How do you think the natural environment of Tāmaki Makaurau should be protected?
The ‘Let’s Protect Our Environment’ consultation is open now until 8 December 2024 and Auckland Council is inviting Aucklanders to provide feedback.
Have your say on how the region should protect its natural environment and primary production over the next decade from invasive species and new threats.
Councillor Richard Hills, Chair of the Policy and Planning Committee, highlights the importance of community involvement in shaping this 10-year plan and encourages everyone to give their feedback for this early consultation.
“Our regional parks, beaches, and open spaces are part of what makes Tāmaki Makaurau unique – there’s no place in the world like it,” says Cr Hills.
“The ‘Let’s protect our environment’ consultation will ask what we can do to continue to protect what Aucklanders’ value — like our native species and ecosystems, Māori cultural values, rural primary production, and the safety and wellbeing of our communities and natural habitats.
“We cannot do this work alone – we work alongside the community, volunteers and conservation groups. So, we’re asking that you let us know what’s important to you and how we can continue to protect our environment for future generations.”
What will we be asking Aucklanders?
The current plan, which runs until 2030, is still in effect. However, with Auckland’s changing climate and the arrival of new exotic species, we need to start reviewing our current plan now, so the new plan is ready to take effect in 2030.
Before we begin drafting the new plan, we want to know your views about:
- Achieving pest-free islands and peninsulas in the Auckland region and contributing to a predator-free Aotearoa by 2050
- Managing exotic caulerpa seaweed and other harmful marine species
- Reducing the spread and impact of harmful freshwater species like freshwater gold clam
- Options for cat management to protect threatened native wildlife
- Addressing the impact of climate change on our natural environment.
“We all have a part to play in protecting our natural environment. Our own unique species such as kiwi, tūī and pōhutukawa are central to our identity and a key part of what makes Tāmaki Makaurau special,” says Dr Imogen Bassett, Auckland Council Head of Natural Environment Specialist Services.
“It’s important that we continue to look after our natural environment to protect our native species and ecosystems, Māori cultural values and also maintain the economic wellbeing of our region by protecting our industries, like farming and tourism.
“Our current plan expires in 2030 and it’s important our updated plan reflects new threats to our natural environment, cultural values and industries – like myrtle rust and exotic caulerpa.”
Get involved
Have your say and let us know how we can work together and protect Auckland’s environment – the ‘Let’s Protect Our Environment’ consultation is open from 25 October to 8 December 2024.
To have your say, you can:
- Complete our online feedback form from Friday 25 October
- Email protectourenvironment@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz with your completed feedback form
- Take your completed form to a library with council services
- Post your completed form to:
Let’s protect our environment
Auckland Council
Free post 190198
Private Bag 92300
Victoria Street West
Auckland 1142
Public feedback, along with input from mana whenua, stakeholders, and technical experts, will help shape the next 10-year plan. When the draft plan is ready in 2027, Aucklanders will again have the chance to provide feedback.
We’ll also be working with a representative sample of Aucklanders using a deliberative democracy process. Together, they will have the chance to deliberate and develop some recommendations to help increase our understanding of these complex topics.
Altogether, we can protect our natural environment, Māori cultural values, primary industries, native wildlife, biodiversity – and achieve more than we could alone.
