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Rodney Local Board
30 April 2025
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Annual Plan
2025/2026: local board consultation feedback and input
File No.: CP2025/07894
Te take mō te
pūrongo
Purpose of the report
1. To
receive consultation feedback from the Rodney Local Board area on:
· proposed
priorities and activities for the Rodney Local Board Agreement 2025/2026
· regional
topics for the Annual Plan 2025/2026.
2. To
recommend any local matters or advocacy initiatives to the Governing Body for
consideration or decision-making as part of the Annual Plan 2025/2026 process.
3. To
provide input on the proposed regional topics in the Annual
Plan 2025/2026.
Whakarāpopototanga matua
Executive summary
4. Local
board agreements outline annual funding priorities, activities, budgets, levels
of service, performance measures and initiatives for each local board area. The
2025/2026 local board agreements will be included in the Auckland
Council’s Annual Plan 2025/2026.
5. Auckland
Council publicly consulted from 28 February to 28 March 2025 to gather
community feedback on the proposed Annual Plan
2025/2026. This included consultation on the Rodney Local Board’s
proposed priorities for 2025/2026 to be included in their
local board agreement for the
Annual Plan 2025/2026.
6. Auckland Council received feedback from 13,016 people in total across the region. Four hundred and forty-eight
(448) were from the Rodney Local Board area and 209 were
received from submitters that did not select Rodney as
their local board area but indicated their response relates to Rodney. A
detailed analysis on these submissions is provided in the analysis and advice
section of this report.
7. As part of the Annual Plan 2025/2026 process, local boards provide
recommendations to the Governing Body for consideration or decision-making.
This includes any local board advocacy initiatives. The Governing Body will consider
these matters during the annual plan decision-making process in May and June
2025, including:
· any
new/amended business improvement district targeted rates
· any
new/amended local targeted rate proposals
· the
release of local board specific reserve funds
· any
other local board advocacy initiatives.
8. Local
boards have a statutory responsibility to provide input into regional
strategies, policies, plans, and bylaws. This report provides an opportunity
for the local board to provide input on council’s Annual Plan 2025/2026.
Ngā tūtohunga
Recommendation/s
That the Rodney Local Board:
a) whiwhi / receive consultation feedback on
the proposed Rodney Local Board priorities and activities for 2025/2026
b) whiwhi / receive consultation feedback on regional topics in the Annual Plan 2025/2026 from people and organisations based in the Rodney Local Board area
c) tuku / provide input on regional topics in the proposed Annual Plan 2025/2026 and key advocacy initiatives to the Governing Body.
Horopaki
Context
9. Each
financial year Auckland Council must have a local board agreement (as agreed
between the Governing Body and the relevant local board) for each local board
area. The local board agreement outlines how the council will reflect
priorities of the Rodney Local Board Plan 2023 in respect of the local
activities to be provided in the local board area and includes information on
budgets, levels of service, and performance measures.
10. The local
board agreements for 2025/2026 will form part of the Auckland Council’s Annual Plan 2025/2026.
11. Auckland
Council publicly consulted from 28 February to 28 March 2025 to seek community
feedback on the proposed Annual Plan 2025/2026. The
consultation content included information on regional proposals to be decided
by the Governing Body, and information on the Rodney Local Board’s
proposed priorities for 2025/2026 to be included in their
local board agreement for 2025/2026.
12. Local boards have a statutory responsibility to identify and
communicate the interests and preferences of people in their local board area
in relation to the Annual Plan 2025/2026.
Tātaritanga me ngā
tohutohu
Analysis and advice
13. This
report includes analysis of consultation feedback and seeks input on regional
topics in the proposed Annual Plan 2025/2026.
Consultation feedback overview
14. As part of
the public consultation for the Annual Plan 2025/2026, Auckland Council used a
variety of methods and channels to reach and engage a broad cross section of
Aucklanders to gain their feedback and input into regional and local topics.
15. In
total, Auckland Council received feedback from 13,016 people in the
consultation period. This feedback was received through:
· written
feedback – 10,011 hard copy and online forms, emails and letters
· in
person – 3001 pieces of feedback through 89 Have
Your Say events (five of which were held in the Rodney Local Board area)
· Neurodiverse
Online Audio – four feedback forms.
