time for authorities to start cracking down really hard on bad dog owners. When I was on maternity leave, apart from trying to ignore Donald Trump, I was trying very hard not to read too much news because I was just trying to get away from work a little bit. But there was one story that I saw pop up on the Herald that I actually had to click on. That was the news report about that Katikati dog attack a few weeks ago. That was where the three dogs killed the four year old boy, and all three of those dogs were unregistered. I clicked on that news report because, frankly, dog maulings freak me out at the moment in a way that they never have because it's too close to home. I'm constantly trying to keep my 3 year old boy away from dogs that look like they're grumpy, including just yesterday at our local park because they're everywhere now. I've certainly noticed because I've started to see a pattern here that we've had a spate of more maulings in the last couple of years. We very clearly have a massive dog issue on our hands. Not only dogs that are mauling, but dogs that are roaming, and dogs that are unregistered. And I am not seeing a corresponding urgency from authorities to deal with this particular issue. We've had the announcement today that the government's going to crack down on owners that tether their dogs too long, but I still feel like it's a bit wet bus ticketey, isn't it? What's the punishment for them if they tether their dogs too long? Oh, a fine. Just a fine. And at what level do they get cracked down on? Well, quite clear dog abuse is what it takes to get a crackdown. It is like the worst extremes of what you would see with dogs that cop a fine. I don't think that's good enough. Sure, at the local government level, you've got councils like Auckland Council, currently having a crackdown on unregistered dog owners and warning them that they're on their absolute last legs and they've got to register their dogs. But the punishment for failing to do so after repeated warnings remains pretty lame. It's a fine, or it's going to court. They get to keep the dog. I would not be that lenient if I was in charge of the situation. I would just be turning up and saying you had 28 days to register your dog, you didn't register your dog, the dog's coming with me, and I put the dog down. It's as simple as that. Because as the council says there is a link between unregistered dogs and dogs that end up roaming and dogs that attack people. I think we are well past the point where we need to get tough on these dogs. Sure, the dog owner's not going to be stoked about it. They're not going to be happy. They've got a dead dog. But that's a better outcome, I would say, than having a dead kid, don't you think? My patience with these dogs ran out a long time ago and these owners in particular. I, for one, want to see a hard crackdown. I don't know how many more incidents like the one in Katikati we have to have before we start taking this problem with our dogs seriously. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council expects to have bought 1200 properties at high risk of flooding by the end of the year, and it's mapped out a plan for managing the flood damaged land. North Shore Ward Councillor and Chair of the Policy and Planning Committee Richard Hills spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Auckland council has come up with a plan to manage flood damaged land it's buying as part of it's recovery from the 2023 floods. Chair of the West Auckland is Flooding group Lyall Carter spoke to Corin Dann.

Calm before the storm for Auckland's flood-risk communities as the council takes action. It'll buy more than 1200 high risk homes by the end of the year, at a cost of $352 million. A large chunk of the land will be retained for flood resilience and safer areas will be sold for development. Auckland Council Policy and Planning Committee Chair Richard Hills told Mike Hosking it's going to be a long road. He says people will find it hard seeing houses removed from the street they live on. The Council has also acknowledged the time it's taken to take action on flood risk areas. Hills says he hoped it would be a faster process. He told Hosking homeowners could apply to be categorised for most of last year, and then needed individual assessments. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 20,000 roaming dogs were reported to Auckland Council last year - a 78 percent increase since 2021. But the council said that's just snapshot of the real problem. Because with roaming dogs, come dog attacks - and there's been a 76 percent increase in those in Auckland over the last six years. To try and combat the problem, the Council introduced its first dedicated roaming dog patrol, which has been going now for just over a year. Louise Ternouth spent the day on patrol with them.

Already this year Auckland Council has had at least 13 rubbish truck fires caused by discarded batteries. They over heat and spark up the other rubbish, costing the council up to $5000 a truck fire. An audit of kerbside bins in 2023 showed 71 percent of them contained electronic waste. Echo Chief Executive Officer Patrick Moynahan spoke to Lisa Owen.

Is a new waterfront stadium on the cards for Auckland or will Eden Park get a revamp? Auckland Council is currently debating which option it wants to back - with councillors spending the last hour going over the fine details of the plans. RNZ Reporter Jessica Hopkins spoke to Lisa Owen.

