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Ōrākei Local Board
01 May 2025
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Annual
Plan 2025-2026: local board consultation feedback and input
File No.: CP2025/07749
Te take mō te
pūrongo
Purpose of the report
1. To receive consultation feedback from the Ōrākei Local
Board area on:
· proposed priorities
and activities for the Ōrākei 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 to the Governing Body.
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 (the 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 Ōrākei Local Board’s proposed priorities
for 2025/2026 to be included in their local board agreement and key priorities
for the Annual Plan 2025/2026.
6. Council received 13,016 submissions in total across the region and
717 submissions from the Ōrākei Local Board area. The majority of local submitters supported all or
most of the overall plan and the local board proposals.
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
Recommendations
That the Ōrākei Local Board:
a) receive consultation feedback on the
proposed Ōrākei 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 Ōrākei Local Board area.
c) recommend any new or amended local targeted rate proposals to the
Governing Body.
d) 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 Ōrākei 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
council’s Annual Plan 2025/2026.
11. 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 Ōrākei 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, 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 in person and through 89 Have Your Say events (one of which were held in the Ōrākei Local Board area). The tables and
graphs below indicate the demographic categories people identified with. This
information only relates to those submitters who provided demographic
information.
· Neurodiverse Online
Audio – four feedback forms.
16. Out of the 13,016 pieces of feedback received regionally, 717 were
from people or organisations from the Ōrākei Local Board area.
Information on submitters
17. The tables and graphs below indicate the demographic categories
self-identified by submitters. This information only relates to those
submitters from the Ōrākei Local Board area who provided
demographic information.
Table & Graph: Age and gender of submitters from the
Ōrākei area.
Table & Graph:
Ethnicity of submitters from Ōrākei area.
18. All feedback is available on the 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 121
submissions for Ōrākei 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, 40 submitters responded to the
missing question (376 in total). A review was conducted to identify the cause
of the error and prevent similar issues in the future.
Feedback
received on the Ōrākei Local Board’s priorities for 2025/2026
and the Annual Plan 2025/2026
20. The Ōrākei Local Board consulted on
the following local priorities for 2025/2026:
· Priority 1: Increase our
funding for local ecological restoration, and animal and plant pest control,
and continue to work with our many community volunteers to enhance our natural
environment
· Priority 2: Continue local
initiatives to enhance neighbourhood connections and increase safety and
emergency preparedness, such as through funding for Neighbourhood Support
· Priority 3: Fund and
support local events, such as Splash Landing, Anzac services, and an event to
celebrate the re-opening of Remuera Library to showcase our spaces and benefit
local residents and businesses
· Priority 4: Maintain
efforts to monitor and improve water quality in our local waterways
· Priority 5: Continue
activating facilities at Tagalad Reserve and The Landing
· Priority 6: Progress
detailed design and consent work for Thomas Bloodworth Park and Shore Road East
sports fields, and for field and sports infrastructure at Colin Maiden Park,
and renew artificial playing surfaces at Michaels Avenue Reserve
· Priority 7: Find a new
partner to develop the Meadowbank Community Centre
· Priority 8: Develop an
action plan to improve access and the environment at Dingle Dell
· Priority
9: Work to enhance the Ellerslie Town Square by improving access, activation
ability, safety and public amenity through improved tree management,
landscaping and seating.
21. 266 submissions were received on
Ōrākei Local Board’s proposal overall. Note that within that
number, there are submissions from people and organisations residing in the Ōrākei
area, as well as people and organisations that may reside somewhere else but
have interest or work within the area.
· 200 respondents support all or most of the priorities.
· 36 respondents do not support most or all of the
priorities.
· 30 indicated they did not know.
Graph: Level of support for the local
board proposal overall.
22. Varying slightly with each item, around 280
submitters ranked each of the nine priorities as very important, fairly
important, less important or I don’t know.
Graph: Local board priorities for 2025/26 – level
of importance.
23. 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
24. Key themes of note across the feedback
received (through written and in-person channels) included:
· Stop wasteful spending/Reduce council costs
· Focus on core services
· Support for environmental initiatives
Overview of feedback received
on regional topics in the Annual Plan from the Ōrākei Local Board
area
25. The proposed Annual Plan 2025/2026 builds on
the Long-term Plan 2024-2034 (LTP), setting out 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.
26. Submitters were also encouraged to provide feedback on any of other
matters included in the Annual Plan 2025/2026 consultation
document.
27. The submissions received from the
Ōrākei 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
28. Aucklanders were asked whether they support
the overall plan including prioritising investment in:
· transport
· water
· fairer funding for local communities.
