Auckland Council’s draft Annual Plan for the 2025 – 2026 financial year is open for feedback! This is an opportunity to tell the Council that safe streets and transport options are important to you.
Have your say by Friday 28 March 2025, 11.59pm.
What is the Annual Plan?
The Annual Plan is a 1 year budget which the Council makes every year to show what they plan to invest in over the following financial year (1 July – 30 June). Usually, the 1 year budget is created from the budget priorities identified in the Long Term Plan (the budget for the next 10 years).
It’s important to let Auckland Council know what you want them to invest in.
This is an opportunity to tell the Council loud and clear that safe streets and transport options are important to you. You can do this by including into your feedback that you want more investment in safe cycleways, speed calming on residential streets, cycle skills training, and other cycling features such as pump tracks. If there are any particular projects you especially want to see funded for next financial year, make sure to mention them.
How to have your say
You can make your submission through the Auckland Council website ‘have your say’ form. In the comments sections it’s helpful to tell your personal “why”; why does it matter to you? Talking about why it matters to you in particular can be powerful in helping elected representatives to connect with what you are expressing and to understand your point of view.
The Auckland Council budget summaries are available in various languages here.
Read the Annual Plan consultation document!
Check out the supporting information
Ideas for feedback on this Annual Plan
While we recommend you write your submission in your own words and make sure to include what you care about most, we’ve provided some prompts below to help get you started. Please note that our focus is on transport. We suggest looking at other submission guides to get ideas about other areas that this budget will affect.
If you don’t have much time…
It’s okay to leave some parts blank – it’s better than not submitting at all. We recommend you give broad feedback in Q5, the ‘other feedback’ section of the submission form, and include a personal story about why it matters to you (eg. “I want my kids to have a safe route to cycle to school so I don’t have to be their taxi, and so that they get more physical activity into their days”).
Here are some ideas for what might be important to you regarding this budget.
“I want Auckland Council to… “
- Invest in and deliver more fast and affordable safe cycleways (eg. pop up bike lanes) and convenient public transport (eg. bus priority lanes). This can be done fast by reallocating road space (parking or extra lanes) and “building back better” during road renewals; giving all people safe options for getting around by any transport mode.
- Invest in and deliver **insert the projects you want to see delivered here**
eg. Te Whau pathway, Hobsonville Cycleway, Links to Glen Innes Cycleways, Māngere East and Manukau Preferred Cycling Networks, Albany Highway. Check out our Project Watch blogs for more ideas of what could be delivered across the region. - Ensure any money saved on cycling projects is reinvested into other cycling projects.
- Invest in and progress the City Centre Master Plan which includes improvements for walking, cycling, and accessibility in the city centre – including retaining the safe cycleway the length of Victoria street.
- Invest in walking and cycling over-bridges / safe tunnels to replace level crossings.
- Invest in more bike skills courses across the region, so that more people can experience the joy and freedom of riding a bike – and to support more people to ride from A to B for their transport, reducing our emissions.
- Invest more towards safe streets and delivering Vision Zero; including raised crossings, traffic calming, and retaining as many safe speeds as possible. Streets that are 30km/hr are safe for people to share, and become more pleasant for everyone.
- Invest more into climate action related programmes such as Live Lightly and the Climate Action Grant, both of which encourage more people to cycle, walk, and take public transport.
- Invest in convenient and regular public transport, including provision of secure bike parking (Perhaps Locky Docks?) and safe cycleway connections at public transport hubs. For some people using public transport and cycling together as a combo is crucial for their trips.
- Provide access for bikes on buses (on board the buses or racks on the front or back of buses). For some people using public transport and cycling together as a combo is crucial for their trips.
