Agenda of Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board - Tuesday, 30 September 2025

1 Nau mai | Welcome

Chairperson I Fordham will open the meeting and welcome everyone in attendance.

Fletcher Beazley, Chair of the Ngāti Rehua-Ngātiwai ki Aotea Trust will lead the hui in a karakia timatanga.

2 Ngā Tamōtanga | Apologies

At the close of the agenda no apologies had been received.

3 Te Whakapuaki i te Whai Pānga | Declaration of Interest

Members are reminded of the need to be vigilant to stand aside from decision making when a conflict arises between their role as a member and any private or other external interest they might have.

4 Te Whakaū i ngā Āmiki | Confirmation of Minutes

That the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board:

a) whakaū / confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting, held on Tuesday, 23 September 2025, as true and correct.

5 He Tamōtanga Motuhake | Leave of Absence

At the close of the agenda no requests for leave of absence had been received.

6 Te Mihi | Acknowledgements

At the close of the agenda no requests for acknowledgements had been received.

7 Ngā Petihana | Petitions

At the close of the agenda no requests to present petitions had been received.

8 Ngā Tono Whakaaturanga | Deputations

Standing Order 7.7 provides for deputations. Those applying for deputations are required to give seven working days notice of subject matter and applications are approved by the Chairperson of the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board. This means that details relating to deputations can be included in the published agenda. Total speaking time per deputation is ten minutes or as resolved by the meeting.

At the close of the agenda no requests for deputations had been received.

9 Te Matapaki Tūmatanui | Public Forum

A period of time (approximately 30 minutes) is set aside for members of the public to address the meeting on matters within its delegated authority. A maximum of three minutes per speaker is allowed, following which there may be questions from members.

At the close of the agenda no requests for public forum had been received.

10 Ngā Pakihi Autaia | Extraordinary Business

Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states:

“An item that is not on the agenda for a meeting may be dealt with at that meeting if-

(a) The local authority by resolution so decides; and

(b) The presiding member explains at the meeting, at a time when it is open to the public,-

(i) The reason why the item is not on the agenda; and

(ii) The reason why the discussion of the item cannot be delayed until a subsequent meeting.”

Section 46A(7A) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states:

“Where an item is not on the agenda for a meeting,-

(a) That item may be discussed at that meeting if-

(i) That item is a minor matter relating to the general business of the local authority; and

(ii) the presiding member explains at the beginning of the meeting, at a time when it is open to the public, that the item will be discussed at the meeting; but

(b) no resolution, decision or recommendation may be made in respect of that item except to refer that item to a subsequent meeting of the local authority for further discussion.”

Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board

30 September 2025

Approval of funding for an Aotea Conservation Advisor as part of the 2025/2026 Local Environmental Management Work Programme

File No.: CP2025/19498

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To seek approval from the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board for a variation to the 2025/2026 Local Environmental Management work programme by way of addition of a part time Aotea Conservation Advisor, to provide additional support to environmental projects delivery.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. The local board adopted its 2025/2026 Local Environmental Management work programme on 24 June 2025 (resolution number GBI/2025/80).

3. The adopted work programme contains seven projects to be delivered by the Environmental Services Natural Environment Delivery team. The local board allocated $163,050 of operational funding for these projects.

4. Three of the seven projects are new in 2025/2026, and two continuing projects have received extra funding to expand their scope. This represents a 62 per cent increase in approved local board project work for the Natural Environment Delivery team, compared with 2024/2025. During the development of the new work programme staff underestimated the resourcing required to deliver the increased programme.

5. All projects are currently underway. Staffing capacity constraints within the Natural Environment Delivery team have become clearer as the 2025/2026 Local Environmental Management Work Programme has progressed.

6. These constraints limit the team’s ability to engage fully with the Aotea community, as originally intended when projects were scoped.

7. Community and iwi engagement is central to the Natural Environment Delivery projects. It builds community buy-in and supports ongoing participation and collaboration.

8. Limited or transactional engagement risks weakening existing relationships and undermining the projects’ long-term outcomes and sustainability.

9. To address this risk, staff recommend funding a new 0.5 FTE Aotea Conservation Advisor role. This dedicated resource would focus specifically on project communications and community engagement for the seven local board projects being managed by Natural Environment Delivery.