29. The consultation document for the Annual Plan 2025/2026 also outlined
the proposed funding approach which includes a 5.8 percent rates increase for
the average value residential property, consistent with the LTP, and additional
debt financing to fund $4 billion in capital expenditure.
30. The proposed 5.8 percent 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 percent 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 percent increase to the overall Waste Management
Targeted Rate (WMTR) for the typical household.
31. The graphs below give an overview of the
responses from the Ōrākei Local Board area.
Graph: Q1. What is your opinion on our
proposed plan?
32. 75 percent of respondents (322) support all or most of the proposal.
The key themes were:
· rate
increase concerns (81 comments)
· improve
public transport (58 comments)
· stop
wasteful spending (54 comments)
Key Question 2: Destination management and
major events
33. 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.
34. A bed night visitor levy of 2.5 to 3 percent 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. Council continues to work with central
government on this, with public feedback helping to inform this work.
35. The graphs below give an overview of the 547
responses from the Ōrākei Local Board area.
Graph: Q2. Do you support a bed night
visitor levy paid by those in short-stay accommodation, to fund destination
management, marketing and major events activities?
36. 68 per cent of respondents (373) support the proposal. Key themes were:
· need for public
event funding (79 comments)
· reduce local
residents’ costs (45 comments)
· visitor contribution
to infrastructure (35 comments)
Key Question 3: changes to other rates,
fees and charges
37. 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
38. 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.
39. 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 percent 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.
40. There were 432 submissions from the
Ōrākei Local Board area in response to the proposed changes to the
Refuse Tarted Rate for Franklin and Rodney.
Graph:
Q2. What do you think of the waste management proposal?
Changes
to fees and charges
41. 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
42. There were 253
submissions from the Ōrākei Local Board area responding to this
question. While some do reference these fees, it seems there was a low-level
understanding around what was being proposed. The most frequent comments were
around rates increase concerns.
Other matters for feedback
43. The following matters were also included in the
consultation in the Long-term Plan:
Draft Tūpuna Maunga Authority Operational Plan 2025/2026
44. 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.
45. There were 20 submissions from the
Ōrākei Local Board area which referenced the TMA plan. Most were
supportive of the TMA and its activities. A minority of respondents
didn’t know what the TMA does or do not support its purpose.
Any other
feedback
46. Aucklanders were asked if they had any other
comments. The key themes provided to this question were
similar across all submissions:
· dissatisfaction with
council
· stop wasteful
spending/reduce council costs
· infrastructure
needed/focus on core services.
Recommendations on local
matters
47. 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
48. 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.
49. The targeted rate proposal in the
Ōrākei Local Board area for 2025/2026 is establishing a targeted rate
for Seawall Repair from Tāmaki Yacht Club to Achilles Point, St Heliers.
50. There were 298 submissions
from the Ōrākei Local Board area responding to this question:
· 208 respondents support investigation of the
proposal
· 55 respondents do not support investigation of
the proposal
· 27 respondents indicated they did not know
· one Māori entity, Ngāti Whātua
Ōrākei Trust, supports investigation of the proposal.
51. Most of the 55 respondents that did not support
the proposal referenced that this should be funded regionally or within
existing funding.
Graph: Seawall
Repair from Tāmaki Yacht Club to Achilles Point, St Heliers: Do you think
we should investigate this proposal?
Local board specific reserve funds
52. 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
53. This does not apply to the Ōrākei Local Board for the 2025/2026 financial year.
Local board
advocacy
54. 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.
55. 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
56. 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.
57. 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
58. 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.
59. 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
60. The Annual Plan 2025/2026 is a 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
61. 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.
62. 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
63. 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.
64. Local board plans, developed in 2023 through
engagement with the community including Māori, form the basis of local
board area priorities.
65. Some projects approved for funding could have
discernible impacts on Māori. For any project or programme progressed by
council, the potential impacts on Māori, will be assessed as part of
relevant reporting requirements.
66. Analysis of consultation feedback received on
the proposed Annual Plan includes submissions made by mana whenua, mataawaka
organisations and the wider Māori community who have interests in the rohe
/ local board area.
67. 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 mataawaka on submissions and the
process for submissions
· one hearing style event for mana whenua and mataawaka groups
68. 19 mana whenua entities have interests in the
Auckland Council rohe. 13 of the 19 provided verbal or written submissions on
the council’s proposals for the Annual Plan 2025/2026.
69. There were six oral submissions from mana
whenua and six oral submissions from mataawaka at the Have your Say Event.
70. Māori comprise seven percent of the
population in the Ōrākei Local Board area. 32 submissions from people who identify as Māori were received
from people residing in the Ōrākei Local
Board area. This represents four percent of total 717 submissions.
