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Waitākere Ranges Local Board
01 May 2025
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Annual Plan
2025/2026: local board consultation feedback and input
File No.: CP2025/05635
Te take mō te
pūrongo
Purpose of the report
1. To receive consultation feedback from the Waitākere Ranges
local board area on:
· proposed
priorities and activities for the Waitākere Ranges 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 Waitākere Ranges
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 and the Waitākere Ranges Local Board received 489 individual
submissions and 8 submissions from organisations. The
submissions were received on the Waitākere Ranges Local Board’s
priorities. Most respondents considered the proposals as either ‘Very
important’ or ‘Fairly important’.
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 Waitākere Ranges
Local Board:
a) whiwhi / receive consultation feedback on
the proposed Waitākere Ranges 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 Waitākere
Ranges 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 Waitākere Ranges 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
Waitākere Ranges Local Board’s proposed priorities for 2025/2026 to be included in its local board agreement, and key local board priorities 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 events (7 of which were held
in the Waitākere Ranges local board area)
· Neurodiverse Online Audio only feedback forms – four.
16. The tables and graphs below indicate the demographic categories people
identified with. This information only relates to those submitters who provided
demographic information.
17. 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.
18. 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 116
submissions for Waitākere Ranges 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, 39 submitters responded to the
missing question (34 per cent). A review was conducted to identify the cause of
the error and prevent similar issues in the future.
Feedback
received on the Waitākere Ranges Local Board’s priorities for
2025/2026 and the Annual Plan 2025/2026
19. The
Waitākere Ranges Local Board consulted on the following local priorities
for 2025/2026:
· Priority 1: the Event Partnership Fund to support more
community-led events
· Priority
2: arts and culture programmes delivered through our community arts partners
· Priority
3: tailoring programmes to serve diverse communities (youth, older adults,
Pacific and ethnic communities)
· Priority
4: community development, placemaking and activation in our growing
neighbourhoods and centres such as Glen Eden, Sunnyvale and Swanson
· Priority
5: supporting business associations to continue supporting local businesses and
ongoing growth, develop and liven-up our town centres, including assisting Glen
Eden Business Association and establishing of Titirangi Business Association
· Priority
6: environmental programmes to help protect and restore Waitākere Ranges
· Priority
7: trialling phosphite treatment of kauri infected with kauri dieback on
selected local parks
· Priority
8: improving neighbourhood parks: George Herring Common, Koroī /
Clayburn Reserve, Tautoru / Maywood Park, and Sandys Parade.
20. The
submissions were received on Waitākere Ranges Local Board’s
priorities. Most respondents considered the proposals as either ‘Very
important’ or ‘Fairly important’. For five out of eight of
the proposals, thirty per cent or more of respondents selected ‘less
important’ or ‘I don’t know’.
21. The
top three proposals considered to be of the highest importance relate to
environmental programmes, trialling phosphite treatment of kauri infected with
kauri dieback and improving neighbourhood parks.
22. Consultation
feedback on local board priorities will be considered by the local board when
approving its local board agreement between 10-12 June 2025. Local board key
advocacy initiatives will be considered in the current report.
Information on submitters
Key themes
23. Key
themes of note across the feedback received (through written and in-person
channels) included:
· general
support for arts and culture programmes and support for continuing arts funding
· general
support for environmental programmes to help protect and restore the
Waitākere Ranges, with some suggestions for focus areas
· some
support for programmes related to growth and development of Glen Eden town
centre and
· a
range of feedback was submitted pertaining to various topics, such as rates,
council efficiency, roads, tracks, infrastructure and maintenance of
storm-damaged assets.
Requests for local funding
24. Requests
for local funding received through the Annual Plan 2025/2026 consultation and
through related requests included:
· Glen Eden Playhouse Theatre - increase in operational
annual funding by an additional $54,510.24, bringing total funding to $75,000.
· Te Kawerau ā Maki - joint local board funding to
create two community officer roles – one in West Auckland and one in
North Shore – to help better connect with the Local Boards and community
within TKaM’s heartlands. The total amount requested is $200,000.
