Aucklanders can now have their say on proposed changes to the Auckland Unitary Plan – the city’s planning rulebook for where and how new homes and businesses can be built.
Plan Change 120 (PC120) proposes changes to Auckland’s planning rules that aim to better protect people and property from floods and other natural hazards, while providing significant capacity for more housing and greater housing choice in well-connected locations.
PC120 was originally notified in 2025. Following changes to Government legislation that reduced Auckland’s minimum housing capacity requirement from around two million homes to at least 1.4 million, the council has proposed a number of changes to PC120.
An additional submissions period on PC120, including the proposed changes, is open from today until 5pm on 24 September 2026. Learn more at akhaveyoursay.co.nz.
Submissions are open to anyone. People who submitted previously can make another submission if they wish, and their existing submission will continue to be considered by the Independent Hearings Panel.
Mayor Wayne Brown says the new round of submissions gives Aucklanders another opportunity to give their views.
“The Auckland Unitary Plan has resulted in an additional 100,000 homes in the last few years. This follows on from the good work from that,” Mayor Brown said.
"Auckland needs to intensify in the right places to make the most of our CRL investments.
“People want us to stop talking about it and get on with the job. I encourage all Aucklanders to have their say."
Planning for Auckland’s future
Councillor Richard Hills, chair of Auckland Council’s Policy, Planning and Development Committee, says the proposed changes to PC120 recognise that where housing is enabled is just as important as how much capacity is provided.
“Once again, it’s Aucklanders’ turn. We encourage people to look at what’s proposed for their neighbourhood and across Auckland and tell us what they think by making a submission. It is really important the panel hears what you like and what you do not like about the plan and where the next thirty years of housing growth may go.
“The proposed changes provide more housing choices where it makes the most sense – in well-connected locations with good access to public transport, jobs, infrastructure and amenities.
“We need to think about where young people, renters and first home buyers might want to live in the future and we should enable options for those who may want to downsize and retire within the communities they know and love.
“The proposed changes make better use of the transport, water and other infrastructure Aucklanders have already invested billions of dollars in, while providing stronger protections in places at high risk from flooding and other natural hazards.
“The plan notified in December 2025 proposed changes to most of Auckland’s urban area, the new proposed zoning changes affect only about 15 per cent of Auckland’s urban area.
“The other 85 per cent will now remain unchanged from the rules adopted in the Auckland Unitary Plan in 2016, while more housing opportunities are proposed in locations that are well placed to support future growth,” says Councillor Hills.
Housing where it makes the most sense
PC120 continues to meet Government requirements for more housing within walking distance of the city centre, metropolitan centres and rapid transit stations.
Within 10 kilometres of the city centre, buildings of 10 or 15 storeys are proposed to be enabled in some well-connected locations. Additional housing opportunities are also proposed along selected frequent bus routes generally within 10 kilometres of the city centre, and around most of Auckland’s town centres.
Further out, some of the additional intensification previously proposed has been reduced.
Proposed building heights in walkable catchments from metropolitan centres and rapid transit stations outside 10 kilometres of the city centre would generally reduce to the Government-required six storeys,
Additional housing opportunities around smaller local centres and along most frequent bus routes beyond 10 kilometres would be removed.
The approach focuses more housing opportunities in areas with good access to jobs, services and public transport, while making better use of existing infrastructure and major investments such as the $5.5 billion City Rail Link and $1.6 billion Central Interceptor.
Stronger protection from natural hazards
PC120 retains stronger natural hazard rules to better protect people and property by limiting development in areas at high risk from flooding, landslides, coastal erosion and coastal inundation.
The proposed changes include further reductions in housing capacity in some of Auckland’s most vulnerable areas, based on updated flood modelling and rainfall data, as well as stronger rules for what and how much development is appropriate in areas at serious risk.
Another opportunity to have your say
PC120 was originally notified in 2025. Since then, changes to Government legislation have led Auckland Council to propose changes to the plan.
This additional submission period gives Aucklanders another opportunity to have their say on PC120, including the proposed changes approved by the council in July.
Submissions close at 5pm on 24 September 2026. Anyone can make a submission.
Following submissions and public hearings, the Independent Hearings Panel will make recommendations to Auckland Council. The council is expected to make final decisions in mid-2027.
To learn more about PC120, see what is proposed for your area and make a submission, visit akhaveyoursay.co.nz.