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Whau Local Board
30 April 2025
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Annual Plan
2025/2026 local board consultation feedback and input
File No.: CP2025/07520
Te take mō te
pūrongo
Purpose of the report
1. To receive consultation feedback from the Whau local board area on:
· proposed
priorities and activities for the Whau 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 Whau Local
Board’s proposed priorities for 2025/2026 to be included
in its local board agreement, and key priorities for
the Annual Plan 2025/2026.
6. Auckland Council received 13,016 submissions in total across the
region. The Whau Local Board received a feedback total of 993, including
submissions from individuals and organisations provided through various
mediums. This feedback included 459 individual written submissions, and 440
pieces of feedback collected at Have Your Say events.
7. As part of the Annual Plan 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 Whau Local Board:
a) receive consultation feedback on the
proposed Whau Local Board priorities and activities for 2025/2026.
b) receive consultation feedback on regional topics in the Annual Plan 2025/2026 from people and organisations based in the Whau local board area.
c) 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 Whau Local Board Plan 2023 in respect of the local activities
to be provided in the local board area, and also includes information on
budgets, levels of service, and performance measures.
10. The Local
Board Agreements 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
Whau 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, any local
matters to be recommended to the Governing Body 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 – 3,001 pieces of feedback through 89 Have Your Say events (seven
of which were held in the Whau Local Board area).
· Neurodiverse Online Audio – four feedback forms.
16. The Whau Local Board received a feedback total of 993, including
submissions from individuals and organisations provided through various
mediums. This feedback included 459 individual written submissions, and 440
pieces of feedback collected at Have Your Say events.
17. This feedback
includes submissions from individuals that identified themselves as living in
the Whau local board area, as well as individuals that identified themselves as
living in another local board area but chose to provide feedback to the Whau
Local Board’s proposals.
18. Three hundred and seventy-two (372) submissions were provided as
part of three targeted youth engagement events held at schools in the Whau
local board area. These numbers are included as part of the event feedback
total of 440.
19. Ninety-four
organisations provided feedback, of which 19 submitted to the Whau
specifically, the remainder being region-wide submissions.
20. The graphs below indicate the demographic categories people identified
with. This information only relates to those submitters who provided
demographic information.
Above:
Submitter data by Age and Gender (Left) and Ethnicity (Right)
Above: Submitter demographic data
compared with 2023 Census data for the Whau.
21. 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.
22. 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 84 submissions (25 per cent) for the Whau
Local Board (around 1,700 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. Of the affected
submissions, 30 submitters responded to the missing question (36 per cent). A
review was conducted to identify the cause of the error and prevent similar
issues in the future.
Feedback
received on the Whau Local Board’s priorities for 2025/2026 and the
Annual Plan 2025/2026
23. The Whau Local Board consulted on the following local
priorities for 2025/2026:
· Priority 1: restore funding to service levels in some
areas that were cut in recent years, e.g additional library hours, programmes
and community grants.
· Priority
2: increased service levels in our parks and town centres including progression
of Te Hono project.
· Priority
3: plan for the future Whau aquatic and recreation facility and facilitate
public access to school pools in the interim.
· Priority
4: work with local Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) to find new ways of
delivering vibrant and welcoming town centres through art activation and
beautification projects.
· Priority
5: continue to support volunteering, community and business participation,
through environmental and ecological initiatives around the Manukau Harbour
foreshore, the Whau River and its tributaries, and our urban ngahere.
· Priority
6: increase community participation and capability in community hubs, houses
and with established community partners, and progress the development of a new
community hub in Fruitvale.
· Priority
7: foster climate/emergency preparedness and resilience in our community.
· Priority
8: investigate a future space for youth and engage a youth coordinator to
support and promote “for youth by youth” activations.
· Priority
9: provide appropriate options for healthy, active lifestyles through
recreation in parks and open spaces with particular focus on our ethnically
diverse communities, women, and girls.
24. Two hundred and thirty-eight (238) individual submissions
were received in response to the question, “What do you think of our
proposals for your local board area in 2025/2026?”
25. Seventy-two (72) per cent of individuals expressed
support for most or all of the proposals for
the Whau local board area, while 18 per cent did not support most or all of the
proposals, and 10 per cent said they did not know.
26. Eight organisations responded to this question, of which
seven expressed support for all the proposals and one expressed that they did
not support most of the proposals.
27. One Māori entity (Ngaati Whanaunga Inc.) responded
to this question, and expressed support for all of the proposals.
28. The graph below gives an overview of these responses:
29. In response to the question ‘How important are these priorities to
you?’, the majority of submissions
considered all nine priorities to be either ‘Very important’ or
‘Fairly important’.
