Every year, the council confirms services and investments to be made across Auckland, helping make it a wonderful region to live in.
Our proposed Annual Plan builds on the Long-term Plan 2024-2034, and includes funding for everything from parks to playgrounds, community facilities and events, investments in big projects like public transport, roads, water quality, public spaces and the many local services that Aucklanders value.
As an Aucklander, during the month of March you’re encouraged to have your say on our plan. Auckland Council’s Governing Body will consider this public feedback, before finalising the Annual Plan 2025/2026 in June.
Here’s five reasons to have your say on the services we plan to provide and the money we plan to spend across the Auckland region:
1. Playgrounds, pools and parks...
Do you love the local amenities in your community like playgrounds, parks, pools, libraries and community centres, and local services? Local Boards help to fund these, and you can have a say on your local board’s funding priorities for your community. This year, a fairer funding approach for communities is also being phased in through the Annual Plan, to ensure all communities get an equitable share of funding for local services and amenities.
2. Concerts, sports and big events
You can also have a say on whether a bed night levy is a good idea. If introduced by central government, this levy (paid by visitors through accommodation providers like hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts) would help fund major events like the ASB Classic, Auckland Writers Festival and Auckland Marathon.
3. Rates increases (and keeping them)
The proposed plan also includes a rates increase of 5.8% - which is in line with what we said we would do for the second year of the Long-term Plan. This is one of the lowest proposed increases for any metropolitan city in New Zealand – while helping us to invest where it is needed most to manage growth. You can have your say on how council proposes to pay for a wide range of day-to-day services and support investment in Auckland’s infrastructure.
4. Love your maunga?
Do you love to explore your local maunga (mountain)? You can also have your say on the Tūpuna Maunga Authority’s annual plan for looking after the 14 unique Tūpuna Maunga (ancestral mountains) of Tāmaki Makaurau that are treasured by all Aucklanders.
5. Talking specifics...
What about other changes to rates fees and charges? Whether it’s dog adoption fees, fees for some cemetery and cremation charges, or the continued rollout of our standardised waste management collection services t – you can have your say on that too.
And other important stuff!
In addition, the annual plan offers the chance to have your say on the overall proposed plan for the year ahead. The 2025/2026 Annual Plan gets on with progressing year two of the Long-term Plan and invests in greater physical and financial resilience for Auckland, while investing in growth. It prioritises investment in water, transport and fairer funding for communities. And we want your opinion!
So go on, have your say on the Annual Plan 2026-2026 - visit akhaveyoursay.nz/ourplan
Consultation runs until Friday 28 March 2025.
