Auckland Plan Implementation Update 2015

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AnnUAL MpL M n A nUp A 05


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i | Annual Implementation Update 2015 | The Auckland Plan

It has been five years since the birth of the new Auckland andthree years since the launch of the Auckland Plan. The changein the city has been nothing short of remarkable. Auckland isboth the largest and fastest growing part of New Zealand.Half of the country’s population growth is here. In the past year Auckland’s population grew by 2.9 percent and there arenow 1.57 million of us. Every week we grow by 819 people,405 new jobs and 344 homes. A new street is created everytwo days. We are the country’s engine room and there’s muchmore growth to come. Auckland is projected to add anotherone million people in the next 30 years. Auckland is adesirable place to live and becoming more so. But we cannotbe complacent.

The Auckland Plan, which we launched in 2012, is our long-term blueprint for how the region will reach its potential. ThisAnnual Implementation Update reports progress on how weare tracking as we continue our journey. We are moving in theright direction. Aucklanders are enjoying better public

transport, have higher incomes and are better educated. Butthere is still much to be done. Housing supply andaffordability are two of our most significant challenges. In2013 we signed the Auckland Housing Accord with thegovernment to increase the supply of new homes. We arelooking good for meeting our consenting targets. 2015 hasbeen another year of close partnership working incollaboration with central government. On transport, welaunched the Auckland Transport Alignment Project. Thisproject marks a new and improved way of working withgovernment on the planning and funding of transportinfrastructure in Auckland. Working together in this wayallows for joint, well-planned investment in roads, traffic

management, public transport and walking and cyclinginfrastructure; all of which will move us closer to ourobjectives and targets.

This year we completed our 10-year budget. The budgetprocess was the largest and most exciting conversation wehave had with Aucklanders, with more than 27,000 peoplefrom all across the region providing us with their views. Thefinal budget achieved the right balance between affordabilityand progress. We are putting a record amount of investmentinto the region allowing us to keep up with demand anddeliver the services and infrastructure that Aucklanders rely onand cherish.

There are some big things ahead and I expect 2016 to beanother year of delivery. We will soon start digging below thecity centre to build the City Rail Link; we will be ready forwhen the government starts to fund its share. This and othermajor projects will help move us towards being the world’smost liveable city.

Len BrownMayor of Auckland

MAYORAL FOREWORD


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Introduction

Developing Auckland

Outcome 1: A fair, safe and healthy AucklandOutcome 2: A green Auckland

Outcome 3: An Auckland of prosperity and opportunity

Outcome 4: A well connected and accessible Auckland

Outcome 5: A beautiful Auckland that is loved by its people

Outcome 6: A culturally rich and creative Auckland

Outcome 7: A Māori identity that is Auckland's point of difference in the world

Implementation Framework

Liveability Index

Auckland Plan Targets

2

6

1 6

2 3

30

36

41

46

50

5 4

57

58

The Auckland Plan | Annual Implementation Update 2015

CONTENTS

Auckland Plan Actions 59

Reference 60


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INTRODUCTIONThe Auckland Plan| Annual Implementation Update 2015


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2 | Annual Implementation Update 2015 | The Auckland Plan

INTRODU TION

Te Mahere A Tā maki Makaurau (The Auckland Plan) providesthe strategic direction for Auckland to realise its ambition tobe the world’s most liveable city by 2040. This vision istranslated into detailed actions spread across seven outcomeareas. Monitoring the Auckland Plan over time is an importantpart of evaluating its effectiveness and whether the actionswill achieve and deliver the outcomes or results sought.

The purpose of the Annual Implementation Update (AIU) is toreport on the progress made in delivering the Auckland Planand to signal what will be happening over the followingreporting period. It is anticipated that the ability to monitor

and evaluate will improve over time as the activities andservices of the council continue to become better aligned withthe plan.

The process for measuring progress is based on the strategicframework of the plan.

VISION

The world’s most liveable city

OUTCOMES

Seven outcomes describe the 2040 vision1. A fair, safe and healthy Auckland2. A green Auckland3. An Auckland of prosperity and opportunity4. A well connected and accessible Auckland5. A beautiful Auckland that is loved by its people6. A culturally rich and creative Auckland7. A Mā ori identity that is Auckland’s point of difference in the

world

STR TEGIC DIRECTIONSSpecific areas of focus that will help to achieve the outcomes

T RGETSTracking progress towards the outcomes


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Having been Chief of Strategy for Auckland Council sinceMay 2015, I am continually impressed by the dedicationand commitment of the council and Aucklanders tocreating the world’s most liveable city.

When I joined the council one of the things our ChiefExecutive, Stephen Town, tasked me with was ‘translatingAuckland’s big plans into action and building a unifiedregion.’ This 2015 Auckland Plan Annual Implementation

Update demonstrates in part how the Auckland Plan isdoing just that.

We can all be proud and can celebrate our collectiveachievements over the past 12 months but it is clear tome that we still have a long way to go to achieve ourvision.

In my relatively brief time at the council I have alreadywitnessed and been part of change that I consider willmove us more quickly to achieving the aspirations of theAuckland Plan.

Three areas I would like to see investigated further arehow the Auckland Plan can improve prioritisation,increase our understanding of trade-offs, and how theplan can remain a relevant and living document forAucklanders.

The key to progress so far has been the commitmentacross the Auckland Council Group and partners to theplan. An example of this is the growing collaboration withcentral government on some of the initiatives. We arecommitted to maintaining that unified focus.

Jim QuinnChief of StrategyAuckland Council

Auckland’s significance to New Zealand’s development ishard to overstate. There is a growing recognitionthroughout the community that a successful Aucklandbenefits not just those New Zealanders who live here, butthe country as a whole. It is also clear that the priorityoutcomes government is seeking for New Zealand willgenerally only be achieved if good progress is made in ourlargest and fastest growing city.

Since establishment of the unified Auckland Council therehas been a strengthened focus on collaborative workbetween central and local government in Auckland. TheAuckland Plan has provided sound foundations on whichto base this shared work. Government agencies areincreasingly using the Plan to design and develop theirown work programmes for Auckland. As government andAuckland Council refine their priorities, renewed emphasisis being placed on aligning the language and content ofour stated objectives and this progress is reflected well inthe Annual Implementation Update.

The working relationship between central government andthe Council has never been better. Our partnerships inkey areas such as housing and transport are producingtangible results on the ground. We look forward toadopting the collaborative models we have togetherdeveloped into new and expanded areas of joint activity.

Lewis HoldenDeputy CommissionerAuckland Policy OfficeState Services Commission


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HOW TO RE D THIS REPORT

The Annual Implementation Update (AIU) reports on progressagainst the High Level Development Strategy (Part D in theAuckland Plan) and the seven outcomes. It is accompanied bythe Auckland Plan Targets: Monitoring Report 2015.

SECTION PURPOSE

IntroductionIntroduction to the strategic framework of theplan.

DevelopingAuckland

Reports against the four elements of thedevelopment strategy, the spatial

component of the plan: The growth Auckland is experiencing and the

action being taken The priority areas to enable development

and the two big place-based initiatives

Seven outcomes

Reports against the outcomes of the plan: What success looks like and the key

challenges and opportunities in achievingthe outcomes

Examples of projects and initiativesdelivered by the council and externalstakeholders in 2014/2015 which aremoving Auckland towards the outcomes

Latest data on a selection of targetsImplementationFramework

Progress against the mechanisms to implementthe plan

Dashboards

Liveability Index: how Auckland compares toother international cities

Targets: high-level overview of progress madethis year

Actions: high-level overview of progress madethis year

References Links to further information

The main sources of information that have informed this AIUare:

Looking back: Auckland Council annual report 2014/2015,CCO annual reports 2014/2015, central governmentministries’ and departments’ annual reports 2014/2015.

Looking ahead: Auckland Council Long-term Plan 2015-2025, central government ministries’ and departments’statements of intent 2015-2018.


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DEVELOPING

AUCKLANDThe Auckland Plan| Annual Implementation Update 2015

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6 | Annual Implementation Update | The Auckland Plan

AUCKLAND’S DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

The Auckland Plan’s Development Strategy is the spatialcomponent of the plan. It sets out the framework for wheregrowth will occur in Auckland over the next 30 years.

The strategy has four key elements:

D1 KEY SHAPERS AND ENABLERS

Historical and changing socio-economic factors, settlementpatterns, infrastructure provision,air and sea ports, and Auckland’s

green and blue environments.

D2 TWO BIG PLACE-BASEDINITIATIVES

The two big initiatives, TheSouthern Initiative (TSI) and citycentre, will deliver the greatestpositive outcomes forAucklanders and New Zealand.

