Rates are an essential part of the funding that allows Auckland Council to maintain a vibrant and sustainable Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s how we fund the services and facilities that matter and help create a city where all Aucklanders can thrive.
Strongly supported by Aucklanders, Auckland Council introduced the natural environment and water quality targeted rates in 2018. These targeted rates are ring-fenced for the purpose they are collected – this means they must be used to protect the environment or our waterways.
They’re one of the ways we can continue to invest in, protect and restore our natural environment as well as improve water quality and clean up our waterways. These targeted rates contribute to many projects and help us support important community efforts.
Councillor Richard Hills, Chair of the Policy and Planning Committee celebrated the significant progress made towards restoring and protecting our natural environment and waterways, which is demonstrated in the 2024/2025 annual progress report.
“Through Auckland Council’s Long-term Plan 2024-2034, Aucklanders once again submitted strongly in favour of the targeted rate programmes. The Governing Body approved $350 million for a Natural Environment Targeted Rate for council and community-led action to protect and restore priority native ecosystems and threatened species,” says Cr Hills.
“Another $661 million was committed for a Water Quality Targeted Rate for new water infrastructure to create healthy habitats for plants and animals while also cleaning up our beaches, harbours and waterways. This includes the funding that has allowed us to continue work on resolving long-term water quality issues right across Auckland, with notable mentions being the Eastern and Western Isthmus Water Quality Improvement Programme.
“The 2024/2025 targeted rate also reflects that we don’t get these fantastic results without the significant support and collaboration of mana whenua and community partners.
“An amazing example of this collaboration is the recent release of 10 kiwi on Waiheke Island, the first reintroduction of kiwi in urban Auckland. This result is due to the mahi and persistence of Te Korowai o Waiheke in reducing stoat numbers so kiwi and other manu can flourish. We are seeing tangible benefits, not only in our parks, reserves and beaches but in our backyards and neighbourhoods as well,” says Cr Hills.
“What makes this mahi always so exceptional is the tireless commitment over the last seven years, from our partnership with mana whenua as kaitiaki and rangatira of Tāmaki Makaurau and their work in restoring the mauri of te taiao, to the efforts of communities and businesses alongside our kaimahi who have contributed to achieving our remarkable environmental and water quality aspirations.”
Targeted rates in action
Samantha Hill, General Manager Environmental Services, is proud to share the continued success and impact of the Natural Environment Targeted Rate across the Auckland region, now in its sixth year.
“These achievements reflect our commitment to protecting Auckland’s unique ecosystems and native species for current and future generations,” she says.
This programme has been instrumental in reducing pest numbers in key biodiversity areas, safeguarding the pest-free status of islands in the Hauraki Gulf, managing the impact of kauri dieback and maintaining exclusion zones for deer and goats in Te Ngāherehere o Kohukohunui / Hūnua and Waitākere Ranges.
“Central to our success is the strong and enduring relationships we have built with mana whenua across the region as well as community involvement. By fostering local leadership and empowering mana whenua, community groups and schools, we expand the reach and impact of conservation activity. Together, we’re creating a resilient network of environmental stewards who are helping to protect Auckland’s natural taonga for generations to come,” says Ms Hill.
Craig Mcilroy, General Manager Healthy Waters and Flood Resilience, says that the Water Quality Targeted Rate is more than an infrastructure investment – it’s a promise to future generations that we will leave our environment better than we found it.
“Through this dedicated investment, we are delivering transformative stormwater infrastructure and innovative programmes to reduce wastewater overflows, sediment, and pollutants that contaminate our waterways and marine environment. Every project under this programme has a shared purpose: to protect public health, improve the ecological health of our waterways, and reduce Safeswim warnings across the region,” he says.
Through the Western Isthmus Water Quality Improvement Programme, we’re fast-tracking major infrastructure upgrades. In partnership with Watercare, this work is significantly reducing wastewater overflows into the Waitematā Harbour and building the stormwater infrastructure necessary for long-term water quality improvements.
On the eastern side of the city, the Eastern Isthmus Water Quality Improvement Programme is being delivered in tandem with critical projects like the Central Interceptor and the Newmarket Gully Tunnel. So far, 1.5 kilometres of new public stormwater pipe has been built, with 17.4 kilometres in design, supporting the separation of over 1,300 properties from the combined network.
“Every metre of pipe laid, every restored stream bank, and every pollutant prevented from entering our harbours brings us a step closer to swimmable, fishable, and thriving waterways,” says Mr Mcilroy.
Natural Environment Targeted Rate highlights include:
Plant pathogens
- 0 infected kauri trees found in Te Ngāherehere o Kohukohunui / Hūnua Ranges, despite an extensive survey, indicating this forest is free from kauri dieback disease.
