Auckland's Plan Change 120: Housing Intensification and Resilience will see further changes after central government announced it will again lower the minimum theoretical housing capacity required in the plan to 1.4 million. The government introduced legislation for this to happen on 31 March 2026.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says what matters most for Auckland is having a mix of housing that's actually affordable:
“This will give Auckland more flexibility to grow into the city it wants to be, a global city, not embarrassingly the world’s biggest suburb. It also gives us greater ability to downzone for natural hazards and retains intensification where it makes the most sense—along major transport routes and the CRL where we've already sunk billions into the pipes, roads, and tracks beneath our feet.
“This has been going on for years, over successive governments. If we waited for everyone to agree, we’d never get anywhere. It’s time to stop the talk, for Wellington to get out of the way, and let Auckland get on with building Auckland.”
Chair of Auckland's Policy, Planning and Development Committee, Councillor Richard Hills says:
"Where new homes are built is guided by the market—where people want to live.
"The requirements under the National Policy Statement - Urban Development still set the theoretical housing capacity at around 1.6million. As Auckland grows, Plan Change 120 makes sure we are building where it makes sense: in areas with good infrastructure and public transport, close to jobs and services, while helping protect communities from future natural hazard risks.
"The plan will continue to be shaped through feedback from Aucklanders through submissions and the independent hearing panel process," he says.
What is Plan Change 120?
Plan Change 120 is a change to Auckland’s planning rules that responds to the government’s housing policy.
It meets central government direction to enable increased building heights around five Western Line train stations: Maungawhau, Kingsland, Morningside, Baldwin Avenue and Mt Albert. It also had to meet central government direction to enable the same housing capacity as its predecessor, Plan Change 78 – this has now been eased.
Additionally, Plan Change 120 introduces stronger rules to make homes and buildings more resilient to the risks of floods and other natural hazards. It also reduces or stops new development in areas at high risk from flooding, landslides, coastal erosion, and coastal inundation.
Importantly, Plan Change 120 is a plan and not what will actually be built, which is determined by market demand.
Megan Tyler, General Manager of Policy, Planning and Governance at Auckland Council said the council will continue to keep Aucklanders updated as more details become available:
“Auckland Council is committed to ensuring Aucklanders continue to have a voice in planning decisions that shape our city.
“The government has assured us that all submissions already made on Plan Change 120 will remain valid, even under these new changes. We have also confirmed that Aucklanders will have an opportunity to have a say on the further changes.
“Plan Change 120 is Auckland’s response to the government’s policy statement on urban development, and so the council is bound by the rules set by the government.
“Our focus remains on getting the best outcomes for our region—enabling development where there is good infrastructure and public transport, and reducing or stopping it where there are natural hazards,” she says.