D3 MOVING TO A QUALITY, COMPACT AUCKLAND

Accommodate high populationand economic growth through agreater focus on intensification,providing quality housing andneighbourhoods that make bestuse of the land available.

D4 WORKING AND DELIVERING WITH OTHERSA collaborative and co-ordinatedapproach for delivery.

These four elements translate into a series of majorinfrastructure projects and an additional set of priority areasfor investment to support growth and development. Thischapter updates progress on implementation this year.


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FIGURE 1. 2015 SPATIAL PRIORITY AREAS

City Centre

The Southern

Initiative

Greater T ā makiInnerWestTriangle

Flatbush

Ō tā huhu-Middlemore

NORSGAStage 1

GreaterTakapuna

Pukekohe-Wesley

ManukauMetro

Manurewa-Takanini-PapakuraCorridor

City Centre

Two big place-based initiatives Ten spatialpriority areas


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D1: KEY SHAPERS A ND ENABLERS - W HAT’SCHANGING?

The vision of a quality, compact and highly liveable Aucklandis also being influenced by the following trends:

Auckland’s population continues to grow rapidly butchange is occurring unevenly.

Consents for housing are increasing but not at therequired levels to meet demand.

Consents for new dwellings overall are increasing butmore attached dwellings are required to increase housingdensity.

Auckland's house prices have risen to very high levelsrelative to incomes.

Change in Auckland’s population

Auckland’s population continues to grow rapidly. Estimatesfrom Statistics New Zealand for June 2015 show a currentpopulation of 1,570,500. Between 2014 and 2015, Aucklandgrew by 43,500 people, around 119 people each day, anannual growth rate of 2.9 per cent. This growth is made up ofnatural increase and migration.

FIGURE 2. ETHNIC COMPOSITION

Auckland is home to a culturally diverse population, and theethnic composition of Auckland is changing. The 2013Census1 found the largest proportion of the Auckland regional

1 The 2013 Census allowed people to choose more than one ethnicityand categories were not exclusive. Percentages will add to more than100.

population identified with a European ethnicity (59.3 percent), with the next largest group being those classified underthe broad Asian category. Around one in 10 (10.7 per cent)Auckland residents identified as Mā ori and a slightly higherproportion identified with a Pasifika identity (14.6 per cent).

Auckland’s population is also getting younger. The median agefor Aucklanders now sits at 34.4, compared with 34.6 last year.

FIGURE 3. DISTRIBUTION OF GROWT H 2014-2015

The map above shows where the greatest population growth isoccurring in Auckland. In the year to June 2015, the highestlevels of population growth (over 2000 additional people)were focussed in the more central local board areas ofWaitemat ā , Ō r ā kei and Albert-Eden, as well as new growth inUpper Harbour and Howick local board areas. Low growthareas (increases of less than 1500 people) include Wait ā kereRanges and the Devonport-Takapuna local board areas.

POPULATION GROWTH

LOWEST LOW MEDIUM HIGH HIGHEST


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Housing affordability

Auckland’s dwelling sale prices have risen to very high levelsrelative to incomes. The median price for dwellings in theAuckland region in June 2015 was $755,000, up 26 per centfrom $600,000 in June 2014 (Source: REINZ). Median weeklyrent levels for a three-bedroom home in Auckland range from$380 in Waiuku to $850 in Parnell.

The Auckland Plan uses the house price to income multiple,Median Multiple of Income (MMI) as a working measure ofhousing affordability. This is the median house price dividedby gross annual median household income. This measure hasbeen tracked over the last decade. In 2014, the Auckland MMI(2014) was 8.2. This means the Auckland region as a propertymarket falls into the severely unaffordable category relative toincome. This score has been increasing since 2011. It isgenerally considered a score of 3.0 or less is affordable.

High prices have raised the prosperity of many Aucklandhouseholds. They also present barriers to home ownership andworsen inequality that may lead to long-term challenges tothe social fabric of Auckland. Such high prices also providerisks to the wider economy from a major price downturn.

In October 2015, Auckland Council agreed to a new housingaffordability target of ‘5.0 by 2030’. Achieving a target

median house price to median income ratio of 5.0 by 2030 willrequire ongoing focus from the council and centralgovernment to improve housing affordability.

D2: TWO BIG PLACE BASED INITIATIVES

The Auckland Plan identifies two geographic opportunity areaswhich are distinctive in New Zealand: the Southern Initiative(TSI) and the city centre. Sustained and collaborative effort inthese locations will significantly benefit residents, all ofAuckland and New Zealand at large.

Initiative 1: The Southern Initiative

TSI covers four local board areas: Mā ngere-Ō tā huhu, Ō tara-Papatoetoe, Manurewa and Papakura, and is an area ofAuckland with significant economic opportunity yet highsocial need. The overall strategic direction for TSI isstrengthening children and families through stable homes andemployment.

In October 2014, Auckland Council and the Ministry ofBusiness, Innovation and Employment signed a memorandumof understanding to establish the Auckland Co-Design Lab.Funded by Treasury, the lab uses collective impact, co-designand other innovative approaches to address complex socialand economic challenges.

Furthermore, the Long-term Plan 2015-2025 has allocatedadditional funding of $1.5 million per annum for TSI. Thisprovides the opportunity to significantly increase delivery andleverage further opportunities for the initiative as they arise.

Key recent highlights, activities and emerging projects include:

Early years and education: One of two flagship projects forthe Co-Design Lab and TSI, the project is a multi-agencycollaboration to address and resolve complex parenting andearly years’ issues. Research will soon begin to betterunderstand the lived experiences of families with youngchildren in south Auckland. The Co-Design Lab is partneringwith Te Puni Kokiri and Te Pura Puraō Ō tara to support

kohanga reo to increase enrolments and improve outcomes forwhanau.


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Skills and employment: The Southern Initiative InfrastructureConsortium has a government contract to deliver the Mā oriand Pasifika Trades Training Programme, training 18-34 year-olds to be work-ready for a career in trades in theconstruction, engineering, infrastructure or electrical fields.This is the only scheme offered by a non-tertiary traininginstitute. TSI is also working with the Ministry for Women onways to attract more women to take up trade apprenticeships.

Auckland Airport is a key gateway to the world. A new airportskills hub aims to increase employment opportunities andimprove outcomes for South Auckland communities in light ofexpansion works at Auckland Airport. The Ministry of SocialDevelopment is working with Fletchers and the Auckland

Education Alliance. Engagement with labour hire companiesand some sub-contractors is also occurring.

The Co-Design Lab driver’s licence challenge is working tobetter understand and resolve issues preventing people gettinga licence, a barrier to improving employment and otheroutcomes. The focus is on understanding the barriers andtypes of people impacted by this issue.

Economic development: Joint scoping of a youth employmentcampaign is underway along with a cross-council strategy toensure a joined-up approach to youth employment. Thisincludes local procurement opportunities in youth and local

employment, catering, local reserve maintenance andcommunity recycling centres.

A pilot initiative to generate marae-led enterprise wasundertaken with Manurewa Marae and Makaurau Marae oneconomic and tourism development. This has includedengagement with the telecommunications industry to exploredesigning broadband plans for low-income households,including helping to address barriers such as credit history.

Health and safety : Auckland Council and Alliance Health PlusTrust are working together on the Healthy FamiliesProgramme covering Manukau, Manurewa and Papakura.

Healthy Homes works with residents and communities todevelop innovative, community-led solutions to overcrowding.TSI has a one-year contract with the Ministry of Health towork with the Auckland-wide Healthy Homes Initiative todevelop ways of reducing the impact of overcrowding, with afocus on reducing incidences of rheumatic fever.

Initiative 2: City Centre

The city centre is the second strategic priority initiative in theAuckland Plan. With the plans and vision for city centredevelopment now largely in place, work has focussed on large-scale transformation.

The council is delivering more than 40 capital projects in thearea which can be viewed in two ways - as broad programmesor precincts work. Some of the highlights for the year areprovided below:

Broad programmes:

Better public spaces. Following the O'Connell Streetupgrade, improvements to Freyberg Square and thePioneer Women’s and Ellen Melville Hall provide acommunity hub to service the growing population in thecity centre. Construction is to begin mid-2016.

City centre cycle network. Work began on the NelsonStreet cycle way which was a joint New Zealand TransportAgency and Auckland Transport (AT) initiative to re-activate the old Nelson Street off-ramp. AT has also putforward bids for a $45m share of the National UrbanCycleway Fund (UCF) to deliver key components of thecity centre cycle network.