30. The graph below gives an overview of these responses:
31. Consultation feedback on local board priorities will be
considered by the local board when approving their local board agreement
between 10-12 June 2025.
Key themes
32. Key themes of note across the feedback received (through
written and in-person channels) included:
· support
for more alternative transport options, including walking and cycling
infrastructure (such as Te Whau Pathway and town centre improvements) as well
as public transport
· support
for a new aquatic facility in the Whau local board area
· support
for further investment in parks and open spaces, including support for the
acquisition of land at the Avondale Racecourse.
· a
range of other feedback was provided pertaining to issues such as a need for
more safety initiatives, a greater emphasis on environmental restoration of the
Whau’s waterways and a focus on readiness for future flooding and other
extreme weather events, as well as concerns around rates increases, cost of
living and views that council must focus on core services.
Targeted Youth
Engagement
33. In support of Priority 8: investigate a future space for
youth and engage a youth coordinator to support and promote “for youth by
youth” activations, the board undertook targeted engagement with youth in
the Whau local board area. The following questions were asked:
· Do
we need a youth coordinator to help deliver youth initiatives in the Whau area?
· What
type activities do you want to do, and where?
· Do you want us to provide a youth space in the next 3+
years?
· Should we trial a temporary space in the meantime?
· What would it have?
34. Four hundred and ninety-one (491) submissions were
gathered as part of the targeted youth engagement, including 372 responses
gathered at three events held at schools in the Whau local board area.
35. In response to the question, ‘Do we need a youth coordinator to help deliver
youth initiatives in the Whau area?’, 69 per cent of responses expressed
support.
36. A range of responses were provided in response to the
question ‘What type activities do you want to do, and where?’.
37. The graph and table below give an overview of these
responses:
38. A majority of submissions also expressed support in
response to the questions, ‘Do you want us to provide a youth space in
the next 3+ years?’ (89 per cent of responses), and Should we trial a
temporary space in the meantime? (86 per cent of responses).
39. A range of responses were provided in response to the
question ‘What would it
have?’
40. The graphs and table below give an overview of these
responses:
Requests for local funding
41. Requests for local funding through the Annual Plan
2025/2026 consultation included:
· Request 1: Te Kawerau ā Maki request funding of
$200,000 to create two community officer roles – one in West Auckland and
one in North Shore – to help them better connect with the Local Boards
and the community.
· Request
2: Te Whau Pathway Environment
Trust request funding for the Wingate Street-Rizal Reserve- Ken Maunder Park
section of Te Whau Pathway.
Overview of feedback received on
regional topics in the Annual Plan from the Whau Local Board area
42. 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.
43. Submitters
were also encouraged to provide feedback on any of other matters included in
the Annual Plan 2025/2026 consultation
document.
44. The submissions received from the Whau 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
45. Aucklanders were asked whether they support the overall
plan including prioritising investment
in:
· transport
· water; and
· fairer funding for local communities.
46. 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.
47. 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 6.40 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.
48. For the Whau Local Board, there were 326 individuals and
four organisations that answered the question, “What is your opinion on
our proposed annual plan?”
49. The graph below gives an overview of these responses:
50. Sixty-nine per cent of individuals and 75 per cent of
organisations expressed supported for most or all
of the overall plan. Key themes from submitters that provided comments in
response to Question 1 included:
· Concerns around rates increases (45 submissions)
· Public transport needs (36)
· Wasteful spending (28)
· Need for infrastructure (25)
· Better planning needed (20).
51. Mana whenua iwi with interests in the Whau local board
area gave feedback as follows:
· Te
Kawerau ā Maki is generally supportive of the proposed annual plan, in
particular continuing to invest $16 million into Māori outcomes,
coordinating and implementing kauri dieback management, and continuing with the
targeted rates including increasing 3.5 per cent to the Natural Environment
Targeted Rate (NETR) and Climate Action Transport Targeted Rate (CATTR) funds,
increasing the Water Quality Targeted Rate (WQTR) funds, and increasing 3.3 per
cent to the Waste Management Targeted Rate (WMTR) fund.
· Hoani
Waititi Marae expressed support for the proposal.
Key Question 2: Destination management and major
events
52. 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.
53. 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.
54. For the Whau Local Board, there were 354 individuals and seven
organisations that answered the question, “Do you support a bed
night visitor levy paid by those in short-stay commercial accommodation, to
fund destination management, marketing and major events activities?”
55. The graph below gives an overview of these responses:
56. Sixty-four per cent of individuals and 71 per cent of
organisations supported the proposal for a bed night visitor levy. Key themes
from submitters that provided comments in response to Question 2 included:
· Need for public event funding (34 submissions)
· Reduce local resident costs (33)
· Support for user pays (24)
· Visitor contribution to infrastructure (21).
