CLIMATE ACTION ACROSS COUNCIL

• Gas boilers at community pools and leisure centres are being replaced with electric heat pumps, such as at Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa in Māngere and Stanmore Bay pools.
• Solar panels are being installed on libraries, pools and community centres from Albany Stadium Pool to Blockhouse Bay Community Centre and Orere War Memorial Hall.
• Other council assets are also being decarbonised, including the Auckland Domain Winter Gardens where a new biomass pellet boiler has replaced gas heating. 
• Some of our projects are achieving the prestigious 5 Green Star rating from the New Zealand Green Building Council, acknowledging our public spaces can be financially responsible, environmentally resilient and deeply connected to community needs.

These projects demonstrate our practical, asset-by-asset approach to reducing energy use and emissions while cutting costs, making council’s libraries, halls, pools and community hubs more sustainable for the planet.

Alongside hard engineering, AT is introducing nature-based solutions such as rain gardens and living bus shelters to manage stormwater, reduce heat and improve passenger comfort.

Addressing the impacts and hazards of climate change requires a multifaceted approach that includes both mitigation and adaptation strategies. By identifying vulnerabilities and considering a range of options, AT ensures decision-making is guided by robust evidence and community needs. The collective effort of government agencies, lifeline utilities, mana whenua, and Auckland communities is critical to successful adaptation.

Explore AT projects and initiatives →

We’re replacing diesel buses with a fully electric and hydrogen powered fleet. Electric bus depots, like at New Lynn, use the latest technology to reduce burden on the grid without putting Auckland’s energy supply at risk. A major milestone was achieved in 2025 with electric trains now operating between Papakura and Pukekohe, completing the electrification of the rail network. AT is currently trialing an electric ferry on the Hauraki Gulf. Auckland’s low emissions bus roadmap aims for 100% low emission buses by 2035.

Due to open 2026, City Rail Link will deliver faster journeys, more trains and new world-class stations. The entire rail network will double existing capacity and at peak times, will have the capacity to move the equivalent of 16 extra traffic lanes into the city – that’s a lot of cars off our roads!

Mission Electric →
City Rail Link →

Stronger rules are being proposed to limit development in areas most vulnerable to flooding and other hazards. More restrictive consenting rules will apply, making new homes more resilient. And in the highest-risk areas, land zoning is proposed to change to reduce exposure to hazards.

We’re also looking ahead to manage future growth over the next 30 years. We’re removing areas of land previously marked for future urban development, because they’ve been assessed as unsuitable for urban growth. At the same time, we’re reducing the city’s environmental impacts and enhancing our resilience to natural hazards.

We support Māori to lead their responses, including via the Resilient Marae and Mātātahi Taiao rangatahi programmes. We support tagata Moana groups to lead with their communities, for example via Manava for Climate Resilience. Our climate activators and our schools team work alongside communities to build environmental restoration projects and grow food gardens and food forests. 

We also help strengthen Auckland’s resilience by building community knowledge around adaptation planning and action, supporting many different communities to prepare for and adapt to the growing impacts of climate change. We’re piloting different approaches to community-led adaptation planning, as well as framing up a regional approach.

Together, our work in the community connects people across Tāmaki Makaurau and ensures our region moves towards a low-carbon, resilient future.

Local Climate Action Plans provide a three-to-five-year roadmap with key steps to lower emissions and adapt to climate change. The plans use feedback from residents, mana whenua and local community groups to capture existing action, identify climate risks and highlight community priorities.

Local Boards adopt the plans and allocate funding for priority actions (see Grants). Actions include stream restoration, community gardens, improving walking and cycling paths, or supporting the development of Shoreline Adaptation Plans.

Find your Local Board plan →

The plans aim to manage coastal hazards and climate impacts over the next 100 years on council-owned land and assets, including:

• Coastal roads, paths and cycleways
• Parks and assets like playgrounds, public toilets and carparks
• Seawalls
• Boat ramps, jetties and pontoons
• Stormwater and drainage infrastructure
• Council buildings like surf lifesaving clubs
  

The SAPs don’t plan for:

• Privately owned property or infrastructure (such as homes, private seawalls, businesses)
• State highways and rail networks (responsibility of Waka Kotahi or KiwiRail)
• Underground services not managed by the council (such as gas, telecommunications)
• Ports and airport infrastructure, which fall under different entities

SAPs analyse hazards such as coastal erosion, inundation and flooding over short, medium, and long-term timeframes to inform adaptive strategies. Plans are developed collaboratively with mana whenua, infrastructure providers and coastal communities, and proceed through iwi review, community feedback, local board endorsement, and council approval. Once approved, the council integrates these plans into broader policy instruments such as long-term budgets, asset management and park strategies. We also initiate some actions immediately where budgets allow.

Find out more →

In partnership with central government, we dedicated a $2 billion flood recovery and resilience package, which has supported:

• home buy-outs and grants
• the storm response fund
• drinking water and wastewater repairs
• repairs to Auckland’s transport network

More than 1200 high-risk and flood-affected Auckland properties have already been or are expected to be purchased by Auckland Council – making it one of the largest land acquisition programmes undertaken in New Zealand. We’re now carefully deciding what to do with this storm-affected land, with decisions expected to take years. Read more →

The Tāmaki Makauraru Recovery Office has also been supporting mana whenua and neighbourhood groups, faith leaders and young people, as well as communities across Tāmaki Makaurau, to come together and plan for for the future.

Find out more →

The programme prepares for floods and reduces flood risks by making space for water to move safely through neighbourhoods. It includes core initiatives:

• blue‑green projects (see below)
• significant investment in stormwater infrastructure
• increased stormwater maintenance
• stream and waterway resilience
• community, and site-specific solutions to manage flood risks
• flood intelligence tools (like the Auckland Flood Viewer).

Major infrastructure upgrades are now underway. 

You can also check out some big Making Space for Water flood resilience projects here:

• Wairau Valley →
• Harania Creek, Māngere →
• Te Ararata, Māngere →
• Clover Drive, Rānui →
  
  

Making space for water explained

A blue-green network is a system of waterways (blue) and parks (green) that give stormwater space to flow and help reduce flooding where people live. 

Find out more →

The programme combats urban heat and reduces flooding risks by cooling neighborhoods and improving stormwater management, while also strengthening nurseries, planting partnerships, regulatory tools, data and public education.

Working closely with mana whenua, community groups, schools and volunteers, including the Tūpuna Maunga Authority, the council supports native plant propagation and restoration across the city. In 2023 alone, these efforts resulted in roughly 750,000 trees planted over 18 hectares, demonstrating a strong community-driven approach.

Tree planting is growing our urban ngāhere, boosting canopy cover that provides habitat for native wildlife and strengthens our connection to nature – supporting healthier more resilient communities.

Find out more →

Regional parks, including the Hunua and Waitākere Ranges, are important ecosystems that supply clean drinking water and support native biodiversity. These areas anchor natural resource protection and underpin our climate adaptation strategies. Parks serve as “green infrastructure”. Natural features capture and slow stormwater runoff, buffer flooding during extreme rain, and reduce urban heat, helping communities cope with a changing climate.

Climate change is also causing increased wildfire risks. We reduce these risks by removing flammable invasive species and maintaining healthy native vegetation to slow the spread of fire.

Find a park or beach →

Auckland regional parks →

From re-greening streets to restoring waterways and creating spaces where communities can thrive, AUDO’s work shows how placemaking can also be climate action.

Find out more →