City Rail Link. The downtown shopping centre site is akey component of the City Rail Link project. Adevelopment agreement has been reached betweenAuckland Council and Precinct Properties. This alsocontained arrangements for the sale of Queen ElizabethSquare to enable a more comprehensive development thatreinforces the city centre urban form.

Central wharves. Began investigation to consider how theredeveloped wharves could function when Captain CookWharf transfers from port operations in the future whilemeeting interim demand for redevelopment of publicspaces, cruise and ferry facilities and street upgrades. TheQuay Street seawall seismic upgrade will be informed bythe agreed outcomes for the central wharves and QuayStreet streetscape project.


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Residential development

In 2014/2015, consents were issued for 8448 new dwellingsacross Auckland. The areas experiencing the highest growthinclude the Waitemat ā , Upper Harbour, Hibiscus and Bays andRodney local boards. The Great Barrier, Devonport-Takapunaand Waiheke local board areas had low levels of growthagainst this indicator.

Until the Auckland Unitary Plan is operative, Auckland Councilwill continue to use the 2010 Metropolitan Urban Limit (MUL)as a baseline to measure the balance in the location ofresidential development. A target has been set to have up to70 per cent of dwelling growth inside the MUL and up to 40

per cent outside it over the 30-year period to 2041. In2014/2015, 82 per cent of consented dwellings were locatedinside the 2010 MUL, with 18 per cent outside it.

The Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan includes a rural urbanboundary (RUB). This is not yet fixed as the Unitary Plan is notoperative. The RUB will be the line that defines the maximumextent of urban development to 2040 in the form of apermanent rural-urban interface.

FIGURE 5. DISTRIBUTION OF CO NSENTED DWELLINGS 2014-2015

FIGURE 6. CONSENTED DWELLINGS INSIDE VS. OUTSIDE MUL

The table below shows the total dwellings consented each year across Auckland since July 2012. For the first decade2012-2021, the Auckland Plan anticipates around 100,000new dwellings, or an average of 10,000 each year. The

consented dwelling figures are tracking behind this target, butoverall the number of dwellings consented each year isincreasing.

TABLE 1. CONSENTED DWELLING NUMBERS

FINANCIAL YEAR CONSENTED DWELLINGS

Year 1 (2012-2013) 5501

Year 2 (2013-2014) 7078

Year 3 (2014-2015) 8448

Total (2012-2015) 21,027

Not all dwelling consents result in actual construction,however the number of dwellings consented over a year is agood indicator of development expected. Auckland Council isworking with Statistics New Zealand to improve on thereporting of completed dwellings.

Future Urban Land Supply Strategy

The Future Urban Land Supply Strategy (FULSS) was adoptedby the council in November 2015. The strategy identifiesfuture urban land, constraints to development and the keyinfrastructure required to service these areas. The council

engaged with local communities and infrastructure providersthis year to develop the programme.

CONSENTED DWELLINGS 0 -100 100 - 200 200 - 350 350 - 650 650 - 1050


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The strategy sets out the following sequence, subject tostructure planning processes and infrastructure delivery:

TABLE 2. FUTURE URBAN LAND SUPPLY PROGRAMME

PROPOSED TIMING AREA

Decade one 1st half (2012-2016)Special Housing Areas – NorthWest

Special Housing Areas – South

Decade one 2nd half (2017-2021)Paerata

Whenuapai

Decade two: 1st half (2022-2026)

Pukekohe

Kumeu-Huapai and Riverhead

Red Hills

Warkworth North and North East

Drury west

Puhinui

Decade two: 2nd half (2027-2031)Takanini

Warkworth South

Decade three: 1st half (2032-2036)

Opaheke-Drury

Silverdale-Dairy Flat

Wainui

Decade three: 2nd half (2036-2041)

New growth areas yet to bedetermined

30-Year Infrastructure Strategy

Well-planned infrastructure is critical to successful cities andsignificant projects have the ability to be transformational inadvancing the Auckland Plan vision. In June 2015, as part ofthe LTP 2015-2025, the council adopted a 30-YearInfrastructure Strategy. This identifies:

significant infrastructure issues for the council over the 30

years options for managing those issues implications of those options.

The strategy also outlines how the council intends to manageits infrastructure assets, taking into account increaseddemand, combined with funding constraints. The strategylooks forward and outlines a 30-year summary of councilinfrastructure investment.

The strategy provides a baseline to align infrastructureinvestments both internally and externally.

Spatial priority areas for investment

In addition to the two big place-based initiatives, the AucklandPlan also identified spatial priority locations as the focus forinvestment to support growth and development. Some minoradjustments were made to the original locations in theAuckland Plan through the LTP 2015-2025. The 10 geographicpriority areas (supported by the infrastructure strategy) are:

City centre (no change) Inner West Triangle (extends beyond New Lynn) Greater Tā maki (no change) Ō tā huhu-Middlemore (no change: part of TSI) Manurewa-Takanini-Papakura corridor (no change part of

TSI) NORSGA – Stage 1 (no change) Greater Takapuna (no change) Pukekohe-Wesley (no change) Manukau metro (no change part of TSI) Flat Bush (revised).

Some of the highlights for this year are provided below (withfurther detail under Outcome 5: A beautiful Auckland that isloved by its people):

Westgate town centre development (NORSGA Stage 1).

Progress on the new town centre at Westgate is wellunderway with much of the necessary infrastructure suchas roads and reserves completed. The developmentincludes a 3500 square metre multi-purpose facility thatwill be a state-of-the-art community hub, combining alibrary, community spaces and functions in one high-techbuilding. Construction of the new Westgate town square,Te Pū manawa Square, is expected to start in 2016 withcompletion in 2017.

Ormiston town centre (Flat Bush). This is a 20-hectaremulti-stage development undertaken in partnership withTodd Property Group to build a new town centre andresidential housing. The infrastructure works in Ormiston

town centre on residential blocks A and B were completedthis year. Tā maki regeneration (greater Tam ā ki). Panū ku

Development Auckland is now providing leadership at anorganisation level for the council and is working closelywith Tā maki Redevelopment Company. Engagement withTreasury officials and government ministers continues toprogress. The government is keen to expedite this as acatalyst project for change.


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Industrial land

The development strategy identifies the need for a further1000 hectares of land for industrial activities up to 2041. Thisis on top of the total area of business land identified in 2012,including 930 hectares of zoned vacant land and 430 hectaresin the planning pipeline.

In 2014, 56.7 hectares of vacant industrial land was taken upacross Auckland. Three-quarters of this uptake was byindustrial activities and the majority of this was focussed insouth Auckland.

Further industrial land is being planned in the future urban

areas and will be structure planned and zoned over time.

D4: WORKING AND DELIVERING WITH OTHERS

The Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 s80(5)(the Act) identifies the need for other sector agencies andgroups to work together to deliver the Auckland Plan. Theimportance of building enduring implementation partnershipsis identified in the plan.

The council currently has a planning and regulatory role toenable development and provide the essential infrastructuresuch as water, roads and other services. This includes workingwith central government to fast-track residential developmentwithin Special Housing Areas and to progress the Housing

Strategic Action Plan.

Ways in which collaboration is occurring can be found withinthe examples highlighted in the outcomes chapters. Deliverypartners are diverse and new opportunities will continue toarise.

Panū ku Development Auckland

The merger of Auckland Council Property Limited andAuckland Waterfront Development Agency Limited inSeptember 2015 to form Pan ū ku Development Auckland willsee the council playing a more active role in improving thesupply of quality housing as part of delivering the AucklandPlan. Panū ku Development Auckland will help facilitateprojects at a suitable scale to see better urban developmentand optimise parts of the council’s property portfolio that areunderused.


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OUTCOME 1:A FAIR, SAFE ANDHEALTHY AUCKLANDThe Auckland Plan| Annual Implementation Update 2015

M


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A fair, safe and healthy Auckland

VISION FOR THIS OUTCOME

Auckland is a strong and equitable society. Social andeconomic disadvantage has been significantly reduced,particularly for children and young people. Strongwhā nau and family units sustain resilient communities.

Participation in civic activities, recreation, and sport iswidespread and supported by an excellent range of publicservices, parks and sporting amenities.

Housing is healthy and high-quality.

KEY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUN ITIES

Maximising the opportunities presented by Auckland’sgrowth and increasing diversity. This could result inchanges to existing neighbourhoods and require newplaces to live, work and play.

Addressing the increasing gap between household incomeand house prices and declining access to affordablehousing.

Working collaboratively with stakeholders to increaseAuckland’s housing supply.

Reducing homelessness across the region. Ensuring there is sufficient investment in infrastructure

and services to support and match the increase andvariety of additional housing.