10. Staff seek approval for a new line item to be added to the 2025/2026 work programme: Aotea Conservation Advisor - $45,000.

11. If the local board approves the proposed variation to its work programme, staff will begin procurement for the Aotea Conservation Advisor role. The process is expected to run from October to December 2025.

12. Progress updates on the procurement will be provided to the local board as part of the Local Environmental Management work programme quarterly reports.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board:

a) whakaae / approve the variation to its adopted 2025-2026 Local Environmental Management work programme, specifically:

i) addition of 0.5 FTE Aotea Conservation Advisor utilising $45,000 from operational funding over financial year 2025/2026.

Horopaki

Context

13. In June 2025, the local board approved its 2025/2026 Local Environmental Management work programme (resolution number GBI/2025/80).

14. Seven of the ten projects are managed by the Environmental Services Natural Environment Delivery team.

15. The work programme contributes towards the delivery of the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023 environmental objectives, specifically:

· Treasured and enriched whenua

· Self-sufficient and prosperous community.

16. The approved funding allocation for each activity (project) managed by Environmental Services Natural Environment Delivery team is shown in the table below.

Table 1: approved funding allocation for Natural Environment Delivery projects

Activity name	Total budget allocation
Aotea Bird Count (ABC)¹	$10,750
Aotea Ecology Vision²	$40,000
Aotea Pest Pathways¹	$17,000
Aotea Trap Library	$5,550
Ōkiwi Ecology Programme²	$39,700
Oruawharo Medlands Ecovision	$39,150
Whangaparapara Conservation Group¹	$10,900
Total budget	$163,050
¹ New projects funded and starting in 2025/2026. ²Continuing projects which have received significant extra funding in 2025/2026, with the expectation of delivering more community events and activities.

17. The 2025/2026 work programme builds on strong momentum from previous projects, which continue to be supported by a full-time role funded by the Natural Environment Delivery team through natural environment targeted rate funding.

18. Three new projects have been approved this year and two continuing projects received extra funding to expand their scope. This represents a 62 per cent increase in approved local board project work for the Natural Environment Delivery team, compared with 2024/2025.

19. Details of these projects and their intended outcomes are described in the Local Environmental Management Work Programme Report (24 June 2025).

20. All projects are currently underway. With the expansion of the local board’s environmental work programme the Natural Environment Delivery team underestimated the additional resourcing required to fully support the new projects.

21. These staffing capacity constraints have become clearer as delivery of the expanded work programme has progressed since June 2025.

22. If staffing constraints are not addressed in the short-term, there is a significant risk that the projects will not be successfully delivered to the expected level of service, within the 2025/2026 financial year, and the corresponding environmental outcomes may be reduced.

23. This report sets out two options to manage the staffing constraints, with the aim of achieving the environmental outcomes originally proposed in the Local Environmental Management work programme.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

24. The seven Natural Environment Delivery projects approved in the Local Environment Management work programme all have strong elements of community engagement, including working in collaboration with iwi, community groups, and volunteers.

25. To achieve the intended outcomes of these projects, staff have identified the need for a dedicated resource to supplement the work existing Natural Environment Delivery staff are doing on Aotea.

26. This resource, the Aotea Conservation Advisor, would be based on Aotea and be specifically tasked with connecting and engaging the Aotea community in environmental projects.

27. Additional staff will allow the Natural Environment Delivery team to continue building on the positive momentum from past projects. They will also leverage existing relationships and engage new community members, particularly as several new projects are being established through the 2025/2026 work programme.

28. Two options have been identified to address the staffing capacity constraint and ensure that all projects can be delivered.

Option 1: Approve funding for an Aotea Conservation Advisor to support environmental projects delivery (recommended)

29. This option provides resourcing to procure a 0.5 FTE Aotea Conservation Advisor, at a cost of up to $45,000 in the 2025/2026 financial year.

30. This role would be focused on working with the Aotea community to help foster greater collaboration, inclusivity, and collective action to achieve the environmental outcomes of the Natural Environment Delivery projects. They will enhance and guide community aspirations, aligning them with our projects and the environmental goals set out in the local board plan.

31. If approved, the procurement process would run from October to December 2025 at the latest. If procurement for the role is completed later than expected and the full $45,000 is not used; the remaining funds will be reallocated to the board in January 2026.

