In the last three months, your rates have been working hard to provide more reliable services for Aucklanders and support the region’s priorities. Below is a snapshot of your rates in action and what they’re contributing to.
Got a problem? Ask Auckland
It just got easier to report graffiti, illegal dumping, roaming dogs, missed bin collections and party/people noise, as well as quickly find information for reporting other problems. Other uses will be added over time.
Council has launched a new, purpose-built AI enabled digital service called Ask Auckland Council.
Aucklanders help keep our communities safe, neighbourly and tidy by reporting problems to the council – Ask Auckland can be accessed on your smartphone, computer, tablet or any device via a web browser. Read more about it here.
More people, more books being checked out at libraries
More Aucklanders than ever are stepping foot in our local libraries – with 6.3 million visits by locals taking advantage of free access to books and e-books in the first nine months of this financial year. These are the highest visitor numbers for this period in the last six years.
In the last quarter alone (January-March), Auckland Council libraries saw 250,000 more people than anticipated, which led to almost 13 million items being checked out so far this year. 4.3 million were checked out last quarter, including a 9 percent increase in e-books.
Initiatives for children, seniors, and reading campaigns such as We Read Auckland contributed to the increase. Read more about it here.
Delivering on infrastructure, transport and community services
Auckland Council’s six-month results show ongoing progress with infrastructure, transport and enhanced community services.
Delivering value to ratepayers by focusing on key priorities has seen the council invest heavily in infrastructure and services, building resilience against severe weather, and activities and services for communities.
In total, the council has invested over $1.8 billion into transport, water infrastructure and council services and assets in its first six months of this financial year (July-December 2025). Read more about it here.
Te Whau Pathway section opens
A 1.3km boardwalk section of Te Whau Pathway across the Whau awa has opened – connecting the Northwestern cycleway and Horowai Reserve, and linking walkers and cyclists with new areas and alternative transport routes.
Dog management
March marked 1500 high-risk dogs desexed through the desexing programmes that began in June 2025, helping to manage dog population numbers. A new dog adoption website also launched alongside a Valentine’s Day puppy love event with hundreds of attendees.
The Manukau Animal Shelter expansion has also been completed – this will add much needed 33 kennels to the network capacity.
Auckland Council is working hard to keep your rates down and deliver value, while strengthening Auckland’s financial and physical resilience, and investing appropriately to manage growth.
What we’re focusing on next
Annual Plan 2026/2027 – coming soon!
We’re gearing up to share what we’re delivering on during 2026/2027.
The council’s Annual Plan 2026/2027 will be released in late June, highlighting key projects and local investments in your area.
All up, 2026/2027 will see $3.9 billion going into new capital infrastructure projects across Auckland – helping deliver a region with the physical assets it needs to thrive and grow.
A further $5.3 billion helps continue the essential services Aucklanders rely on.
A major highlight this year is the expected start of the City Rail Link (CRL), which will transform Auckland’s public transport.
Our Long-term Plan 2024-2034 is our 10-year plan for Auckland.
The long-term plan underpins our annual plan, and ultimately focuses on our physical and financial resilience, while investing where it is needed most to manage growth. We are focused firmly on delivering this while recognising cost of living concerns and providing the greatest benefit to our communities.
To learn more about our investment priorities for your rates, see the Long-term Plan 2024-2034.
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Council rates - here’s how it works - OurAuckland
How your rates contribute
Your rates help deliver a wide range of day-to-day activities and services, and support investment in Auckland’s assets.
For 2025/2026, Auckland has some of the lowest rates rises in the country, at 5.8 per cent for the average value residential property (around $223 a year, or $4.29 a week)*.
We are working hard to keep your rates down by carefully balancing the need to strengthen the financial and physical resilience of Auckland, while investing where it is needed most to manage growth.
What your rates deliver
Your rates support community services and activities that make Auckland thriving and beautiful. This includes improving public transport, maintaining parks, providing local and regional events, delivering environmental services, rubbish collection and a variety of community facilities and services.
A rising population means your rates need to work hard to meet increasing demand for the activities and services council provides and supports.
Our Long-term Plan 2024-2034
Where we are investing
Our Long-term Plan 2024-2034 is our 10-year plan for Auckland.
It focuses on our physical and financial resilience, while investing where it is needed most to manage growth. We are doing this in a way that recognises cost of living concerns and provides the greatest benefit to our communities.
