Central government has today confirmed updates to Plan Change 120, including a reduction in the plan’s required housing capacity. Minister for Housing, Chris Bishop, announced the changes while addressing the Committee for Auckland.
Mayor of Auckland, Wayne Brown, said getting planning right is one of the biggest opportunities we have to improve productivity.
“I've always said we need to intensify in the right places: along transport routes, where we've invested in infrastructure, not on flood plains.
“I've also said the capacity target would change – it is just a theoretical number that was widely misunderstood to begin with.
“It is now up to Auckland to determine where and how our city grows, not to be decided by a cabinet of people who don't live here,” he says.
Megan Tyler, Director of Policy, Planning and Governance said the council’s focus throughout has been on giving Aucklanders a chance to have a say on the proposed planning rules.
“The council acknowledges the government’s revised approach, and decision to adopt a more flexible capacity requirement. Once we have a more detailed understanding of what is being proposed and any timeframes, we will share more information on what these changes mean for Plan Change 120 and Aucklanders.
“More than ten thousand Aucklanders have made a submission on this plan so far. Auckland Council will continue to ensure Auckland’s communities are fairly represented throughout this process.”
What is Plan Change 120?
Plan Change 120 is a change to Auckland’s planning rules. 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.
It’s important to note that Plan Change 120 is a plan and not what will be built, which is determined by market demand.
What is changing?
The government has said:
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The requirement to enable the same housing capacity as Plan Change 78 will be dropped
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There will be an opportunity for Auckland Council to withdraw parts of Plan Change 120 and reduce intensification in other areas
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Aucklanders will have an opportunity to engage in these additional changes.
The minister also announced an investigation into the planning rules in Auckland’s city centre, which were updated in 2025 to introduce unlimited building heights there.
What happens next?
Auckland Council will now work with central government to get a clearer understanding of the new requirements. The council will provide an update once more details are confirmed.