Auckland Council has overwhelmingly decided to vote in support of plans to upgrade Eden Park. Auckland Council's been debating which option it wants to back - the other main one being a Waterfront stadium. Reporter Jessica Hopkins spoke to Lisa Owen.

Auckland Council has endorsed the redevelopment of Eden Park into the city's main stadium, with the majority of councillors supporting plans for a business case. Maia Ingoe reports.

Auckland Council staff say neither proposal for a new or upgraded "main stadium" is viable. Councillors will decide on Thursday whether to endorse upgrades to Eden Park or a new stadium by the waterfront. But advisors have reviewed the options and can't recommend either. Felix Walton has more.

On today's episode, the government wants bipartisan support to repeal and replace the RMA, we cross to the US to get the latest on yesterday's bombshell that senior Trump administration officials discussed plans to bomb Yemen in a group messaging app, investigations are underway into how the police mistook an 11-year-old for a 20-year-old, and Auckland Council are set to decide on which stadium proposal to support in the city.

Auckland's 21 local boards united in a letter to Mayor Wayne Brown last week, rejecting that they must absorb a $17.6 million budget shortfall tied to the Fairer Funding Initiative.  The letter, dated March 10, highlights the significant pressures imposed on local board activities due to the cost-cutting measures, asserting that local boards had “no control over the budget” and "all decisions were made without any reference to any Local Board”. While Wayne Brown responded earlier this week, ensuring that local boards would not need to seek extra funding to cover the budget shortfall this year, these discussions will become relevant again for next year's budget.  Group chief financial officer for Auckland Council, Ross Tucker, says the council "is embarking on a challenging transition to an equity-based funding model that will see local boards being empowered with more budget autonomy as well as greater budget responsibility". Also, as the need increases to address the number of roaming dogs on the street, as well as the number of dog attacks, Auckland Council has opened a council-operated dog adoption centre. Last year, less than half of roaming dogs were claimed by their owners, the lowest amount in a decade. The adoption centre which opened on the weekend will house over forty dogs in an effort to relieve the strain on animal shelters around Auckland. Producer Sara spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about both of these issues this morning. To start off, she asked him to explain the purpose of Auckland Council's Fairer Funding Initiative.

Auckland Council's Community Committee has recently reported a 53% rise in rough sleeping over four months, with the data showing the number of people known to be living in cars, parks, or on the streets has risen from 426 in September 2024 to 653 in January 2025. Kickback, a youth development and social justice community responding to youth homelessness, is calling for an urgent review of The Ministry of Social Development's approach to homelessness. Producer Amani spoke with General Manager Aaron Hendry about why it is calling for a review and which suggestions it has for the public service department.

In an effort to get thousands of roaming dogs off the streets and into forever homes - Auckland Council is opening the country's first council operated dog adoption centre in Pukekohe. The need is more pressing than ever - with all of the city's dog shelters at capacity and less than half of roaming dogs in Auckland reclaimed by their owners last year - the lowest level in a decade. Louise Ternouth went to Pukekohe for a sneak peak.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about Labour's caucus reshuffle and the Taxpayers Union-Curia poll. For International Desk, they spoke to University of Waikato Senior Lecturer Garritt Van Dyk and Yale Daily News' Andre Fa'aoso about the emerging protest movements against the Trump administration in the United States. For City Counselling, Producer Sara spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about the rise in homelessness in Tamaki, as well as Auckland Council's recent announcement of an AI digital assistant for customer service support.

On Auckland's North Shore, a public golf course is fighting council plans to use their course as a floodwater catchment Auckland Council wants to turn public land into a water catchment to protect against floods. The current leaseholders say there's a better way.A stoush is brewing on Auckland's North Shore over a controversial proposal to convert Takapuna Golf Course into a floodwater catchment area, aiming to mitigate the city's increasing flood risks…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Auckland Council is looking at converting a big chunk of Takapuna Golf course into a wetland to soak up future floodwaters. Wairau Valley was one of the hardest-hit areas during the 2023 floods with severe damage and loss of life. Stephen Dowd from Takapuna Golf Club spoke to Lisa Owen.