16. Four hundred
and forty-eight (448) submissions were received from residents that said they
live in Rodney Local Board area and nine from local organisations.
17. Two hundred
and nine (209) submissions were received from people that said they live
outside the Rodney Local Board area as well as six regional organisations but
indicated their response relates to Rodney.
18. All
feedback will be made available on an Auckland Council webpage called
“Feedback on the Annual Plan 2025/2026'” and will be accessible
after 22 April 2025 through the following link: https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/annual-plan-2025-2026/feedback-annual-plan-2025-2026.
19. During
the consultation period, the question “What do you think of our proposals
for our local board area in 2025/2026?” was discovered to be missing from
the online feedback form, affecting 195 submissions for Rodney Local Board
(around 1700 submissions in total). The issue was later corrected, and affected
submitters were contacted with a link to provide feedback on this question
before the consultation closed on 28 March 2025. Of the affected submissions,
83 submitters responded to the missing question (617 in total). A review was
conducted to identify the cause of the error and prevent similar issues in the
future.
Information on submitters
20. The
graphs below indicate the demographic categories people identified with. This
information only relates to submitters living in Rodney who provided
demographic information.
Graph 1: Ethnicity of submitters from Rodney residents
Graph 2: Age and gender of submitters from Rodney
residents
Feedback received on the Rodney Local
Board’s priorities for 2025/2026 and the Annual Plan 2025/2026
21. The
Rodney Local Board consulted on the following local priorities for 2025/2026:
· Priority
1: Improving services for all communities by enhancing libraries art and
youth programmes
· Priority
2: Promote physical activity and recreation by increasing play
opportunities in more locations
· Priority
3: Support community groups, volunteers, and mana whenua to enhance
environmental protection and restoration efforts, particularly for waterways
and wetlands, while promoting waste reduction
· Priority
4: Increase maintenance service levels, such as more frequent mowing of
high-profile reserves, pest control, and repair of tracks and car parks
· Priority
5: Support Rodney Greenways Plans to facilitate walking, cycling and horse
riding
· Priority
6: Prepare and review plans for reserves to identify gaps to meet community
needs
· Priority
7: Improve the safety of our community and environment through increased
education, monitoring and compliance.
Feedback on proposals for the Rodney Local Board area
in 2025/2026
22. Two hundred and eighty-two
(282) submitters that live in the Rodney Local Board area (Rodney) responded to
the question: “What do
you think of our proposals for your local board area in 2025/2026”. Graph 3 below provides an overview of submissions
received:
Graph 3: Feedback on the local board
priorities 2025/2026 from those that live in Rodney
23. Sixty-two (62) per cent of
individuals and 100 per cent of organisations supported all or most priorities
while 26 per cent of individuals did not support most or any priorities.
24. One
hundred and sixty (160) individuals and four organisations, that live or are
based outside Rodney and indicated their response relates to Rodney, also
responded to this question.
25. Graph
4 below provides an overview of submissions received from those that live in
and outside Rodney and indicated their response relates to Rodney:
Graph 4: Feedback on the local board
priorities 2025/2026 from those that live in and outside Rodney
Importance of
priorities
26. Below
is an overview of submissions that responded to the question “How
important are these priorities to you?” from residents that live in
Rodney (graph 5), and from those that live in and outside Rodney and indicated
their response relates to Rodney (graph 6).
Graph 5: Overview of submissions from
those that live in Rodney that responded to the seven priorities
Graph 6. Overview of submissions from
those that live in and outside Rodney that responded to the seven priorities
27. The
majority of the six Rodney organisations claimed that all local board
priorities were very or fairly important, with priority 1 noted as very
important by four out of the six organisations. Four out of the six
organisations claimed that priority 4 was fairly important.
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Very
important
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Fairly
important
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Less
important
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1.
Improving services for all communities by enhancing libraries art and youth
programmes
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4
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1
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1
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2.
Promote physical activity and recreation by increasing play opportunities in
more locations
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3
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3
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0
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3.
Support community groups, volunteers, and mana whenua to enhance
environmental protection and restoration efforts, particularly for waterways
and wetlands, while promoting waste reduction
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3
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3
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0
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4.