32. If a suitable candidate is not found by December 2025, procurement will be paused. Staff will provide a further update to the local board on next steps, as continuing beyond this timeframe is unlikely to provide sufficient value.

33. The Aotea Conservation Advisor role would initially be a fixed-term position until 30 June 2026. The role would be reviewed annually, with the potential to become a permanent / full-time role in the future depending on the success of the projects, local board priorities, future resource needs and funding availability.

Option 2: Do not approve – proceed project delivery within current staff capacity

34. This option involves delivering projects within the current approved budget and staff capacity and carefully managing staff workloads.

35. All projects would continue to be delivered, but staff will have less time to spend on each project. This is likely to result in fewer communications, reduced community engagement opportunities, or community engagement that is more transactional, rather than the usual deep rooted relationships staff have previously maintained.

36. Reduced efforts in community engagement creates the risk that projects will be perceived primarily as “council-led” rather than community initiatives.

37. The risks of reduced community participation and lost or weakened relationships are significant. This may lead to reputational damage, reduced community buy-in to projects and less robust, long-term environmental outcomes.

38. With reduced community buy-in and participation, it will be more difficult to embed behavioural changes and/or raise awareness of environmental issues in the Aotea community.

39. Māori and climate-related outcomes may also be different to the usual hands-on relationships that staff have maintained, and instead, transactional.

Options assessment

40. Other options, such as reprioritising or deferring certain projects, were considered but assessed as not viable, as all projects are already underway and the reputational risks of deferral outweigh the small gains in time or resourcing.

41. The staff recommendation is to approve procurement for a part time Aotea Conservation Advisor, as it the most effective way to deliver on project outcomes, build strong community involvement and long-term community benefits.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

42. The council’s climate goals as set out in Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan are:

· to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and

· to prepare the region for the adverse impacts of climate change.

43. The climate impact of each project was assessed and described in the Local Environmental Management Work Programme Report (24 June 2025).

44. All projects are expected to contribute towards positive climate impacts through a combination of carbon emissions reduction, waste reduction, supporting a local circular economy, increasing biodiversity, and improving community resilience to climate change.

45. If the local board decides not to fund the additional staff resourcing, opportunities to engage the community in climate action and education will be reduced. Some projects may not achieve their intended outcomes, particularly in relation to embedding more sustainable behaviours in the community.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

46. The overall 2025/2026 work programme was developed through a collaborative approach by operational council departments, with each department represented in an integrated team.

47. Funding for this project will be used solely on the Environmental Services Natural Environment Delivery local board work programme projects (set out in Table 1 above).

48. The proposed new resource will enable greater collaboration and coordination between these projects, the Aotea community, and the wider Environmental Services department. This will support the continuation of a collective, inclusive approach to environmental projects on Aotea.

49. Delivery of natural environment targeted rate-funded projects or projects delivered by other departments will not be impacted by this variation.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

50. The development of the Natural Environment Delivery projects has been informed by staff and feedback received from the local board at workshops in the lead up to the approval of the Local Environmental Management work programme for 2025/2026.

51. Projects align with the environmental outcomes in the 2023 local board plan and will create positive environmental outcomes across the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board area. Particular focus areas for these projects include the Windy Hill Sanctuary and the entire Oruawharo/Medlands area.

52. The local board was briefed on this variation request at a workshop on 2 September 2025. The local board indicated that it was supportive of allocating this funding, recognising the important work that the Environmental Services Natural Environment Delivery team undertake and the potential to use unallocated operational funding for this purpose.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

53. Auckland Council is committed to meeting its responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its broader obligations to Māori. These commitments are articulated in the council’s key strategic planning documents, the Auckland Plan, the Long-term Plan 2024-2034, the Unitary Plan (operative in part), Whiria Te Muka Tangata Māori Responsiveness Framework, Kia Ora Tāmaki Makaurau - Māori Outcomes Performance Measurement Framework and local board plans.

54. The Aotea Conservation Advisor role will have moderate to high Māori outcomes, that align with the Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea Hapū management plan as it works to encourage kaitiakitanga and mātauranga Māori.

55. The Māori outcomes that will be delivered through these proposed projects were described in the Local Environmental Management Work Programme Report (24 June 2025).

56. Staff recognise that environmental management, water quality and land management have integral links with the mauri of the environment and concepts of kaitiakitanga and will continue to engage with Māori on all approved projects.