The influence of technology on lifestyles, communication,access to services and employment.

OVERVIEW

Improved health and wellbeing for families, children andcommunities is at the heart of the Auckland Plan. This requirescollaboration across multiple agencies and differentstakeholders. Through its Empowered Communities Approach,the council is continuing to develop ways in which grassrootsinitiatives are given the opportunity to develop and evolve.

The initiatives and selected targets highlighted in this chaptershow how significant the contributions of a range of sectorand community partners working with the council are and willcontinue to be in achieving a fair, safe and healthy Auckland.

The council will continue to grow and develop theserelationships as well as contribute funding to shared initiativessuch as reducing homelessness and rough sleeping.

READ ALSO

Developing Auckland Outcome 2: A green Auckland Outcome 4: A well connected and accessible Auckland

Outcome 7: A Mā ori identity that is Auckland’s point ofdifference in the world


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INJURY FREE CHILDREN

No single agency or organisation can achieve the goal of safecommunities and improved household safety for vulnerableAucklanders, especially children and young people. To enablea more co-ordinated approach to child injury preventionacross the region, a shared sector action plan- AucklandChildren Living Injury-Free- is in development. This work alignswith the Auckland Plan target to reduce child hospitalisationsdue to injury by 20 per cent by 2025.

To date, this process has been informed by: research on child injury indicators workshops which brought together multiple community

stakeholders and community groups to co-design theshared action plan and map partner services andprogrammes. Auckland Council co-hosted these workshopswith the Guiding Coalition on Injury Prevention.

The action plan will be a living document and measure thecollective effectiveness of the sector. This will allow moreefficient reporting and provide the ability to showcase thework of the injury prevention sector as a whole. It forms part

of the Auckland Injury Prevention Strategic Plan 2014-2017.

AUCKLAND PLAN TA RGET 1.2All 3 to 4 year-olds will participate in, and haveaccess to quality, culturally appropriate earlychildhood learning services by 2020.

Measure

The participation rates of 3 and 4- year-olds attendingearly childhood learning services (Note: Closest proxy isMinistry of Education: ‘Prior participation’, defined asthe proportion of children who have regularly attendedEarly Childhood Education (ECE) in the six months priorto starting school.)

AlignmentCentral governmentBetter Public Service (BPS) Target Result 2: Increaseparticipation in ECE

Auckland Plan target (100 per cent by 2020). In the yearended December 2014, 95.1 per cent of children startingschool had regularly attended Early Childhood Education (ECE)- an improvement over 2013 (94.3 per cent). Pasifika andMā ori improvements drove the overall increase, but have not yet caught up (89.0 per cent and 91.4 per cent respectively).

BPS target (98 per cent by 2016). The percentage of childrenwho attended ECE before starting school nationally hasincreased each year since 2000 and was 96.1 per cent as atMarch 2015. This was an increase of 0.2 percentage pointssince March 2014. The Ministry of Education is intensifyingengagement with priority communities in order to reach the98 per cent target in 2016.


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AUCKLAND PLAN TARGET 5.2Increase the number of Aucklanders activelyparticipating in recreation and sport every week from79 per cent to 90 per cent by 2040.

Measure Number of Aucklanders actively participating inrecreation and sport

Alignment

Auckland CouncilLTP 2015-2025 Regional parks, sport and recreation: 72per cent of residents participating at least once perweek in sport and recreation by 2025

Auckland Plan target (90 per cent by 2040). In 2014, 78 percent of Aucklanders actively participated weekly in sport andrecreation, the same as the previous survey in 2008. Theproportion varies depending on ethnicity, deprivation and

migration status: lower for people of Asian ethnicity (67 percent), high deprivation status (7-10 years: 72.0 per cent) andrecent migrants (0-5 years ago: 66 per cent), and higher forpeople of New Zealand European ethnicity (83 per cent), lowdeprivation status (1-3: 84 per cent) and born in New Zealand(81 per cent). Walking and swimming were the two mostpopular sport and recreation activities.

ACTIVE AUCKLANDERS

Sport and recreation provides opportunities to improve thephysical, and psychological heath and wellbeing ofAucklanders as well as opportunities to enjoy Auckland’snatural and urban environments. Key achievements for2014/2015 include:

completion and opening of the Owen G. Glenn NationalAquatic Centre which will be critical in nurturing sportingtalent

collaboration with the Healthy Auckland Together group(representatives from the health and not-for-profit sectorsand Auckland Transport) to improve the health andwellbeing of Aucklanders and Auckland, in particulartackling obesity

development of the Te Whai Oranga-Mā ori Sport andRecreation Plan. The plan is jointly led with He OrangaPoutama ki Tā maki (Sport Waitā kere).

In early 2015, the Sport NZ Group, the national agency forsport and recreation, launched a new Strategic Action Plan2015-2020. This includes an updated national CommunitySport Strategy which recognises that urbanisation, particularly

in Auckland, an ageing population and increasing ethnicdiversity are changing the demand for community sport andthe way Kiwis participate.

It includes a strong focus on young people and working withother agencies to sustain and grow traditional sport structuresand pathways. Additionally, there will be more focus onimproving local delivery of sport, particularly in communitieswhere participation is low.


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SAFER AND HEALTHIER COMMUN ITIES

The council’s alcohol control bylaws and local alcohol banareas were reviewed as part of the bylaw review programmeand resulted in 726 local alcohol ban areas. The council alsoadopted a Psychoactive Substances Local Approved ProductsPolicy in April 2015 which regulates where governmentapproved legal high products can be sold.

The Community Action Youth and Drugs (CAYAD) nationalprogramme has been established to reduce alcohol and drugrelated harm in young people. CAYAD’s contract with thecouncil was extended for a further three years to deliver

innovative ways to address the conditions and environmentsthat make young people more likely to harmfully use alcoholand other drugs.

Recent and current projects in Auckland include:

the West Auckland Youth Alcohol and other DrugsCommunity Needs Assessment research project

the Community Action Hour project in libraries improving and updating the action plan for the Auckland

Regional Methamphetamine Working Group working with key stakeholders to scope a project on a

health approach to drug policy.

In addition to the positive impact on health, there are alsoanticipated benefits in the area of crime reduction.

AUCKLAND PLAN TA RGET 1.5Reduce the rate of total criminal offences per 10,000population from 939 in 2010 to 800 in 2040.

Measure

Rate of total offences per 10,000 head of population bycrime type (Note: The count for the Auckland region isa combination of data from three New Zealand Policedistricts: Waitemat ā , Auckland City and CountiesManukau. This is a count of reported crime only. Manycrimes are not reported to the police for a variety ofreasons.)

AlignmentCentral government Better Public Service target Result 7: Reduce the ratesof total crime, violent crime and youth crime

Auckland Plan target (800 by 2040). In the Auckland region(the combined police districts of Waitemat ā , Auckland andCounties Manukau), the rate of reported offences per 10,000for the year ended December 2014 was 755, a furtherimprovement on 2013 (790) and the second year in a row thatthe 2040 target has been exceeded.

BPS target (20 per cent by 2018). The total recorded crimerate has reduced by 18 per cent since June 2011. This meansthere were 60,245 fewer crimes, 3141 fewer violent crimes,and 2344 fewer court appearances by 14 to 16 year-olds thanduring the year ending June 2011. Trends are consistent withthose observed in similar countries. Important contributors arelikely to include increased emphasis on prevention andimproved drug and alcohol rehabilitation.


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EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES

An empowered community is one where individuals, whanauand communities have the power and ability to influencedecisions, take action and make change happen in their livesand communities.

The Empowered Communities Approach (ECA) is a new wayfor Auckland Council to deliver services and supportscommunity activities. The ECA builds on the ThrivingCommunities Action Plan-Ngā Hapori Momoho (April 2014).Two principles underpin this approach:

social inclusion and equity - removing barriers toopportunity

collaboration - working more effectively together to solveissues.

Implementing the ECA has involved a new operating modelconsisting of two elements: local strategic brokers and thecommunity practice hub. ECA will begin implementation in2015/2016 and be rolled out across the whole of the councilover the next three to five years.

Awhina Mai Tatou is one example of an empowered

communities response to the issue of homelessness. AwhinaMai Tatou is a community hub consisting of members of thehomeless community, with support from Radio NFA, AucklandCity Mission, Lifewise, Urban Vineyard Church and AucklandCouncil.