- 9270 visitors to local and regional parks engaged with the 2024-2025 Summer Ngahere Champions programme.
Biodiversity Focus Areas
- 50 forest plots monitored, and 990 bird counts conducted across the region to assess the outcomes of our biodiversity protection work.
- 35 threatened or at-risk species surveyed across the region to identify priority protection areas and 41 priority ecosystem sites managed to address key causes of biodiversity decline.
- 10 years of monitoring completed confirming the successful translocation of 3 at-risk lizard species to Papakōhatu / Crusoe Island.
Expanding community action
- 520 community-led initiatives across Tāmaki Makaurau have been supported with $3 million in funding.
- 20% increase in monthly users on the Tiaki Tāmaki Makaurau website
Mainland
- 45,500 hectares of ground-based possum control delivered region-wide by contractors and the community, protecting high-priority ecosystems and species.
- 2554 hectares of pest plant control undertaken in regional parks to protect high-priority ecosystems.
- 17 kōkako translocated from Te Ngāherehere o Kohukohunui / Hūnua Ranges to Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari in Waikato. Population recovery has been made possible by NETR-funded pest animal control.
- Pest plant control was undertaken in 1150 private properties bordering parkland to protect high-priority on-park biodiversity.
Islands
- 255 stoats caught to date by Te Korowai o Waiheke, contributing to a 76% increase in birds on Waiheke Island between 2020 and 2025. The stoat control enabled 10 kiwi to be released onto Waiheke Island.
- Over $1.4 million contributed to community- and iwi-led pest control on islands, including the Te Korowai o Waiheke and Tū Mai Taonga projects.
- More than 500 wallabies and more than 100 possums were culled in the southern half of Kawau, as we work towards restoring forest habitat and food sources for native species on the island.
Marine ecology
- 5600 hectares of Manukau Harbour seabed surveyed to understand the diversity of seabed habitats and inform management actions.
- 43 areas of seabed habitat and 660 kilometres of seabed transects were surveyed with video in the Hauraki Gulf improving our knowledge of the values.
- 85 seabird colonies / sites monitored across the region, to inform conservation actions and 12 seabird species monitored to assess population trends.
Marine and pathways
- 7 sites managed for exotic caulerpa with surveys, treatments, mana whenua and community partnerships.
- 100% of vehicle sailings to Rakino and 92% to Aotea / Great Barrier Island inspected to protect these islands from pests.
- 32,150 engagements through the Protect Our Hauraki Gulf campaign (including 11,335 digital views and 18,335 in-person interactions) to build awareness of biosecurity best practice.
- 162 Pest Free Warrants issued and three in-process to help commercial transport operators avoid spreading pests to offshore islands.
Water Quality Targeted Rate highlights include:
Safe Networks
- 1667 samples collected across 68 stormwater catchments, finding human faecal matter at 96 unique locations.
- 2568 property drainage inspections completed across 19 investigation areas with 488 issues identified, with 238 resolved to date.
- Since 2020, 9732 samples collected across 139 stormwater catchments, 16,286 property drainage inspections completed and 1523 issues identified.
Waitematā Harbour water quality improvement
Western Isthmus Water Quality Improvement:
- 8 kilometres of public stormwater pipe was constructed.
- 85 of properties were separated.
- 4 kilometres of public stormwater pipe being designed to facilitate stormwater separation.
- 3469 properties are expected to benefit from identified separation.
Eastern Isthmus Water Quality Improvement:
- 5 kilometres of public stormwater pipe was constructed.
- 4 kilometres of public stormwater pipe being designed to facilitate stormwater separation.
- 1331 properties are expected to benefit from identified separation.
Safe Septic
- 2984 faulty systems repaired following compliance investigation.
- 50,180 estimated total number of septic tank systems in Auckland.
- 15,555 (45%) are up to date with maintenance records and compliance.
- 3,180 (9%) require attention.
- 330 critical failures under active monitoring by compliance for repair.
- 15,375 (45%) overdue for providing maintenance records.
Urban and rural stream rehabilitation
- Over $643,000 allocated to grant recipients across two grant programmes – Waterways Protection Fund and Fonterra & Auckland Council Wetland Restoration.
- 254 kilometres of fencing to be installed, 17.8 hectares of wetlands to be protected, 49 hectares of riparian margin to be protected, through co-funding programmes.
- 657,603 plants planted or to be planted through new work plans.
Contaminant reduction
- 15,685 compliance site visits to small construction sites, with 1398 notices issued (91% compliance rate).
- 797 visits to high-contaminate risk industries through the Industrial Trade Activity Proactive Programme, with 45 notices issued.
- 400% increase in notices issued on previous year, due to focus on automotive dismantler sector.