To learn more about all the investment priorities where your rates will go in the coming decade, see the Long-term Plan 2024-2034.
The Annual Plan 2025/2026 includes $4.3 billion to be invested over the next 12 months in roads, pipes and transport infrastructure to further improve services to Aucklanders and build a more resilient region.
The capital investment is supported by significant $5.1 billion operating spend to continue delivering services such as parks, libraries and cultural events.
In the next 10 years, your rates will help deliver:
More travel choices
Better public transport and new travel solutions. This includes a $50 capped weekly public transport pass, the opening of City Rail Link in 2026, and coordinating bus and rail services to improve connections.
Safer, improved transport
Investments to alleviate congestion, improve public transport and address safety issues. This includes progressing a 30-year Auckland Integrated Transport Plan, progressing the Eastern Busway and installing driver safety screens on 1100 buses.
Future-proofing our water networks
This includes replacing the water supply in Huia and Nihotupu, completing the Snells Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade and wastewater upgrade in the city centre’s midtown area.
Flood protection
Reducing existing flood risks, prevention, awareness and preparation. This includes Making Space for Water projects to provide flood resilience at Te Ararata, Harania and Wairau Valley.
Rejuvenated neighbourhoods
Regeneration continuing in Wynyard Quarter, City Centre, Takapuna, Northcote, Henderson, Avondale, Maungawhau, Panmure, Onehunga, Papatoetoe, Manukau, Pukekohe and Ormiston.
Community investment
Increased sports and recreation facilities through a $35 million fund, continued library and digital services, community-led arts and cultural activities, and local development. Local boards have a new, fairer funding model to support local communities.
A transformed city centre
A City Centre Masterplan will deliver a vibrant city centre, regenerating midtown to benefit from the City Rail Link and progress toward transforming Wynyard Point, the port and waterfront.
Community focus
We are increasing community patrols and CCTV surveillance to keep people safe in our city centres. Improved resourcing for animal control services and increase capacity at shelters.
Food scraps collection
All urban households will have weekly kerbside food scraps collection. Rates-funded refuse collection will also be phased in for North Shore, Waitakere, Papakura, Franklin and Rodney.
A growing Auckland economy
Promoting Auckland as a great place to live, work, invest, study and visit – continuing our large cultural events and securing international and domestic events. This includes holding iconic cultural events such as Pasifika, Diwali and the Lantern Festival, along with international and domestic events including musicals, concerts and exhibitions.
Well-managed local government
The Auckland Future Fund will help improve the financial and physical resilience of the council. The council will also be progressing Maori outcomes and continuing with storm recovery activities.
Ensuring every rates dollar goes further
The council has introduced a new Value for Money programme to ensure ratepayers get value and cost-effectiveness across the organisation - which is on top of savings targets. For example, in 2025/2026 there is an additional $47 million savings target, bringing the total savings for the year to $86 million.
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February 2026
Your rates in action: planning for Auckland’s future
In the last three months (November 2025-February 2026), your rates have been working hard to provide more reliable services for Aucklanders and support the region’s priorities. Below is a snapshot of your rates in action and what they’re contributing to.
City Rail Link station neighbourhood in downtown is ready to go
The Waitematā Station Plaza and eastern glasshouse entrance to the station are open, completing the City Rail Link’s (CRL) first station neighbourhood in the city centre. Renewals include new footpaths, bus stops, bus lanes, bike lanes, rain gardens, trees and public art in redesigned streets and spaces around the stations.
This is the first of three above ground renewal programmes being delivered around CRL stations by the Auckland Council group and City Rail Link Limited, in the city centre.
We’ve created a ten-stop walk, through the first finished station neighbourhood, from Quay Street to the station’s glasshouse entrance which has re-opened after many years of construction – read more in this OurAuckland article.
Free travel for public transport users
Each week, approximately 7000 unique customers hit the weekly $50 public transport cap. These customers benefit from an average of 24,600 free trips each week. In recent months, an additional 12,000 unique users have benefited from the cap at least once (over 87,000 in total).
Community services projects delivered
A series of community projects have come to life in recent months, across Auckland. Several new playground renewals and installs are available now across the region – the city centre’s Allenby Park, Cyclamen Park in Mangere, and in Hibiscus and Bays the Gilshennan Reserve has a new place and renewed footpaths.