57. If the local board decides not to fund the additional staff resourcing, opportunities to engage with iwi on projects may have to be scaled back or become more ‘transactional’ rather than the usual hands-on approach staff have.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

58. Under Fairer Funding, Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board has received an increase of $1,100,000 in operational funding for the 2025/2026 financial year. $382,000 of this is currently unallocated.

59. The proposed variation of up to $45,000 is within the local board’s budget envelopes for the year and will not substantially impact the approved projects or the overall work programme.

60. Details of the proposed variation has been agreed with the local board’s lead financial advisor.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

61. The addition of the part time Aotea Conservation Advisor is essential for the successful delivery of environmental local board projects managed by the Natural Environment Delivery team.

62. Table 2 shows the risks and mitigations of the Aotea Conservation Advisor role:

Table 2: Risks and Mitigations

Risks	Mitigations
Delays in recruitment or no suitable candidate is found.	The procurement process will be timebound. If a suitable candidate is not secured by December 2025, the process will be paused, and the local board will be provided with an update on alternative options.
Community engagement and environmental outcomes are not achieved, even with additional resourcing.	Clear and achievable outcomes and expectations will be set with the Aotea Conservation Advisor, aligned with available time and resources.
Continuity of relationships with community partners may be disrupted.	The Aotea Conservation Advisor will be recruited as soon as practicable and early introductions made to key community groups, to continue the momentum and maintain strong relationships.

63. If the local board does not approve the variation, the environmental projects will be delivered with reduced scope, particularly in relation to communications to, and engagement with, the Aotea community.

64. The projects may still achieve short-term outputs but will potentially be less sustainable, with fewer enduring benefits or behaviour changes embedded in the community. These risks are outlined in more detail in the Analysis and Advice (Option 2) section.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

65. Subject to the local board’s decision on the proposal outlined in this report, the local board’s work programme will be amended, and staff will begin procurement for the Aotea Conservation Advisor role.

66. The procurement process is expected to run from October to December 2025.

67. Progress updates on the procurement will be provided to the local board as part of the Local Environmental Management work programme quarterly reports.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

There are no attachments for this report.

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author

Jonathan Miles - Team Manager Islands, Natural Environment Delivery

Authorisers

Sam Hill - General Manager Environmental Services

Tristan Coulson - Local Area Manager

Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board

30 September 2025

Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023 progress update

File No.: CP2025/20622

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To provide the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board with a progress update on delivery of the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023 (LBP23)

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. The local board adopted its three-year local board plan on 24 October 2023 (please find at this link).

3. There are 31 key initiatives and 17 advocacy points in the local board plan. These initiatives provide guidance on how to achieve the plan’s objectives and outcomes for the island’s people, environment and places.

4. Many of the key initiatives in the plan were directly delivered through the local board annual work programmes, regionally funded work programmes and advocacy through policy feedback.

5. All the plan’s key initiatives and advocacy are being delivered upon. There are only two key initiatives and two advocacy points with an amber status due to projects being progressed with challenges.

6. A high-level progress summary for the first two-years of the three-year plan is outlined in Attachment A. Full details of council delivery can be found in quarterly reports, annual reports, and council-controlled organization (CCOs) memos and reports on the local board agendas throughout the past two years.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board:

a) whiwhi / receive the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023 progress update.

Horopaki

Context

7. The Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 requires that each local board complete a local board plan for adoption every three years and uses the special consultative procedure (SCP) to engage with their communities.

8. The three-year plans set a direction for local boards and reflect community priorities and preferences. They provide a guide for local board work programme activity, annual funding and investment decisions. They also influence local board input into regional strategies and plans, including annual budgets.

9. The local board started developing the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023 immediately after election in 2022. The local board engaged with mana whenua, council departments, key stakeholders and community members as they developed up a draft version of the plan. Key feedback themes from the community were around marine protection, environmental activities and social wellbeing.

10. The local board adopted the final Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023 on 24 October 2023 (please find at this link). This plan covers a three-year period until October 2026.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

11. The Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023 is made up of three outcome areas, ten objectives and 31 key initiatives. The 10 objectives cover a range of areas including Māori outcomes, climate change, community, environment, economy, and infrastructure. The key initiatives provide guidance on how to achieve the objectives and ultimately the plan outcomes.

