- Hibiscus and Bays Local Board has adopted its 2025/2026 local board agreement and will allocate $29 million to maintain and operate community assets, provide local services and programmes, and $8 million to fix and upgrade community facilities.
- There is a strong focus on young people, climate resilience, and improving community facilities.
- Other key priorities include protecting the environment, supporting vibrant town centres and business development.
Hibiscus and Bays Local Board has adopted its 2025/2026 local board agreement and will allocate $29 million to maintain and operate community assets, provide local services and programmes, and $8 million to fix and upgrade community facilities.
There is a strong focus on young people, climate resilience and improving community facilities.
With one in four residents under 20, the board is prioritising youth support through leadership programmes, events and scholarships. At the same time, with 155km of coastline, there’s an increasing focus on adapting parks and public spaces to meet the growing impacts of climate change.
Local Board Chair Alexis Poppelbaum says the plan reflects strong community feedback.
“There is good community support to develop and increase the use of our local parks and sports fields. We want everyone to enjoy being outdoors and have fun, get fit and relax," she says.
“We also heard strong support for protecting our sea, soil, and freshwater from pollution and sediment build-up.”
Key funding priorities include:
- youth development through support networks, events, leadership skills, and scholarships
- environmental work such as pest control, planting days, and waterway restoration
- improvements to parks, playgrounds, walkways and community facilities.
Other priorities for the year include supporting local business development which helps town centres remain safe, vibrant and welcoming, and co-funding a new vision and plan for the North Harbour Stadium and Domain Precinct.
Advocacy to the Governing Body
Poppelbaum says the board will continue advocating on behalf of residents on key regional issues outside its direct control.
“We had 934 submissions this year, with 617 from Hibiscus and Bays residents and we want to thank everyone who had their say,” she says.
The board’s key advocacy points include:
- improved public transport including better night and weekend services
- protection of the Hauraki Gulf from overfishing and sedimentation
- stronger collaboration across agencies on housing, homelessness, and marine issues
- road upgrades for Vaughans and Okura River roads
- procurement policy changes to better support local businesses and involve local boards in key decisions.
The board’s agreement will soon be online on the main Auckland Council website.
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