T CKLING HOMELESSNESS ND EMERGENCYHOUSING

The Auckland Plan contains the goal of ending rough sleeping(primarily homelessness) by 2020. The RegionalHomelessness Action Plan 2012-2015 (RHAP) aims to addressthe wider issue of homelessness including shared/overcrowdedaccommodation, temporary accommodation (boardinghouses), uninhabitable dwellings and people living withoutshelter. The council’s focus on homelessness now incorporatesspecific work on increasing emergency housing options.Emergency housing is short-term accommodation for up to 12weeks and supported by wraparound services. Other issues areaccessing services, tenancy support and safety, wellbeing anddignity.

RHAP has concluded and has had some success with regard tobetter understanding the factors which lead people to becomehomeless or to sleep rough, and has delivered positiveinterventions to help people to gain skills and connect withavailable services. RHAP key achievements in the last year:

research into the scale of homelessness across the regionand current service provision for homelessness

research into rough sleeping in central Auckland Kahikatea Tū Te Uru – a cultural connectedness project,

co-designed by people with lived experience ofhomelessness

development of a cross sector guide to homelessness andhousing in west Auckland

continuation of the successful New Beginnings Court additional funding for emergency housing, homelessness

and rough sleeping responses across Auckland through the2015-2025 Long-term Plan. This is complemented by therecently announced funding of $2 million from centralgovernment to provide up to an extra 120 emergencyhousing places a year for those most in need.


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WELCOMING MIGR NTS ND REFUGEES INTOOUR COMMUNITIES

Auckland is the most culturally diverse city in New Zealandand the ethnic composition is changing (2013 census). Thiscreates opportunities as well as challenges, and reaffirms theneed to support social cohesion and the long-term integrationof migrants and refugees. Initiatives in supporting the city’smigrants and refugees in 2014/2015 have included:

implementation of the New Zealand RefugeeResettlement Strategy led by Immigration New Zealandwhere Council is a member of the external reference group

the council hosting World Refugee Day in June tocelebrate and recognise the pathways of the refugeecommunity in Auckland

Pasifika Newcomers Action Group (PNAG) was establishedand co-ordinated by the Auckland Regional MigrantServices (ARMS) with a particular focus on developingstrategies and initiatives to assist Pasifika newcomers tosettle more seamlessly into New Zealand

the Auckland Council Group and Immigration NewZealand are working together under the Auckland RegionalPartnership Agreement to attract and retain migrants

‘Welcome to Auckland’, a one-day programme for newmigrants that provides information on Auckland Council,local networks, and creates opportunities betweennewcomers to talk about the challenges and issues theyare facing

the council contributing to the funding of the HumanRights Commission’s Diversity Forum in September 2015to recognise and discuss key race relations issues.


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A green Auckland


Waterways and coastlines are clean and full of life and airis healthy.

Sustainable rates of water consumption, greenhouse gasemissions and waste production. The energy supply isresilient and sustainably sourced.

Biodiversity is abundant across the natural environment. New industries are leading the way in green technology.

KEY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNTIES

Responding to Auckland’s growth in a way thatrecognises and enhances the value of the environmentthrough innovative approaches to infrastructuredevelopment and renewal, application of newtechnologies and or practices, and enhances urban naturalheritage.

Understanding and optimising the council’s influence onthe quality of the environment, singularly and inpartnership, through its role as a regulator, facilitator andinvestor.

Reversing the decline of marine and freshwaterenvironments due principally to sediment and

contaminant accumulation from land use practices.

OVERVIEW

The Auckland Plan aims to safeguard the environment fromfurther degradation and strives to improve it where it hasbecome degraded. The health and wellbeing of Aucklanders isintegrally linked with the health of the environment and thecouncil provides ongoing support to programmes such asRetrofit Your Home and the Kauri dieback managementprogramme.

The environmental strategic action plan, Auckland GrowingGreener - Te pai me te whai rawa o Tā maki, was adopted inOctober 2015. This tells Auckland’s environment story: howgrowth can be made greener and how we can grow Auckland’s

environmental assets. Looking ahead, Sea Change-Tai Timu TaiPari, a marine spatial plan designed to safeguard the HaurakiGulf, is a key focus for Auckland and due for adoption in late2016. Auckland’s Regional Pest Management Strategy will alsobe reviewed. This will take into account changes that haveoccurred since the current strategy took effect in 2007, suchas new emerging pest threats, changes in distribution ofexisting pests, and developments in technology, land use andecological restoration within Auckland.

READ ALSO

Outcome 1: A fair, safe and healthy Auckland Outcome 4: A well connected and accessible Auckland


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ENABLING INNOVATION TO REDUCE W ASTETO LANDFILL

The Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund (WMIF) is agrants programme turning the waste challenge intoopportunities for all sectors. The WMIF was established in2013 as a key initiative of the Waste Management andMinimisation Plan (WMMP). The fund supports new ideas andprojects that reduce waste going to landfill in Auckland.Through the fund, Aucklanders have the chance to help reachthe Auckland Plan target of zero waste to landfill by 2040.

Annually, up to $500,000 in grants is available for projects. Itis open to applications from community groups, businesses,Mā ori organisations and educational institutions. To date,$1.39 million has been awarded to 162 projects across fourpriority areas (resource recovery initiatives and facilities,commercial waste, organic waste and fostering communityaction and behaviour change). These have ranged fromcommercial innovations such as food waste sorting conveyorsto community interventions such as zero waste events.

The Southside Recycling Centre Onehunga Project (Trash Mob)recovered 3.41 tonnes of waste in the form of reusablebuilding materials and furniture and on-sold these. Sancta

Maria College used their grant to create bin stations to assistin sorting waste and make it easier to process food waste on-site. Now, zero food waste goes to landfill.

Initiatives under the WMMP have collectively diverted manytonnes of waste from landfill, while also engaging hundreds ofAucklanders in waste minimisation activities. Work continuesto improve the level of successful applications from Mā oriorganisations and iwi. These are centred on bettercommunicating and promoting the fund to improve uptake.

AUCKLAND PLAN TARGET 7 7Achieve zero waste to landfill by 2040.

Measure Regular Solid Waste Analysis Protocol (SWAP) surveys

Alignment

Auckland CouncilLTP 2015-2025 Solid Waste and EnvironmentalServices: Reduce domestic kerbside refuse to 110kg percapita per annum by 2025

As reported last year, it is not possible to calculate up-to-datetonnage and composition of waste being disposed to landfill inthe Auckland region at present. However, from October 2015all waste facilities will need to be licensed and provision oftonnage data will be a condition of licensing. This data is a keyinformation source in tracking progress on this indicator.

As the council still has a direct influence on around 17 per centof the total waste stream the result for the domestic kerbsiderefuse is included here.

In 2014, 37 per cent of domestic kerbside collection materialwas recycled which is just below the target (40 per cent)owing to an increase in the volume of contaminated recyclingbeing collected. There is room to improve on this byencouraging good recycling and composting habits amongAucklanders, which will be addressed through campaigns likeRecycle Right.


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AUCKLAND PLAN TARGET 7 1Reduce gross per capita water consumption from2004 levels by 15 per cent by 2025.

Measure Gross per capita water consumption (total waterdemand divided by the total population)

Alignment

Auckland CouncilLTP 2015-2025 Water supply activity: Averageconsumption of drinking water of 253 litres (+/- 2.5 percent) per day per resident within the territorialauthority district by 2025

Auckland Plan target (253 litres per person per day by2025). Gross per capita water consumption in the year ended June 2015 was 271 litres/person/day, similar to 2014 (270)and slightly better than 2013 (274). Current levels are 9.1 percent below the 2004 reference level (298). The main drop (-5.7 per cent) was from 2008 (295) to 2009 (278). A further 6per cent reduction is needed to meet the 2025 target (253).

PROTECTING AUCKLAND’S KAURI

The Auckland Plan environmental principles emphasise thatAuckland’s environment must be healthy and resilient in orderto support life and lifestyles. Pests and diseases as well ashuman activity are threats to Auckland’s Kauri and must beactively managed at source to help achieve the Auckland Plantarget of ‘no regional extinctions of indigenous species by2040 or increasing the number that are threatened or at risk ofextinction’.

Kauri dieback disease (caused byPhytophthora taxon Agathis,

commonly known as PTA) continues to be the most significantthreat to the Wait ā kere Ranges Heritage Area. AucklandCouncil is working hard to manage the disease withinAuckland, conducting and assisting with research projects tocontrol and treat the disease. Management initiatives to limitits spread such as hygiene stations are being extended. Kauriprotection zones have been established to protect healthyKauri. Even in infected areas like the Waitā kere Ranges, thereare many pockets of healthy Kauri that can be protected.