Increase maintenance service levels, such as more frequent mowing of
high-profile reserves, pest control, and repair of tracks and car parks.
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1
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4
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1
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5.
Support Rodney Greenways Plans to facilitate walking, cycling and horse
riding
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2
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1
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3
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6.
Prepare and review plans for reserves to identify gaps to meet community
needs
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3
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1
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2
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7.
Improve the safety of our community and environment through increased
education, monitoring and compliance.
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3
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1
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2
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Graph 7: Overview of submissions from organisations
based in Rodney that responded to the seven priorities
Key themes on
local board priorities
28. The
main themes discussed below relate to written comments provided in submissions
by all those with an expressed interest in Rodney.
29. Priority
1: Improving services for all communities by enhancing libraries art and
youth programmes.
· support
for enhancing libraries, arts, and youth programmes, highlighting their vital
role in fostering connection, wellbeing, creativity, and equitable access
across Rodney’s growing and diverse communities.
30. Priority
2: Promote physical activity and recreation by increasing play
opportunities in more locations.
· support
for more and better play and recreation facilities especially in fast-growing
areas like Milldale and Warkworth, with repeated calls for playgrounds, skate
and bike parks, and swimming pools
· support
emphasised the need for well-designed, safe, and inclusive spaces
—particularly shade, toilets, and fencing at playgrounds — to
ensure usability and comfort for families and all age groups.
31. Priority
3: Support community groups, volunteers, and mana whenua to enhance
environmental protection and restoration efforts, particularly for waterways
and wetlands, while promoting waste reduction.
· support
for increased funding and resources for community-led environmental restoration
and volunteer coordination, with recognition of the high value and
cost-effectiveness these groups provide
· concern
about the state of waterways and wetlands, with calls for urgent and sustained
action to restore and maintain these natural assets, both to preserve biodiversity
and to mitigate flooding and climate-related risks.
32. Priority
4: Increase maintenance service levels, such as more frequent mowing of
high-profile reserves, pest control, and repair of tracks and car parks.
· support
for improved and more consistent maintenance of parks, tracks, and public
spaces, with some concerns raised about current service levels and delays in
upkeep, especially in fast-growing or rural areas
· support
for pest control as a priority for protecting biodiversity and maintaining the
environment.
33. Priority
5: Support Rodney Greenways Plans to facilitate walking, cycling and horse
riding.
· support
for improving safe, connected infrastructure for walking and cycling,
particularly to schools, town centres, and public transport
· some
support for more safe, accessible facilities for horse riding throughout
Rodney.
34. Priority
6: Prepare and review plans for reserves to identify gaps to meet community
needs.
· some
support to ensure they cater to diverse community needs, including recreation,
and environmental protection.
35. Priority
7: Improve the safety of our community and environment through increased
education, monitoring and compliance.
· support
for stronger compliance measures, particularly regarding freedom camping,
littering, noise, illegal parking, and environmental protection, with an
expectation for increased monitoring and enforcement with some scepticism on
using education alone.
Auckland
Transport related feedback
36. The
local board received a high number of comments in relation to Auckland
Transport’s work programme. The main themes were as follows:
· request
for improved maintenance and upgrading of roading infrastructure, particularly
in rural and high-growth areas
· demand
for more reliable, frequent, and better-connected public transport options
across the region.
Other feedback
37. The local
board received other feedback not directly related to the priorities. The key
themes are as follows:
· concern
that growth and development are outpacing planning and service delivery such as
with core infrastructure and services (roads, wastewater, stormwater,
footpaths, emergency services, and planning)
· dissatisfaction
with the local board and council noting lack of transparency, engagement, and
accountability.
39. Consultation
feedback on local board priorities will be considered by the local board when
approving their local board agreement between 10 - 12 June 2025. Local board
key advocacy initiatives will be considered in the current report.
Overview of feedback received on regional topics in the annual
plan from the Rodney Local Board area
38. The
proposed Annual Plan 2025/2026 builds on the Long-term Plan 2024-2034 (LTP),
setting out Auckland Council’s priorities and how services and
investments are proposed to be funded. Consultation on the proposed Annual Plan
2025/2026 asked submitters to respond to key questions related to:
· the overall
plan
· destination management and major events
· changes to other rates, fees and charges
· local board priorities.