Albany’s Coronation Hall and Memorial Library, which are historically significant community-focused buildings, have had a renewal to the outside of the buildings. Near Puhoi, the Wenderholm Regional Park’s permitter track has been renewed following storm damage. Find out more about Wenderholm Regional Park. Additionally Howick’s Highland Park library canopy and public bathroom have been upgraded.
Library visits and pool use continue to climb
Library visits and pool use have continued to climb in recent months. More than 3.4 million visitors have headed through library doors, checking out 5.6 million items between September-December 2025. Likewise, pool and leisure centres have been busy with over 2.4 million users – that’s up 6.4 percent from 2.28 million last year.
Auckland Council is working hard to keep your rates down and deliver value, while strengthening Auckland’s financial and physical resilience, and investing appropriately to manage growth.
Annual Plan – coming soon!
We’re gearing up to share what we’re delivering on during 2026-2027.
The council’s proposed Annual Plan 2026/2027 is out soon for all Aucklanders’ input.
The consultation runs for a month from February 27 and is an opportunity for all Aucklanders to see what our plan is for 2026-2027 and give feedback on key topics.
2026-2027 will see us invest $3.9 billion into new capital infrastructure projects across Auckland – helping deliver a region with the physical assets it needs to thrive and grow. We will also invest $5.3 billion into continuing essential services Aucklanders rely on.
A major highlight this year is the expected start of the City Rail Link (CRL), which will transform Auckland’s public transport.
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November 2025
Getting ready for the City Rail Link
The new City Rail Link (CRL) routes have been announced – helping Aucklanders’ understanding of the new transport system, coming in 2026. The CRL will help provide faster journeys, new direct travel options and better access to the city centre.
Community conservation efforts
The council provides support and funding for volunteers and communities to care for green spaces and help achieve conservation goals.
- Natural Environment Targeted Rate funding is supporting the Connect to Nature programme, engaging diverse communities through planting events, workshops and guided walks. In recent months, over 1000 students and volunteers planted 7000 native plants, and more than 320 people attended eight events, including Conservation Week activities, te taiao hīkoi and Auckland’s first event for the deaf community.
- The Trees for Survival programme has achieved remarkable success this winter planting season (April-September), with 4,190 students, teachers, sponsors and supporters growing and planting 94,277 native trees along 12.4 km of Auckland waterways.
- A larger number of local natural environment and sustainability projects with local community groups and volunteers is being supported by the council’s environmental services team. The number of projects has increased from 110 in 2024/2025 (with a budget of $3.9 million) to 159 projects in 2025/2026, with a budget of $7.6 million.
- The local parks winter planting season finished in September. Over 230 events were delivered by community partners and our park rangers, planting over 130,000 natives.
Our libraries and pools continue to thrive
Auckland libraries have been busy in recent months, with strong performance seeing 2.2 million visitors and 4.5 million items checked out (July-September). E-issues are driving increased demand.
Pool and leisure centre visits across Auckland rose by 15.8 per cent against the quarterly target to 2.3 million.
Flood intelligence tech installed
We've installed hotspot cameras at key flood locations across Auckland. The new solar-powered cameras keep an eye on trouble spots during heavy rain and 100 cameras will be installed by 2026.
Using smart AI image recognition, the cameras can spot blockages like debris or vegetation before they cause flooding, helping our maintenance teams to respond faster. The cameras are also integrated with Auckland Transport and Emergency Management systems to keep communities safter.
Climate action rate helps reduce emissions
The Climate Action Transport Targeted Rate (CATTR) continues to progress its goals to increase low carbon public transport and other initiatives to help reduce regional emissions.
- Works for the Half Moon Bay ferry charger were completed under the CATTR Ferry programme, supporting ferry fleet decarbonisation.
- Preliminary design for the Kelston–New Lynn Cycleway CATTR project was endorsed by the Whau and Waitākere Ranges Local Boards, with construction planned for mid-2026.
- Project list for walking projects in Manurewa includes four new crossings near schools, with delivery starting in late 2026.
The Long-term Plan 2024-2034 is delivering Solar upgrades completed at Ngāti Ōtara Sports Park and Ōrewa Library as part of Project Gigawatt to reduce organisation emissions and lower energy costs.
Auckland Council is working hard to keep your rates down and deliver value, while strengthening Auckland’s financial and physical resilience, and investing appropriately to manage growth.
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*This excludes the introduction of rates funded refuse service to certain areas of the city.