The Hunua Ranges, Auckland's northern regional parks,Waiheke Island and many other Hauraki Gulf islands (Kawau,Hauturu/Little Barrier, Motutapu, Ponui) are healthy Kauriareas. Community initiatives to support the environment andecology of the Wait ā kere Ranges continue to flourish with themany groups involved networking to share knowledge andexperience.

A significant event in the last year has been the launch of the joint programme strategy Kia Toitu He Kauri- Keep KauriStanding. This lays out the focus of the Kauri DiebackProgramme over the next 10 years. The strategy is theculmination of a large amount of work and reflects thepriorities of the programme’s partners.


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STATE OF AUCKLAND’S ENVIRONMENT

Our natural environment is a critical component of Auckland’sliveability which is under increasing pressure as the populationgrows. Some of the key findings are summarised here. Thefive-yearly State of the Environment Report examines thedrivers of environmental change (namely, human activity), thepressures these activities place on the environment, the stateof the region’s natural resources and how they are faringunder the pressures.

The State of the Environment Report 2015, known as Auckland’s environment – vital signs for our natural assets, was

published this year and is the fourth Auckland-wideassessment since 1999. In addition, State of Auckland reportcards are also produced annually for Auckland’s freshwater,marine, air, soil and terrestrial environments.

Key findings of the report are summarised below.

Rainfall

Rainfall is highly variable over time across the regionwith averages of seven to eight days with significantrainfall per year. There is no consistent trend inrainfall. Days with significant rainfall and dry spellsoccur across Auckland, with large variability from yearto year and for longer time scales.

Sea Levels

Long-term measurements in Auckland Harbour byPorts of Auckland Limited show a clear trend of risingsea level of 1.5mm/year over more than 100 years.These rising sea levels are in line with local and globalaverages.

Temperature

The annual average air temperature at Onehunga(longest dataset) is 15.6°C. The average sea surfacetemperature over the last 20 years was 17.11°C.Stream monitoring shows that urban streams arewarmer than forest streams.

Land cover

At a large scale, Auckland’s land cover has remained thesame over the last decade, with little change in thebalance of farmland versus native forest and scrub versusexotic forestry. On a finer scale, some areas areexperiencing more dramatic changes, particularly on thecity margins where urban growth is replacing highproduction pasture.

Soil

While elements of Auckland’s soil quality are good, toomuch phosphorus fertiliser is being applied and soils arecompacted, which impacts on the quality of the soil andalso increases the likelihood of surface runoff.Ultimately, this sediment and nutrient runoff can becarried through our streams or directly to the sea.Auckland has moderate levels of soil pollution when

compared with native bush. In rural Auckland, levels ofcadmium (largely from phosphorus fertilisers) and copper(copper-based fungicides) are highest, and in urbanAuckland nickel, lead and zinc are higher.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity values are higher in the larger forests, suchas in the Wait ā kere and Hunua ranges, and also onHauraki Gulf islands where native habitat remains andcontrol efforts mean there are no pest animals, or lowernumbers of them. Diversity of native plants and birds isreduced in mainland areas modified by farming andurban growth.

Biosecurity

Biosecurity management can be effective in keepingdown the populations of mice, rats and possums. This isexemplified by the work being done in places like Ark in

the Park (Waitākere Ranges), Glenfern and Windy Hill(on Aotea-Great Barrier Island) and by the high

biodiversity values of pest-free islands such asHauturu/Little Barrier.

Threatenedspecies

The last State of the Environment report (State of theAuckland Region 2010) identified the relatively largeproportion of threatened species living in the region.Auckland Council’s biodiversity team has since put inplace a prioritisation protocol and is currently managing38 species, up from 14. Additional species are alsomanaged within the parks network by council staff andthrough community initiatives.

WeedsLarger native forest tracts are resistant to invasion andhave fewer weeds. Urban and rural forest patches are

more exposed and show much higher infestation levels.

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Freshwater

Freshwater quality and ecology is rated excellent incatchments dominated by native forest, good to fair incatchments dominated by exotic forest and/or rural landuse, and poor in catchments dominated by urban landuse. Poor water quality in rural catchments is generallylow due to high nutrient levels and sediment. Many ofAuckland’s urban streams are in poor health as a resultof the many pollutant sources in urban environments.

Marine

Contaminants in marine sediments tend to be low in lessdeveloped and rural areas, with fewer inputs from urbanstormwater. Hotspots of contamination tend to be inmuddy estuaries and sheltered tidal creeks receivingrunoff from older, intensively urbanised or industrialisedcatchments. The worst-affected areas are centralWaitemat ā Harbour and Tā maki Estuary.Fine sediment and associated stormwater contaminantsare affecting the ecology of Auckland’s harbours andestuaries. Most sites near older urban centres havelocations with unhealthy ecology, particularly within theWaitemat ā Harbour and Tā maki Estuary.

While many sites have good or excellent ecologicalhealth, all harbours and estuaries had at least one sitewith moderate or poor ecological health, even thosefurther from Auckland’s urban centre as the city’secological footprint expands.

Airquality

In general Auckland’s air quality is good, with pollutantsgenerally below guidelines, standards and targets.However, from time to time these are still breached.

PM10

Concentrations of PM10 (particulate matter up to 10micrometers in size) in urban Auckland have significantlydecreased due to source management programmes,cleaner fuels, lower vehicle emissions and declining use ofsolid fuels for home heating. However, in certain areas weare still in danger of breaching air quality standards. Thenumber of exceedances for PM10 has decreased from17days in 2005 to zero in 2014.

NO2

Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) at all of theworst sites are decreasing due to the improved efficiencyof diesel engines. Decreasing levels of NO2 in QueenStreet are also due to diverting traffic away from the area.The worst locations are Newmarket and the CBD whereconcentrations still occasionally exceed air qualitystandards and guidelines.

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M N GING ND DEVELOPING THE GREENNETWORK

Auckland’s green network includes extensive regional parksand open spaces, trails and walkways and is a criticalcomponent for liveability in an urban environment. Thechallenge is to maintain and improve the green network as thepopulation grows and diversifies, while protecting andenhancing these assets.

Some of the highlights this year for Auckland’s green networkinclude:

An addition of 78 hectares of land on Auckland’s westcoast to the Wait ā kere Ranges Regional Park. Thisacquisition brings into public ownership a missing part ofthe west coast parkland and the Hillary Trail.

A further 200 hectares added to Te Arai Regional Parkresulting from the development of adjoining land.

The Minister of Conservation announced governmentfunding for the purchase of Glenfern Sanctuary on GreatBarrier Island in May 2015.

Green Flags were awarded to Olympic and Parrs parks,Taipari Strand and Sanders Reserve. The awards recogniseexcellence in management across a range of disciplinesincluding the environment, cultural/historical values,safety, marketing, sustainability and creating great placesto play.

Part of the Onehunga foreshore development openedincluding the headlands and eight of the nine beaches. Therest of the development, including a pedestrian and cyclebridge over State Highway 20, is due to open by the end of2015.

Te Ara Hura, the 100km continuous walk around Waiheke(as part of the local board greenway plan), opened inNovember 2014.


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OUTCOME 3:AN AUCKLAND OF PROSPERITYAND OPPORTUNITYThe Auckland Plan| Annual Implementation Update 2015

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Develop an economy that delivers opportunity and prosperity for all Aucklanders and New Zealand

VISION FOR T HIS OUTCOME

Auckland is renowned for technological innovation and itsability to commercialise research ideas.

Home to many flourishing small- and medium-sizedenterprises and a well-educated, highly skilled workforce.

The city centre beats as the economic and cultural heart. High-quality employment opportunities can be found

throughout. Global business connections are strong and enhanced by

the relationships and skills of new migrants.

Opportunities for all Aucklanders to participate in avibrant, strong-performing economy.

KEY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUN ITIES

• Auckland is New Zealand’s dominant commercial centreand as the population continues to increase it must beable to take advantage of the benefits of that growth.

• Although the percentage of youth not in Education,Employment or Training (NEET) is improving, there is stilla need to improve in this area to meet future skilldemands.

• Auckland must continue to brand itself as a destination ofchoice and build on the record international flight arrivals,

115 cruise ship visits and record hotel occupancy rates in2015.

OVERVIEW

The Auckland Plan expects that to achieve the vision forAuckland, the economy must be transformed and economicprosperity dramatically improved. The council and its council-controlled organisations (CCOs) have a series of roles to playin helping to develop an economy that delivers opportunityand prosperity for all Aucklanders and New Zealand.

Looking forward, the council and its CCOs will continue tobuild upon the collaborative approach adopted to achieve thisoutcome. The wider council will continue to work inpartnership to support high profile events such as the DickSmith NRL Nines and The World Masters Games 2017. Thecouncil and its CCOs are also progressing initiatives such asthe technology and innovation precinct GridAKL in theWynyard Quarter that will help to future-proof parts of oureconomy.

