The council’s Governing Body recently voted on the Annual Plan 2026/27 – ringing in a new budget for the year ahead, community projects and activities to be delivered, and a 7.9% average residential rates increase.
What is in the plan?
The Annual Plan 2026/2027 continues the council’s focus on strengthening Auckland’s physical and financial resilience – prioritising transport, water and enabling local boards to respond to their communities’ needs.
2026/2027 will see the council 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. The council will also invest $5.3 billion into continuing essential services Aucklanders rely on such as pools, libraries, animal management, public transport and waste collection.
What initiatives will we see next year?
City Rail Link launch
The City Rail Link (CRL) launch is a major highlight for the year ahead, as a service expected to transform Aucklanders’ ability to move around the region by delivering more trains and quicker, easier journeys. It will also bring economic and environmental benefits.
As a key investment for Auckland in 2026, the CRL is the main driver for the rates increase, as the council manages additional CRL costs (ownership and operational costs) in its budget. From 2027/2028, the average rates increase is forecast to be no more than 3.5 per cent for the rest of the Long-term Plan 2024-2034.
The CRL will deliver more frequent trains across the network, new routes across town on a single train and more direct journeys into the city centre. Aucklanders living further from rail lines will have improved service connections between trains and buses.
Local board plans
Auckland’s 21 local boards have plans for 2026/2027 – enabling Aucklanders to see exactly what is planned in their area, for the year ahead, including priorities for their local community and where funds will be invested.
Water work
Fundamental infrastructure investment continues across the region – the Central Interceptor that will reduce wastewater overflows into Central Auckland continues toward having its second half into service.
A $500 million water and wastewater renewals programme to replace ageing pipes and treatment plant infrastructure across Auckland continues. 2026/2027 also sees continued work on Wellsford’s wastewater treatment plant upgrade and Snells Beach/ Warkworth’s $450 million wastewater programme that will transform wastewater services in those areas.
Urban development
The programme will maintain momentum on current urban development programmes, including Drury, while reassessing priority locations such as Northcote, Henderson, Avondale, and Manukau.
City centre regeneration programmes will continue to progress including completion of public spaces around CRL stations and further development of High Street and Te Toangaroa.
Savings
Savings and increased efficiency across the council have helped reduce what could have been an even higher rates rise. This includes a savings target of $106 million for the 2026/2027 year – an additional $20 million on the existing target. The $106 million equates to 3.5 per cent of rates.
What is happening with rates?
The council agreed to an overall rates increase of 7.9 per cent (for the average value residential property) for 2026/2027, as previously agreed in the Long-term Plan 2024-2034.
Our estimates show that from July, the vast majority of unchanged residential properties (around 94%) will receive a rates increase within 1% of the 7.9% average, and no unchanged property will have an increase over 10% .
For the average household, annual rates are proposed to increase by around $321 next year – from $4055 in 2025/2026 to $4378 in 2026/2027. This is a total weekly rates cost of around $84, or $6.16 more a week (based on an average $1.28m capital value residential property).
Rates vary based on the capital value of each property, its classification (residential, business farm or short-term accommodation) and location (urban or rural). Individual properties might also be subject to specific targeted rates that are different to those paid by a typical residential property.