· South Titirangi Neighbourhood Network (STNN) and Waima to
Laingholm Pest Free Incorporated (W2L) - establish a large-scale predator-free
sanctuary. Significant funding request received. This has been referred to
staff for further advice.
· Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery –
funding request of additional $93,500.
Overview of feedback received on
regional topics in the Annual Plan from the Waitākere Ranges Local Board
area
25. 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.
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 Waitākere Ranges 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; and
· 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 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.
30. 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.
31. The graph below gives an overview of the responses from
the Waitākere Ranges local board area.
32. Mana
whenua iwi with interests in the Waitākere Ranges local board area gave
feedback as follows:
· Te Kawerau ā Maki’s regional submission provides
feedback on both the regional questions, and makes specific requests for local
board funding (as listed above).
· The submission states that in general, Te Kawerau ā
Maki is 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.
· Other feedback provided focuses on specific matters of
importance to Te Kawerau ā Maki. There are matters specific to the iwi to
be worked on with Council ‘in the spirit of true partnership’.
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 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.
35. The graph below gives an overview of the responses from
the Waitākere Ranges local board area.
Key Question 3: changes to other rates, fees and
charges
36. 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
37. 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.
38. 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.
Changes to fees and charges
39. 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
40. For
the Waitākere Ranges Local Board regional questions, there were 332
individuals and six organisations that answered the question, “What do
you think of the waste management proposal?”
41. The
graph below gives an overview of the responses from the Waitākere Ranges
local board area.
Other
matters for feedback
42. The following matters were also included in the
consultation in the Long-term Plan:
Draft Tūpuna Maunga Authority Operational Plan
2025/2026
43. 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.
44. There were 21 submissions from the Waitākere Ranges
local board area which referenced the TMA plan. Views received on this were
mixed, with approximately half expressing support and half expressing that they
do not support this matter.
Any other feedback
45. Aucklanders were asked if they had any other comments. Key
themes of note across other areas of feedback received included:
· rate
increase concerns
· improve
public transport
· infrastructure
needed
· stop
wasteful spending
· dissatisfaction
with council
· high
cost of living
· improve
roads
· focus
on core services.
Recommendations on local matters
46. 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
47. 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.
Local
board specific reserve funds
48. 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.
Local
board advocacy
49. 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.
50. 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
51. 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.
52. 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
53. 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.
54. 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
55. 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
56. 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.
57. 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
58. 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.
59. Local board plans, developed in 2023 through engagement
with the community including Māori, form the basis of local board area
priorities.
60. 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.
61. 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.
62. 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.
63. Nineteen
mana whenua entities have interests in the Auckland Council rohe. Thirteen of
the nineteen (68 per cent) provided verbal or written submissions on Auckland
Council’s proposals for the Annual Plan 2025/2026.
64. There were six oral submissions from mana whenua and six oral
submissions from mātaawaka at the Have Your Say event.
65. The
Waitākere Ranges 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
· Mātaawaka
engagement – the three west local board (Waitākere Ranges,
Henderson-Massey and Whau) participated in a Mātaawaka hui at Hoani
Waititi Marae
66. Māori
comprise 13.8 per cent of the population in the Waitākere Ranges local
board area. Twenty-two submissions from people who identify as Māori
were received from people residing in the Waitākere Ranges local board
area. This represents five per cent of total submissions the Waitākere
Ranges Local Board received.
67. The following
mana whenua and mātaawaka organisations
gave feedback on the Waitākere Ranges Local Board priorities:
· Mana whenua entities: Te Kawerau ā Maki
· Mātaawaka
entities: Hoani Waititi Marae
68. 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 following provisions
that directly impact work within the Waitākere Ranges local board area:
· The Te Henga marae
and papakāinga
project
· Waitākere
Ranges Heritage Area Deed and Partnership
· Waitākere
Ranges Te Kawerau Rangers
· Te Kawerau ā
Maki community officers.
69. 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
70. 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
71. 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
72. 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.
73. 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.
74. 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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Natasha Yapp - Democracy Advisor
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Authorisers
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Lou-Ann Ballantyne - General Manager Governance and
Engagement
Adam Milina - Local Area Manager
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