39. Submitters
were also encouraged to provide feedback on any of other matters included in
the Annual Plan 2025/2026 consultation
document.
40. The
submissions received from the Rodney Local Board area on these key issues are
summarised below, along with an overview of any other areas of feedback on
regional proposals with a local impact.
Key
Question 1: Overall Plan
41. Aucklanders were asked whether they support the overall
plan including prioritising investment
in:
· transport
· water;
and
· fairer
funding for local communities.
42. The consultation document for the Annual Plan 2025/2026 also
outlined the proposed funding approach which includes a 5.8 per cent rates
increase for the average value residential property, consistent with the LTP,
and additional debt financing to fund $4 billion in capital expenditure.
43. The
proposed 5.8 per cent rates increase for the average value residential property
for 2025/2026 includes the following proposed rates changes:
· an
average general rates increase of 6.4 per cent for existing ratepayers
· an
average increase of 3.5 per cent to the Natural Environment Targeted Rate
(NETR) and Climate Action Transport Targeted Rate (CATTR) for existing
ratepayers, as set out in the LTP
· an
average increase of $2.12 in the Water Quality Targeted Rate (WQTR) to cover
the operating and interest costs for the programme, as set out in the LTP
· a
3.3 per cent increase to the overall Waste Management Targeted Rate (WMTR) for
the typical household.
44. The graph below gives an overview of the responses from
the Rodney Local Board area.
Graph 8: Overview of submissions on the
Overall Plan from those that live in Rodney
45. Sixty (60) per cent of
individuals supported all or most of the overall plan. The main themes from
submitters that provided comments include:
· support
for investment in infrastructure
· support
for improved public transport services
· concern
regarding rates increases.
46. Thirty-four
(34) per cent of individuals did not support all or most of the overall plan.
The main themes from submitters that provided comments include:
· concern
regarding rates increases
· concern
regarding wasteful spending
· general
dissatisfaction with council.
47. One hundred (100) per cent of
organisations supported most of the overall plan. There were no key themes in
the comments.
Key
Question 2: Destination management and major events
48. Aucklanders were asked for feedback on a bed night visitor levy paid
by those in short-stay commercial accommodation, to fund destination
management, marketing and major events. Without such a levy, a $7 million
budget shortfall for the 2025/2026 financial year could impact the funding for
major events that are expected to attract visitor expenditure, such as the ASB
Classic, Auckland Marathon, and Auckland Writers Festival.
49. A
bed night visitor levy of 2.5 to 3 per cent paid by those in short-stay
accommodation would raise around $27 million annually to fund even more
destination management, marketing and major events activities in Auckland.
However, this requires central government legislative change. Auckland Council continues to work with central
government on this, with public
feedback helping to inform this work.
50. The graph below gives an overview of the responses from
the Rodney Local Board area.
Graph 9: Overview of submissions the Bed
Night Visitor Levy from those that live in Rodney
51. Fifty-seven (57) per cent of
individuals supported the Bed Night Visitor Levy. The main themes from
submitters that provided comments include:
· support
for a targeted visitor levy provided it is fairly applied, transparently
managed, and does not negatively impact affordability or local accommodation
providers
· reduce
cost to local residents with a shift to user pays.
52. Thirty-two (32) per
cent of individuals did not support the Bed Night Visitor Levy. The main themes
from submitters that provided comments include:
· concern
about wasteful spending.
53. Fifty (50) per cent of
organisations supported most of the Bed Night Visitor Levy. There were no key
themes in the comments.
Key
Question 3: changes to other rates, fees and charges
54. Aucklanders were asked to provide feedback on
proposed changes to certain targeted rates and some fees and charges as outlined below.
Waste management rates changes
55. Aucklanders
were asked whether they support applying the Refuse Targeted Rate to
residential and lifestyle properties in Franklin and Rodney to fund the
council’s rubbish collection service, replacing the current system of
purchasing rubbish bags.