71. The following mana whenua and mataawaka organisations gave feedback
on the Ōrākei Local Board priorities with their feedback
in brackets:
· Mana whenua entities:
o Ngāti
Whātua Ōrākei Trust (Supports all)
o Ngaati
Whanaunga Inc (Supports most)
· Mataawaka entities:
o Hapua
Thrive (Supports most)
72. Twelve mana whenua entities with interests in
Ōrākei area gave feedback on the regional priorities. Below is a
summary:
· Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei
(submission ID 6705):
emphasizes stronger Māori representation, especially in Kaipara, and seeks
clarity on cultural event funding under the proposed bed levy. They support
local board empowerment, urupā development, and Māori outcomes
funding, while urging better consultation and infrastructure planning. They
remain neutral on CCO changes.
· Ngāti Pāoa (submission ID 9497): seeks political and planning support for a
master plan to develop Omaru Reserve into a tribal community, including housing
and community facilities. With Treaty settlement expected by 2025/26, they call
for co-governance, investment, and updated planning to unlock this opportunity
for Auckland and strengthen Crown-iwi relations.
· Te Kawerau ā Maki (submission ID 8557): supports the Annual Plan and stresses the need
for a stronger Treaty partnership. Proposes a formal agreement, CPI-adjusted
capacity funding, and a shared work programme to enhance iwi-Council
collaboration.
· Te Ākitai Waiohua (submission ID 8559): calls for meaningful Māori involvement in
funding and planning decisions, particularly Local Board funding and
infrastructure projects. Seeks long-term investment, equitable processes, and
co-governance structures.
· Ngāti Whanaunga (submission ID 8739): expresses partial support for the proposal,
like the Tupuna Maunga Authority plan and waste initiatives but largely opposes
the budget due to lack of transparency and investment in iwi-led work. Calls
for te Tiriti-based partnership, co-governance, and support for rural,
low-income whānau.0
· Ngāti Maru (submission ID 8568): supports council goals of fiscal responsibility
and sustainable growth, while calling for stronger mana whenua engagement.
Endorses the bed levy and urges reinvestment into Māori tourism and youth
development, with an emphasis on mana motuhake and tino rangatiratanga.
· Ngāti Tamaterā (submission ID 8548): focuses on advancing wellbeing across six
areas, advocating for co-governance, protection of cultural sites, and
equitable funding. Raises concerns about centralised decision-making and
supports the visitor levy and sustainability, provided iwi are partners in
planning and delivery.
· Ngāti Tamaoho (submission ID 7885): urges council to fund the Manukau Harbour
strategy and a business case for regenerating Manurewa and Ōtāhuhu.
Calls for support for Matariki events, youth initiatives, and climate-resilient
marae infrastructure, particularly for Whātāpaka. Finally, it
advocates for increased investment in the Marae infrastructure Programme to
address climate change risks, especially sea level rise, which threatens marae
like Whātāpaka.
· Te Ahiwaru (submission ID 9389): generally supports the Annual Plan, highlighting
the need for Ngahere strategy inclusion. Backs improved safety measures and
emphasizes the importance of Te Ahiwaru relationships and sustainability.
· Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea
(submission ID 8746): the
priorities of the regional plan do not align with mana whenua aspirations.
Generally not supportive of the proposed fairer funding model because it
further disadvantages mana whenua on Aotea due to the compounding costs of
isolation.
· Te Patukirikiri (submission ID 8538): urge council to further improve mana whenua
engagement by moving more towards genuine partnership with Māori.
Encourage council to embed mātauranga Māori principles more deeply
within environmental strategies; increase investment in indigenous arts, marae
development, and cultural festivals; stronger procurement policies that
actively prioritize Māori businesses; and increased investment in
papakāinga and Māori-led housing projects.
· Te Runanga o Ngāti Whātua (submission
ID 8549): support the bed-night
levy with an emphasis on Māori and Pasifika events. Also support fairer
funding to the end that it gives greater voices to mana whenua.
· Te Uri o Hau (submission ID 3292): overall, support the proposed annual plan.
Ngā ritenga
ā-pūtea
Financial implications
73. 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
74. 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
75. 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.
76. 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.
77. The
final Annual Plan 2025/2026 (including local board agreements) will be adopted
by the Governing Body on 25 June 2025.
Ngā tāpirihanga
Attachments
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No.
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Title
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Page
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Feedback Template - Annual Plan
2025-2026 local board input
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21
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Ngā kaihaina
Signatories
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Authors
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Hannah Gropper - Local Board Advisor
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Authorisers
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Tristan Coulson - Local Area Manager
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