READ ALSO

• Developing Auckland• Outcome 1: A fair safe and healthy Auckland• Outcome 4: A well connected and accessible Auckland


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STRENGTHENING OUR GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS

With a small domestic market, international connectivity withour trading partners is critical to Auckland’s economy.

The inaugural Tripartite Economic Alliance Summit was held in June this year in Los Angeles. This follows the signing of thehistoric alliance in November 2014 which aims to boosteconomic co-operation between Auckland, Guangzhou and LosAngeles. The alliance is important to Auckland as:

a platform to facilitate business, government and culturalconnections between three Asia-Pacific cities

Guangzhou and Los Angeles are two of Auckland’s mostwell-established and economically important internationalpartner cities

it spans both sides of the Pacific, and supports Auckland’sposition as a strategic gateway into Asia and NorthAmerica.

Some of the immediate success stories and business outcomesthat have arisen since the summit include:

Screen Auckland: discussions about potential newproduction opportunities which could create jobs for theAuckland economy in the long-term.

Flux Animation: launch of several projects with LA-basedstudios which created new jobs in Auckland.

IQ Commercial: new sales to North America, withexpected growth by at least 20 per cent in the coming year. The company anticipates an increase in profit fromthe sales and new partnerships secured in Los Angeles.

A memorandum of understanding was also signed for thecities’ ports which will result in greater sharing of best practiceand logistics information.

AUCKLAND PLAN TARGET 6 4Increase annual average real GDP growth from threeper cent in the last decade to 5 per cent p.a. for thenext 30 years.

Measure Average annual real GDP growth rate

Alignment

Auckland CouncilLTP 2015-2025 Economic growth and visitor economy:Increase contribution to regional GDP from majorevents to $75 million p.a. by 2025

Auckland Plan target (5 per cent by 2040). Auckland’sannual average real GDP growth rate for the year ended March2015 was 3.7 per cent, an improvement over 2014 (2.9 percent) and 2013 (2.5 per cent) but lower than 2012 (3.9 percent) and still below the target rate of growth (5.0 per cent).GDP is volatile and prior years’ results are subject to revision.


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AUCKLAND PLAN T ARGET 1 4All young adults will complete a post-secondaryqualification by 2030.

Measure

Number of young adults aged between 15 to 24 yearswho have a post-secondary educational qualification(Note: This measure excludes young adults who are inthe processing of gaining a qualification but not yetfinished)

Alignment

Central governmentBetter Public Service (BPS) target Result 6: Increase theproportion of 25-34 year-olds with advanced tradequalifications, diplomas and degrees (at Level 4 orabove)

Auckland Plan target (100 per cent by 2030). In the 2013census, 20.7 per cent of young adults living in Auckland had apost-secondary education qualification. This is an increase of2.1 per cent from the 2006 census (18.6 per cent). Themajority were in the 20 to 24-year-old age group.

Central government BPS target (60 per cent by 2018). Thistarget is measured by the Household Labour Force Survey.This captures the proportion of young adults who were or hadbeen enrolled in a qualification at Level 4 or above, which isdifferent from the Auckland Plan target which reflects only theproportion that had completed the qualification. There havebeen improvements in qualification completion rates whichindicate that by 2018, the proportion of skilled graduates fromthe New Zealand tertiary system will have increased and willprovide a solid base for meeting the target.

CREATING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOROUR YOUNG PEOPLE

A strong economy provides better employment opportunitiesfor young people. It is essential that young people leavingschool have a clear pathway to further education, training oremployment that is right for them.

A Youth Employability Passport and associated trainingprogramme (with partners), is currently being trialled with 120 young people. The programme is designed to help youngpeople in their efforts to secure and retain employment by

building and attesting to the employability skills employersneed.

Two thousand young people attended the third employmentsummit, JobFest, on 21 February at MIT Manukau campusdesigned to connect them with potential employers and jobopportunities. The event drew 40 businesses looking to fill 300vacancies. Over 400 young people were interviewed for jobs,with around 100 gaining employment.

As a partner in the Mayor’s Youth Employment Traction Plan,Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Developmentdeveloped an Employers’ Pledge which makes the employment

process much easier for both employers and young people.Businesses make a commitment to employ Auckland's youthful talent to grow their future workforce and theirbusinesses. By year-end, 13 companies had signed the pledge.


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ATTRACT ING BUSINESS EVENTS TOAUCKLAND

To accelerate the growth of Auckland’s visitor economy andrealise the associated benefits, Auckland needs to attract morehigh-value visitors and encourage long stays.

The Auckland Business Events Plan launched this year inconjunction with key industry stakeholders. It aims to growthe volume and value of business events in the city. It works intandem with Auckland’s Visitor Plan and Major EventsStrategy to develop Auckland as a global events destination.

These three plans have a key role in helping Auckland achieveits economic and social aspirations to become a trueinternational city.

The Auckland Business Events Plan sets a target of reducingthe region’s summer-based seasonality, growing demand inthe shoulder and off-peak periods, and using business eventsto support growth and investment in key industry sectors. Itaims to grow the business events sector’s contribution to theAuckland economy from $236 million in 2013 to $430 millionin 2023, and increase the total number of delegate days toAuckland from 1.98 million to 2.55 million over this 10-yearperiod.

The Business Events Advocate Programme partnership withTourism New Zealand launched in May and the bureau’sInternational Business Improvement District team secured 12international conferences during the year, adding an estimated$9.6 million to the regional economy.

AUCKLAND PLAN TARGET 3 3Increase the number of annual guest nights inAuckland from 21.1 million in 2010 to 29.5 million by2022.

Measure

The number of visitor nights from international anddomestic tourists at commercial accommodation inAuckland per annum (Note: data available isCommercial Accommodation Monitor only, and showsguest nights, so excludes other types of visitor nights)

AlignmentAuckland CouncilLTP 2015-2025 Economic growth and visitor economy:four million visits p.a to www.aucklandnz.com

Auckland Plan target (The target requires a 40.0 per centincrease in total guest nights, which equates to 7.97 millioncommercial guest nights by 2022). In the year to December2014, Auckland’s commercial accommodation had 6.99 millioninternational and domestic guest nights, 4.8 per cent higherthan 2013 (6.67 million) and 22.9 per cent higher than 2010(5.69 million) for an average annual growth of 5.3 per centfrom 2010 to 2014. The target requires 2.8 per cent averageannual growth.


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NEW INTEGR TED BUSINESS PRECINCT PL NFOR THE INDUSTRI L SOUTH

The Auckland Plan anticipates an extra 276,700 jobs will beneeded in Auckland by 2041. A substantial share of these jobswill be located in the zoned industrial locations in southAuckland. These areas include some of the prime industrialand manufacturing locations within the region and they play astrong role in Auckland’s economy and the economic growthof Auckland and New Zealand, generating $18 billion of GDPin 2012.

An Integrated Business Precinct Plan has been adopted whichprovides a framework for the zoned industrial precincts foreither light or heavy industrial uses within the ProposedAuckland Unitary Plan south of the city centre. It seeks tosupport these industrial areas in a co-ordinated way so thatthey can continue to contribute to the delivery of theeconomic priorities of the Auckland Plan, Auckland’s EconomicDevelopment Strategy and TSI. At both a regional and nationallevel the industrial precincts will have a role in contributing togovernment’s business growth agenda outcomes.


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A well connected and accessible Auckland


• Infrastructure is well planned, up-to-date and meets theneeds of communities and the economy.

• Businesses move freight around the region efficientlyusing an integrated transport and rail system.

• Sea and air ports play a crucial role in New Zealand’sexport economy.

• The telecommunications network is one of the mostadvanced globally.

KEY CHALLENGES A ND OPPORTUNITIES

• Addressing and aligning infrastructure requirementsacross sectors to support growth and achieve a qualitycompact Auckland.

• The national 30-year New Zealand Infrastructure Planproposes a step-change in New Zealand's approach toinfrastructure planning and management, making betteruse of existing infrastructure and allocation of newinvestment. This brings with it expectations forAuckland.

• Funding methods and investment opportunities andtools. Currently, there is a limited range of funding tools

available and there is growing sensitivity to ratesincreases.

• Disparity in digital inclusion across Auckland especiallyin southern, rural and coastal locations.

OVERVIEW

The Auckland Plan considers infrastructure to be critical to theeconomic, social, environmental and cultural wellbeing ofAucklanders. The plan provides an opportunity to achievebetter integration between environmental outcomes,infrastructure design and economic growth. The greenwaysprogramme is a good example of this in action: connectingcommunities, providing transport choices and recreationalopportunities and functioning as wildlife corridors.