56. Starting
in 2025/2026, residential and lifestyle properties in Franklin and Rodney will
be charged a refuse targeted rate for the first time. Franklin's rate will
cover a full year of service, while Rodney's will be about 83 per cent of the
full charge due to its scheduled September 2025 start date. Additionally, from
July 2025, waste management services and targeted rates will be introduced in
Manukau's commercial areas where the service isn’t presently available.
57. Graph
10 below gives an overview of the responses from the Rodney Local Board area.
Graph 10: Overview of submissions on the
Waste Management rate changes from those that live in Rodney
58. Thirty-six (36) per cent of individuals
supported the proposal for waste management rate changes, while 53 per cent of
individuals and 25 per cent of organisations did not support the proposal.
Changes to fees and charges
59. Other proposed changes to fees and charges included in the
consultation document for the Annual Plan 2025/2026 include:
· changes
to some animal management fees including an increase in the dog adoption fee
from $350 to $450 and an increase vet fee from $75 to $150
· fees
for some cemetery and cremation services
· realigning
bach fees into pricing tiers based on occupancy levels, capacity, and location
· aligning
staff charge-out rates with staff pay bands for services in regional parks.
60. There
were 254 submissions from the Rodney Local Board area which referenced these
fees.
61. The
main theme from submitters that provided comments on the waste management rate
changes and other changes to fees and charges included:
· support
for pay as you throw system: fairer, more flexible, and better at encouraging
waste minimisation
· general
opposition to any increases to rates, fees and charges.
Other
matters for feedback
62. The
following matters were also included in the consultation in the long-term plan:
Draft Tūpuna Maunga Authority Operational Plan
2025/2026
63. Aucklanders
were asked for feedback on the draft Tūpuna Maunga Authority (TMA)
Operational Plan 2025/2026 which sets out a framework in which the council must
carry out the routine management of 14 Tūpuna Maunga, under the direction
of the Tūpuna Maunga Authority.
64. There were just six submissions from the Rodney Local
Board area which referenced the TMA plan with no overall themes.
Any other feedback
65. Aucklanders were asked if they had any other comments. Key
themes of note across other areas of feedback received from Rodney submitters
included:
· general
dissatisfaction with council
· concern
about insufficient and poorly timed infrastructure investment, particularly in
transport, roading, and essential services
· request
to focus on core services and to stop wasteful spending on non-essentials
Recommendations on local matters
66. This
report provides for the local board to recommend local matters to the Governing
Body for consideration as part of the annual plan process, in May 2025. This
includes:
· any
new/amended local targeted rate proposals
· any
new/amended business improvement district targeted rates
· release
of local board specific reserve funds
· local advocacy initiatives.
Local board advocacy
67. Local
boards can also agree advocacy initiatives which considers the consultation
feedback above. This allows the Governing Body to consider these advocacy items
when making decisions on the Annual Plan 2025/2026 in May 2025.
68. The
advocacy initiatives approved by the local board will then be included as an
appendix to the 2025/2026 local board agreement
Local board input on regional topics in the Annual Plan 2025/2026
69. Local
boards have a statutory responsibility for identifying and communicating the
interests and preferences of the people in its local board area in relation to
Auckland Council’s strategies, policies, plans, and bylaws, and any
proposed changes to be made to them. This report provides an opportunity
for the local board to provide input on council’s proposed Annual Plan
2025/2026.
70. Local
board plans reflect community priorities and preferences and are key documents
that guide the development of local board agreements, local board annual work
programmes, and local board input into regional plans such as the long-term
plan and annual plan.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
āhuarangi
Climate impact statement
71. The
decisions recommended in this report are part of the Annual Plan 2025/2026 and
local board agreement process to approve funding and expenditure over the next
year.
72. Projects
allocated funding through this annual plan process will all have varying levels
of potential climate impact associated with them. The climate impacts of
projects Auckland Council chooses to progress, are all assessed carefully as
part of council’s rigorous reporting requirements.
Ngā whakaaweawe me
ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera
Council group impacts and views
73. The
Annual Plan 2025/2026 is an Auckland Council Group document and will include
budgets at a consolidated group level. Consultation items and updates to
budgets to reflect decisions and new information may include items from across
the group.
Ngā whakaaweawe
ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe
Local impacts and local board views
74. The
local board’s decisions and feedback are being sought in this report. The
local board has a statutory role in providing its feedback on regional plans.