Key Question 3: changes to other rates, fees and
charges
57. 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
58. 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.
59. 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.
60. For the Whau Local Board, there were 319 individuals and seven
organisations that answered the question, “What do you think of
the waste management proposal?”
61. The graph below gives an overview of these responses:
62. Sixty-three per cent of individuals and 57 per cent of
organisations provided responses in support of the waste management
proposal.
Changes
to fees and charges
63. 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.
64. There
was 1 submission from the Whau local board area which referenced these fees
specifically, expressing support for all changes referenced above.
65. Key themes from submitters that provided comments in
response to Question 3 included:
· Need Rate increase concerns (30 submissions)
· Support user pays (PAYT) (24)
· High cost of living (21).
Other
matters for feedback
66. The
following matters were also included in the consultation in the Long-term Plan.
Draft Tūpuna Maunga Authority Operational Plan
2025/2026
67. 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.
68. There were 14 submissions from the Whau local board area
which referenced the TMA plan. Views received on this matter were mixed, with
the majority (seven submissions) expressing that they do not support the TMA
plan. Three submissions expressed support for the plan, while the remaining
four expressed a need for more information. Six of the submissions that
referenced the TMA plan expressed concerns around the removal of mature exotic
trees.
Any other feedback
69. Aucklanders were asked if they had any other comments. Key
themes of note across other areas of feedback received included:
· Improve
public transport (19)
· Communication
and engagement (19)
· Infrastructure
needed (17)
· Economic
development initiatives (16)
· Dissatisfaction
with Council (16)
· Environmental
initiatives (14)
· Better
planning needed (13).
Recommendations on local matters
70. 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
targeted rate and business improvement district (BID) targeted rate proposals
71. Local boards are required to endorse any new or amended
local targeted rate proposals or business improvement district (BID) targeted
rate proposals in their local board area. These proposals must have been
consulted on before they can be implemented.
The local boards then recommend these proposals to the Governing Body for
approval of the targeted rate.
72. This does not apply to the Whau Local Board for the
2025/2026 financial year.
Local
board specific reserve funds
73. Local boards
are allocated funding for the delivery of local services, projects and
programmes that are important to their communities. Local boards have decision
making over the allocation of these funds, but need approval from the Governing
Body where the release of local board specific reserve funds is requested,
which are being held by the council for a specific purpose
74. This does not apply to the Whau Local Board for the
2025/2026 financial year.
Local
board advocacy
75. 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.
76. 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
77. 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.
78. 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
79. 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.
80. 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
81. 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
82. 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.
83. 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 chairs 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
84. 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.
85. Local
board plans, developed in 2023 through engagement with the community including
Māori, form the basis of local board area priorities.
86. 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.
87. 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.
88. 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.
89. 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.
90. There
were six oral submissions from mana whenua and six oral submissions from
mātaawaka at the Have your Say Event.
91. The Whau
Local Board engaged locally with Māori through:
· Mana whenua engagement – Te Kawerau ā Maki provided views at a Rangatira ki te
Rangatira governance hui during the annual budget submission period
· Mataawaka engagement – Elected members
from the Whau, Waitākere Ranges and Henderson-Massey local boards
participated in a Mātaawaka hui at Hoani Waititi Marae.
92. Māori comprise 11 per cent of the population in the
Whau Local Board area. 51 submissions from people who identify as
Māori were received from people residing in the Whau
Local Board area. This represents 12 per cent of total submissions for
the Whau Local Board.
93. The following
mana whenua and mataawaka organisations gave feedback on the Whau Local Board priorities:
· Mana whenua entities: Te Kawerau ā Maki
· Mataawaka entities: Hoani Waititi Marae.
94. Te Kawerau ā Maki’s regional submission spoke of the
desire to work together with Council and Government on projects that directly
impact their cultural, social, environmental, and economic wellbeing. In their
submission, Te Kawerau ā Maki advocated for the creation and funding of
two community officer roles – one in West Auckland and one in North Shore
– to help them better connect with the local boards and the community.
95. A range of feedback was provided at the Mātaawaka hui at Hoani
Waititi Marae. This included:
· support for a role
in delivery of services for west Auckland
· support for
deepening and formalising a partnership with Auckland Council that leverages
shared values and delivers meaningful outcomes
· partnership and
co-governance
· Hoani Waititi
Marae is facing a lack of resourcing and support
· development of the
Whare Wananga.
Ngā ritenga
ā-pūtea
Financial implications
96. 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
97. The council must adopt its Annual Plan, 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
98. 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.
99. 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.
100. 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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Authors
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Liam Courtney - Democracy Advisor
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Authorisers
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Adam Milina - Local Area Manager
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