12. The plan informs the CCOs and council departments work programmes. A high proportion of the key initiatives have made their way directly into the work programmes as projects with the rest being processed via advocacy to central government.

13. A high-level progress summary document is outlined in attachment A. Full details of council delivery can be found in quarterly reports, annual reports, and Council-controlled organization memos and reports on the board agendas throughout the past two years.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

14. In 2019, council declared a climate emergency and in 2020 adopted Auckland’s climate plan Te Tāruke ā-Tāwhiri.

15. Climate Action is important to the island and an integral part of the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023 with objectives and key initiatives weaved throughout the plan including:

· Local emergency response support

· Water and food resilience projects

· Grants for community facility solar power upgrades

· Local waste initiatives

· And wetland restoration and riparian tree planting with eco-sourced seeds.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

16. The council group assisted in the development of the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023 through a series of workshops and reports.

17. The council group’s impacts and views on the plan are presented to the local board through policy and work programming development.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

18. This report is providing the local board with a two-year progress update on the three-year Plan.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

19. Māori Outcomes are an integral part of the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023 with an objective to support an engaged and thriving mana whenua community and key initiatives weaved throughout the plan including:

· Delivery of the Visitor Information Centre

· Marine protection advocacy including Caulerpa response and Ahu Moana projects

· Tū Mai Taonga environmental work

· Te reo courses

· And investigating the installation of pou whenua.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

20. This report is providing the local board with a progress update on the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023. There are no financial implications associated with this report.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

21. Many of the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2023 key initiatives are included in the local board’s annual work programme and detailed information about any significant risks and how they are being managed is addressed through the quarterly update reports.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

22. The local board election term concludes in October 2025. The plan’s three-year period expires in October 2026 and a new local board plan will come into effect.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board 2023 progress summary	25

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author	Jacqui Fyers - Senior Local Board Advisor
Authoriser	Tristan Coulson - Local Area Manager

Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board

30 September 2025

2025 Local Government Elections - Meetings and Decision-making until new local board members make their declarations

File No.: CP2025/20310

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To provide for appropriate arrangements for decision-making between the final local board meeting of the current electoral term and the inaugural meeting of the new Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. The final meeting of the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board in this current term is scheduled for Tuesday 30 September 2025. Between the final meeting and the first meeting of the local board in the new term, decisions may be needed from the local board. At the end of every term, temporary arrangements for making these decisions need to be confirmed.

3. The term of office of current local board members ends following the official declaration of the election results. The declaration will be publicly notified between 13 – 17 October 2025, with the term of office of current members ending and the term of office of new members commencing the day following notification.

4. For the period from the commencement of the term of office of newly elected members until the inaugural meeting when members are sworn in (interregnum), decisions may be made by the Auckland Council Chief Executive under current delegations.

5. The existing local board’s delegation to the Chief Executive requires, amongst other things, that staff consult with the allocated local board portfolio holder/lead on certain decisions. As a temporary measure, this report seeks to allow staff to make decisions without complying with the requirement for consultation during the interregnum.

6. This report also confirms that the urgent decision delegations and process that is already in place caters for making decisions at the local board level in the period between the final local board meeting and the official end of term.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board:

a) whakaū / confirm that the local board’s existing urgent decisions delegations process will be utilised where decisions are required from the local board between the final local board business meeting 30 September 2025 and the end of term (18 October 2025).

b) tuhi ā-taipitopito / note that from the commencement of the term of office of newly elected members until the inaugural meeting when members are sworn in (interregnum), all decision-making will be undertaken by the Chief Executive under current delegations.

c) tuhi ā-taipitopito / note that the Chief Executive will not be required to comply with consultation requirements in the local boards’ delegation protocols when making decisions during the interregnum.

d) tono / request that the Chief Executive exercise restraint when making decisions during the interregnum and to consider referring significant decisions to the first meeting of the incoming local board.

Horopaki

Context

7. Current elected members remain in office until the newly elected members’ term of office commences, which is the day after the declaration of election results (Sections 115 and 116, Local Electoral Act 2001). The declaration will be publicly notified on 17 October 2025, with the term of office of current members ending and the term of office of new members commencing on 18 October 2025.

8. The newly elected members cannot act as members of the local board until they have made their statutory declaration at their inaugural local board meeting (Clause 14, Schedule 7, Local Government Act 2002).