75. Local
boards play an important role in the development of the council’s Annual
Plan 2025/2026. Local board agreements form part of the annual plan. Local
board chairpersons have been invited to attend Budget Committee workshops.
Local board members were provided recordings or briefings of the Budget
Committee workshops for the Annual Plan 2025/2026.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
Māori
Māori impact statement
76. Many
local board decisions are of importance to and impact Māori. Local board
agreements and the annual plan are important tools that enable and can
demonstrate the council’s responsiveness to Māori Outcomes.
77. Local
board plans, developed in 2023 through engagement with the community including
Māori, form the basis of local board area priorities.
78. Some
projects approved for funding could have discernible impacts on Māori. For
any project or programme progressed by Auckland Council, the potential impacts
on Māori, will be assessed as part of relevant reporting requirements.
79. Analysis
of consultation feedback received on the proposed annual plan includes
submissions made by mana whenua, matawaaka organisations and the wider
Māori community who have interests in the rohe / local board area.
80. The
governance team led the council-wide approach with support from Ngā
Mātārae on engagement with Māori entities. This included:
· three
information sessions for mana whenua on submissions and the process for
submissions
· five
information sessions for mātaawaka on submissions and the process for
submissions
· one
hearing style event for mana whenua and mātaawaka groups.
81. Nineteen
mana whenua entities have interests in the Auckland Council rohe. Thirteen of
the nineteen (68.42 per cent) provided verbal or written submissions on the
Auckland Council’s proposals for the Annual Plan 2025/2026.
82. There
were six oral submissions from mana whenua and six oral submissions from
mātaawaka at the Have your Say Event.
83. The
following mana whenua and mataawaka organisations gave feedback on the Rodney Local
Board priorities:
· Ngaati
Whanaunga Inc
· Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust.
84. Ngaati
Whanaunga responded to the question on local board priorities for 2025/2026;
supporting most of the local board priorities but did not provide specific
feedback on the priorities.
85. Te
Uri o Hau Settlement Trust responded to the question on local board priorities
for 2025/2026; supporting most of the local board priorities. They provided the
following comment:
· We are supportive on the environmental
outcomes. We would like to understand the Rodney Greenways Plans as it only
relates to the West Coast. We would like to understand more about the reserves
plans. Lastly, we support promoting waste reduction and seek investment in a
Recycling Centre in the Rodney district.
86. Te Uri o Hau
Settlement Trust ranked priorities three, four, six and seven as very
important, priority one as fairly important and priority three as less
important. They provided the following comment to explain these rankings:
· Pest and Predator control is a key outcome to
save our biodiversity. Water Resilience and Climate change responses is a
priority to our people.
87. Māori comprise 12 per cent of the population in the Rodney
Local Board area. Thirty-four submissions from people who identify as
Māori were received from people residing in the Rodney Local Board area.
This represents six per cent of total submissions.
Ngā ritenga
ā-pūtea
Financial implications
88. The
local board provides input to regional plans and proposals. There is
information in the council’s consultation material for each plan or
proposal with the financial implications of each option outlined for
consideration.
Ngā raru tūpono me
ngā whakamaurutanga
Risks and mitigations
89. The
council must adopt its Annual Plan 2025/2026, which includes local board
agreements, by 30 June 2025. The local board is required to make
recommendations on these local matters for the annual plan by mid-May 2025, to
enable and support the Governing Body to make decisions on key items to be
included in the annual plan on 28 May 2025.
Ngā koringa ā-muri
Next steps
90. Recommendations
and feedback from the local board will be provided to the Budget Committee for
consideration as part of decision-making for the Annual Plan 2025/2026.
91. The
local board will approve its local content for inclusion in the final Annual
Plan 2025/2026 (including its local board agreement) and corresponding work
programmes in June 2025.
92. The
final Annual Plan 2025/2026 (including local board agreements) will be adopted
by the Governing Body on 25 June 2025.
Ngā tāpirihanga
Attachments
There are no attachments for
this report.
Ngā kaihaina
Signatories
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Author
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Zigi Yates - Senior Local Board Advisor
|
|
Authoriser
|
Lesley Jenkins - Local Area Manager
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