Spring is the season for hope and joy. And of all the seasons, spring gives us fresh perspectives. As plants burst into flowers and the days start to stretch, it’s time to look more closely at the changes happening around us. The more we understand our climate, the better prepared we can be, and the better decisions we can make for the future. Here are some signs, stories and simple steps to help you and your community get climate ready this spring.
One of the first tohu of spring in Tāmaki Makaurau is when the puawānanga, or native clematis, blooms across the canopy with its white, star-shaped flowers.
In mātauranga Māori, the parents of this climbing vine are two stars you might have heard of during Matariki celebrations – Puanga and Rehua.
There’s so much to learn about this important plant. Find it at the Auckland Botanic Gardens, in a regional park like the Hunua or Waitakere Ranges, or, for the adventurous, even on Tiritiri Matangi island. You could even try and grow it yourself!
Spring flowers are a guaranteed pick-me-up, and a gentle reminder of our changing climate. Take cherry blossoms. In Kyoto, more than 1,200 years of written records show that blossoms are flowering earlier as spring temperatures rise. But, you don’t need to travel to Japan, just visit Cornwall Park in September, on the slopes of Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill.
Longer days and warmer weather are the perfect excuse to shake off winter and get moving again. And together, Aucklanders and Auckland Council are changing the transport game.
This past winter, we set an all-time high for public transport and bike use. If you haven’t already done so, spring is a perfect opportunity to jump on this trend and make the most of Auckland's growing network of climate and budget-friendly travel options:
Try out City Rail Link
Take the train for a trip you’d normally drive. With the $50 weekly fare cap, it’s now much easier to make public transport part of your week.
Catch one of our new hybrid or fully electric ferries
A smoother, more comfortable way to travel across the Waitematā, while helping reduce public transport emissions.
Take one of our 400+ electric buses
A quieter, cleaner and more comfortable way to ride and a big step towards a healthier Auckland.
Transport is responsible for nearly half of Auckland's emissions, so every time you hop on an electric pahi (bus), tereina (train) or waka tere (ferry), you're seriously helping to tip the balance.
Not too hot, humid or cold, spring is a perfect time to hīkoi. Whether you’re in a walking or running group, out for a wander on your own or with the fanau, these boardwalk tracks are calling your name:
Hobsonville
Closer to town, Te Ara Manawa, “the pathway amongst the mangroves”.
Muriwai
Further afield at Muriwai Regional Park: Ōtakamiro Point, home to a very busy, very noisy gannet colony in spring.
Just two of the many coastal pathways Aucklanders love, these tracks and boardwalks also provide hands-on experience of how the “coastal margin” helps protect the places we love.
Mangroves, sand dunes, coastal and sea grasses and estuaries are natural “buffers” that keep the coast (and us) safe from big coastal storms and sea-level rise.
Kōanga is the ingoa Māori for spring. It includes the word “kō”, which is a digging tool: spring is the time to dig the soil – or the sand. This spring, why not get digging!
Healthy coastal ecosystems reduce erosion, are iconic settings for spring picnics, and provide habitat for the highly adaptable plants, birds and reptiles that live between the land and sea.
If there's a beach or mudflat that's close to your heart, spending a few hours restoring its coastal ecosystem is one of the best ways to help it do its job.
Native grasses like pīngao, for example, bind loose sand with strong root networks, creating natural barriers that absorb the energy of strong tides and waves, and prevent our beaches from washing away.
Our coast needs help so it can keep protecting us. Find a local restoration or volunteering opportunity through Tiaki Tāmaki Makaurau or visit the Coastal Restoration Trust to find and join your local coast care group.
Despite the name, spring tides don’t just happen in spring. Actually, spring tides happen twice a month, every full and new moon. Around the spring equinox (late September), Auckland experiences some of the year's highest tides.
Why does this matter? Because visiting your favourite bit of coastline on a really high tide is a good way to see how our coast might look in the future.
For those of us whose happy place is on, in or near the moana, it's natural to wonder what sea-level rise could mean for our connection to the coasts we love. The more we understand our changing coastline, the better we'll be able to protect it for years to come.
Aucklanders seriously love our fishing, sailing, waka ama and most other activities that can be done on the ocean. Most of them are made easier through community-owned assets like boardwalks, boat ramps, jetties, carparks and coastal tracks. We also have a lot of important infrastructure close to the coast, like local roads or water treatment plants.
The good news is Auckland Council isn't waiting for the tides to rise. Across the region, our Shoreline Adaptation Plans look at how rising seas could affect community-owned infrastructure. Some places may be protected, others redesigned or, where there's no safe or affordable long-term alternative, gradually relocated.
It might not be the lightest read, but your local plan – whether it's Manukau Harbour East, Whangaparāoa or another stretch of coast – is a great way to understand how the coast is changing, what's being planned, and how you and your uri can keep doing what you love.
The weather doesn’t always stick to the script, so spring is a good time to get prepared for the months ahead.
A Super El Niño has been declared for Aotearoa New Zealand, and is expected to influence our weather into 2027. That can mean more wind and longer periods of hot, dry weather. Now is a good time to tackle a few jobs around the home, especially if you live in a rural area or on a rural property:
01
Top up rainwater tanks, check pumps and hoses, and fix any leaks.
02
Secure loose roofing, sheds and outdoor equipment so they're ready for strong winds.
03
Clear long grass, fallen branches and other dry vegetation from around your home to help reduce wildfire risk.
A few jobs now can make a big difference if summer does bring long dry spells, high winds or fire danger. Planning ahead and acting now gives you less to worry about if conditions become more challenging. Keep an eye on Auckland Emergency Management for updates and advice.
The days are getting longer and lighter, and more light means more free energy from Tamanuiterā.
Spring is the perfect season for Aucklanders to explore solar power options – whether at home, school, church, the marae or your workplace. From traditional rooftop panel and battery systems to plug-in solar setups for renters or apartment dwellers, there are more solar energy options than ever before.
Get on to it now and you can make the most of the sunny months ahead, while helping reduce your energy bill and increasing your energy independence and resilience.
Auckland Council solar
Auckland Council is doing our bit, installing solar across our facilities. Go Media Stadium has 1,651 solar panels, helping power everything from sporting events to concerts.
Spring can be a good time to look at familiar places with fresh eyes. As the trees and flowers start to bloom, new ideas can start to take shape too.
Auckland Climate Action's illustrated climate conversation postcards invite you to use imaginative questions to help people think about responding to climate change in your community.
There are no right or wrong answers, and you don’t need to be an expert. Jot down a memory or dream, sketch a picture, compose a waiata, or simply talk it through with friends, whānau or neighbours.
The postcards are available in English and te reo Māori, with Hindi, Samoan, Tongan, Korean and Simplified Chinese versions coming soon. However you express yourself, every conversation helps build understanding of shared values and spark new ideas. This spring, let your creativity bloom, and see where seven questions can take you.