9. Between the final meeting and the first meeting of the local board in the new term, decisions may be needed on urgent matters or routine business as usual that cannot wait until the incoming local board’s first business meeting in the new electoral term.

10. As with each of the previous electoral terms, temporary arrangements need to be made and/or confirmed for:

· making urgent decisions before the end of term

· making decisions that require consultation with local board/local board members during the interregnum.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

Urgent decisions – arrangement for remainder of the term

11. Between the last business meeting and the declaration of results expected on Friday 17 October 2025, current local board members are still in office and can use their existing urgent decisions delegations to make decisions that are required from the local board during this time.

12. The urgent decisions process includes a delegation to the chairperson and deputy chairperson that enables them to make decisions on behalf of the local board where it is not practical to call the full board together.

13. All requests for an urgent decision will need to be supported by adequate staff advice and clear recommendations.

Decision-making during the interregnum

14. All local boards have made a general delegation to the Chief Executive. During the interregnum, any decisions that will be required from the local board, and which cannot wait until a local board meeting, will be undertaken by the Chief Executive under his existing delegations.

15. The delegation to the Chief Executive is subject to a requirement to comply with the delegation protocols, which require consulting with the local board on some decisions that are made by staff under delegated authority. Consultation is often done through a local board lead (referred to as a portfolio holder in the delegation protocols). The most common area requiring consultation is landowner consents relating to local parks. Parks staff receive a large number of landowner consent requests each month that relate to local parks across Auckland.

16. During the current term, while the elected members remain in office, staff will continue to consult with leads/portfolio holders as required by the delegation protocols (or chairperson where there is no portfolio holder). However, during the interregnum, staff will be unable to comply with this requirement due to the absence of appointed portfolio holders/lead/chairpersons to consult with.

17. As a temporary measure, it is recommended that staff continue to process business as usual decisions that cannot wait until the local board’s first business meeting without consultation. Following the election of chairpersons at the inaugural meetings, staff will consult with the chairperson when and if required and can resume consultation with appointed representatives once new arrangements for leads/portfolio holders are in place.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

18. This report relates to procedural matters and has no quantifiable climate impacts.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

19. The arrangements proposed in this report enable the council to proceed with necessary business during the election period. During the interregnum, staff will exercise restraint and ensure that any significant decisions are deferred to the incoming local board.

20. These arrangements apply only to local boards. The reduced political decision-making will be communicated to the wider council group.

21. The governing body has made its own arrangements to cover the election period, including delegating the power to make urgent decisions between the last governing body meeting of the term and the day the current term ends, to any two of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and a chairperson of a committee of the whole. From the commencement of the term of office of the new local board members until the governing body’s inaugural meeting, the Chief Executive will carry out decision-making under his current delegations.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

22. This is a report to all local boards that proposes arrangements to enable the council to process routine local matters during the election period. This will enable the council to meet timeframes and provide good customer service.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

23. A decision of this procedural nature is not considered to have specific implications for Māori, and the arrangements proposed in this report do not affect the Māori community differently to the rest of the community.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

24. This report and decision being sought relates to a procedural matter and does not have any financial implications.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

25. There is a risk that unforeseen decisions will arise during this period, such as a decision that is politically significant or a decision that exceeds the Chief Executive’s financial delegations.

26. This risk has been mitigated by scheduling meetings as late as possible in the current term and communicating to reporting staff that significant decisions should not be made during October 2025.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

27. The decision of the local board will be communicated to senior staff so that they are aware of the arrangements for the month of October 2025.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

There are no attachments for this report.

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Authors

Rhiannon Guinness - Elections Programme Senior Advisor

Shirley Coutts - Principal Advisor - Governance Strategy

Authorisers

Oliver Roberts - Head of Governance Programmes and Policies

Lou-Ann Ballantyne - General Manager Governance and Engagement

Tristan Coulson - Local Area Manager

Chairperson	Izzy Fordham
Deputy Chairperson	Chris Ollivier
Members	Patrick O'Shea
	Neil Sanderson

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Board Member Report - Deputy chair Chris Ollivier, September 2025	77
b ⇩	Board Member Report - Patrick O'Shea, September 2025	79
c ⇩	Board Member Report - Neil Sanderson, September 2025	81

Author	Guia Nonoy - Democracy Advisor
Authoriser	Tristan Coulson - Local Area Manager