In the year ahead, more work on digital enablement acrossAuckland is expected. This work includes the completion ofAuckland’s Digital Enablement Plan, investigating the SmarterCities approach and benefits for Auckland and addressinginequalities in access to broadband infrastructure.

READ ALSO

• Developing Auckland• Outcome 1: A fair, safe and healthy Auckland• Outcome 3: An Auckland of prosperity and opportunity


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ALIGNMENT OF TRANSPORT INVESTMENTWITH CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES

The Auckland Transport Alignment Project was launched inAugust 2015. The purpose of the project is to improvealignment between Auckland Council and central governmentover the way Auckland’s transport system should develop,including testing whether better returns from transportinvestment can be achieved. The objectives for this project are:

to support economic growth and increased productivity byensuring access to employment/labour improves [relativeto current levels] as Auckland’s population grows

to improve congestion results [relative to predictedresults], in particular travel time and reliability in the peakperiod and to ensure congestion does not becomewidespread during working hours

to improve public transport’s mode share [relative topredicted results], where it will address congestion

to ensure any increases in the financial costs of using thetransport system deliver net benefits to users of thesystem.

The project will result in a set of recommendations on the bestperforming intervention packages, a preferred strategicapproach and implementation requirements. All land transportinterventions will be considered, including roads, rail, publictransport, personal mobility services, walking, cycling,technology, network optimisation and demand management(including pricing for demand management purposes).

This project is a shift from the existing approach wheregovernment policy statements and national land transportprogrammes were developed in isolation with limitedopportunities for alignment.

AUCKLAND PLAN TARGET 13 4Reduce congestion level for vehicles on the strategicfreight network to at or below the average of 2006-2009 levels (average daily speed of 45kph andaverage delay of 32 seconds per kilometre) by 2021.

Measure Minutes of delay per kilometre on Auckland’s freightroute

Alignment

Auckland CouncilLTP 2015-2025 Roads and footpaths: Maintain baselinetravel times on key freight routes for the 85 th percentileby 2016

Auckland Plan target (32 seconds per kilometre by 2021). The total Auckland transport network had an all-day averageof 31.2 seconds delay per kilometre for the year ended March2014, a worsening since 2013 (27.6 seconds) but still betterthan the target (32.3). All times of day were slightly worse in2014 than 2013. Since 2003, the morning peak has beenimproving but the inter-peak delay time has become longer.


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AUCKLAND PLAN TARGET 13 1Double public transport from 70 million trips in 2012to 140 million trips by 2022.

Measure Number of public transport trips by mode.

Alignment

Auckland CouncilLTP 2015-2025 Public transport and travel demandmanagement: Increase public transport boardings to110.7 million by 2025.

Auckland Plan target (140 million by 2022). Auckland publictransport patronage totalled 80.1 million passengers for the12 months to August 2015, an increase of 9.4 per cent on theprevious year. The dominant public transport mode is still bus(60.1 million or 75 per cent of patronage), but trains have

been growing faster: patronage in the 12 months to August2015 was 22.7 per cent higher than the previous year.

IMPROVING ROAD SAFETY IN AUCKLAND

Road safety is recognised in the Auckland Plan as an areaneeding ongoing effort and resourcing. Achievements hererequire partnership across a number of organisations andcommunity groups. In 2014/2015, Auckland Transportdelivered various regional road safety education initiatives, forexample:

regional alcohol #Drunksense #Straightsense campaigns distribution of blood alcohol concentration law change

information Red Light Running regional campaign regional back to school speed campaign, Look out for

Kids.

Another education initiative which was continued this year isthe Travelwise Programme. Currently, 408 of Auckland’s 541schools have signed up to the programme which is aimed atachieving long-term safety benefits and a reduction incongestion around schools as well as improvements inpollution.

The Safer Driveways Project was completed in June 2015. Theproject aimed to gain an understanding of the complex issuessurrounding driveway safety and the barriers to implementingprevention strategies in the community.


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PROGRESSING UCKL ND’S GREENW YS

The greenways programme is an example of integrationbetween environmental outcomes, infrastructure design andeconomic growth. Neighbourhood greenways connectcommunities by providing on-street and off-street walking andcycling links between destinations such as parks, schools, towncentres, open spaces and transport hubs. They providetransport choices and recreational opportunities at a level ofconvenience and comfort that appeals to all ages and abilities.Greenways can also allow people to experience Auckland’snatural and cultural heritage. They provide opportunities torestore ecological functions through water-sensitive design,and enhance ecological connections such as biodiversitycorridors.

The greenways programme was successfully funded throughthe LTP 2015-2025. The programme is being implementedthrough strategic collaboration across the Auckland CouncilGroup, Auckland’s communities, infrastructure providers andthe business community.

Greenway plans have been driven from the ground up bycommunity champions and local boards, including Whau,Albert-Eden, Puketā papa, Maungakiekie-Tā maki Waitemat ā ,

Kaipatiki and Devonport-Takapuna. Plans from several otherLocal Boards are in preparation.

MOVING TOW RDS DIGIT L UCKL ND

Central government’s rural broadband initiative is largelycomplete and the ultrafast broadband network build underway(39 per cent completed as at September 2015). Thesenetworks are being further expanded to enable communitiesto access and use technology better in their everyday lives toimprove their wellbeing in the medium to long-term.Currently, there is an issue with digital inclusion acrossAuckland especially in southern, rural and coastal locations.Central government is looking to local authorities to provideleadership in this area. The council has responded bysubmitting a registration of interest to central government forimproved broadband coverage and developing the AucklandDigital Enablement Plan. The plan identifies opportunities forAuckland Council to support Aucklanders to participate in thecreation and use of fast broadband-enabled technology,applications and content to improve their quality of life andhow they work and do business.

TSI provides an opportunity for better integratedinfrastructure, ensuring that technology is going into the rightlocations. It is utilising a digital platform to crowd-sourcecreative content from south Aucklanders to generate pride anddispel myths about South Auckland. A recent report by

Creative New Zealand found that Auckland Mā ori and Pasifikaare more likely to create digital art: Mā ori (42 per cent)Pasifika (44 per cent) compared to New Zealand Europeans(17 per cent). Digital creative agencies are on the rise.

Government’s Better Public Service targets include a goal formore transactions to be completed digitally. Aucklandersexpect digital interactions with the council, and they wantthese interactions to be responsive and personalised. This year, the council developed a 3D interactive reference modelto help to communicate the 20-year City Centre MasterPlan,providing a platform for future analysis and planning projects.


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OUTCOME 5:A BEAUTIFUL AUCKLANDTHAT IS LOVED BY ITS PEOPLEThe Auckland Plan| Annual Implementation Update 2015

O UT C

OME

5 : A B E A

UT I F UL A

U C K L A NDT HA T I S L O

VE DB Y I T S P E OP L E T h

e A

u c k l a n d P

l a n | A nn

u a l I m

p l e m e n t a t i on

U p d a t e 2

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A beautiful Auckland that is loved by its people


One of the most beautiful cities in the world with vibranturban areas full of character.

Stunning coastal areas with many recreationalopportunities.

Highly productive rural areas making a significantcontribution to Auckland’s exports and great lifestyleoptions.

Auckland communities take pride in their surroundingsand work together to create places they value, takingpleasure in sharing the city with visitors.

KEY CHALLENGES A ND OPPORTUNITIES

Responding to the implications of urbanisation andintensification in the city and main centres acrosshousing, infrastructure and transport.

Creating enduring neighbourhoods that meet theexpectations of new and different communities.

OVERVIEW

The Auckland Plan values the urban environment and seeks toprotect and conserve Auckland’s historic heritage for thebenefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.

The Auckland Design Manual has had continued success as areference for new development. The Te Aranga Mā ori designprinciples are an important component. The key objective ofthese is to enhance the protection, reinstatement,development and articulation of mana whenua culturallandscapes enabling all of us (mana whenua,mataawaka, tauiwi and manuhiri) to connect to and deepenour sense of place. Further opportunities for their

incorporation may occur over the coming year.

READ ALSO

Developing Auckland Outcome 2: A green Auckland Outcome 7: A Mā ori identity that is Auckland’s point of

difference in the world Implementation framework


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RESTORING AUCKLAND’S BUILT HERITAGE

The Auckland Plan seeks to protect and conserve Auckland’shistoric heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of present andfuture generations. T

Auckland Plan Implementation Update 2015

Documents

Transcript of Auckland Plan Implementation Update 2015