It’s also a great opportunity to celebrate what has been delivered over the past year, and to give the Council positive feedback on what you have enjoyed. For instance: bike hubs have sprouted up across the region, pop up protection has been making safer cycle routes around Manukau, Point Chevalier to Westmere is pretty much complete and ready to ride, Great North Road and Māngere West are both underway, we’re getting closer to having a safe cycleway the length of Victoria street, and Stage 4 of Te Ara Ki Uta Ki Tai (Glen Innes to Tāmaki) should be starting any day now. Auckland Council also pushed back at Central Government’s mandatory speed raising and made the best of a bad funding situation to ensure we kept a pipeline of cycleway delivery. Check out our Project Watch blogs to refresh your memory on what’s being delivered. Amidst the funding cuts there’s a lot to celebrate – and positive feedback will create more confidence for future bike-friendly decisions.
Have your say by Friday 28 March 2025, 11.59pm.
If you have more time…
Have a look at what your local board has planned and let them know you support safe cycle connections, pump tracks, and other cycle facilities for your area (eg. for Albert-Eden; “I support investment in a portable pump track which moves around the local board area, and I would love to see it come to x park so that my kids can easily have a go on it.”) as well as investment in community-led activities such as climate action programmes, modeshift initiatives, and bike hubs. You can also give feedback for other local board areas which you frequently visit, such as where your workplace is based.
Find information about what your local board intends to invest in for 2025 – 2026 through the links below:
Online webpage
In PDF form
Have your say by Friday 28 March 2025, 11.59pm.
Albert-Eden
- Are interested in trialing a portable pump track which moves around parks the local board area; let them know your thoughts.
- Are interested in what kids have to say; let them know kids want to move around in active ways, and need safe streets (eg. protected cycleways or 30km/hr speeds) so they can ride, scoot, and walk to school.
- Are interested in increasing neighbourhood safety and resilience, in preparation for emergency situations; let them know that bikes are a key part of building a resilient transport system, and responding to emergency situations.
- Are keen to support vibrant town centres; let them know you want more bike parking and safe cycleways connecting to town centres.
- Let them know you are loving Point Chevalier to Westmere cycleways (including Meola Road) and you’ve used it for trips to… (the beach? the shops? work? friends?)
Aotea/Great Barrier Local Board area
- Are upgrading parks; let them know you want safe cycleways and recreational cycling opportunities in parks and you want them to connect (via safe cycleways or 30km/hr streets) into the wider area.
Devonport-Takapuna Local Board
- Are keen to refresh the Devonport-Takapuna Greenways Plan to improve long-term walking, cycling and ecological routes; let them know you support walking and cycling connections through parks and want them to connect (via safe cycleways or 30km/hr streets) into the wider Devonport-Takapuna area.
Franklin Local Board
- Are keen to continue to deliver the targeted rate-funded Franklin Paths Programme; let them know you support delivery of safe walking and cycling trails across the area.
Henderson-Massey Local Board
- Are keen to continue supporting projects which improve water quality; remind them that heavy metals from car use runs off the road and pollutes our water ways, and providing people with options to travel by cycling, public transport, and walking will help to improve water quality by reducing car use.
Hibiscus and Bays Local Board
- Are interested in what youth have to say; let them know kids want to move around in active ways, and need safe streets (eg. protected cycleways or 30km/hr speeds) so they can ride, scoot, and walk to school. And youth want to travel from A to B independently too.
- Are keen to support vibrant and attractive town centres; let them know you want more bike parking and safe cycleways connecting to town centres.
- Are keen to support restoring and daylighting local waterways; remind them that heavy metals from car use runs off the road and pollutes our water ways, and providing people with options to travel by cycling, public transport, and walking will help to improve water quality by reducing car use. Let them know you support walking and cycling connections through parks and alongside daylighted streams, and that you want them to connect (via safe cycleways or 30km/hr streets) into the wider Hibiscus and Bays area.
Howick Local Board
- Are keen to develop projects which improve water quality; let them know that heavy metals from car use runs off the road and pollutes our water ways, and providing people with options to travel by cycling, public transport, and walking will help to improve water quality by reducing car use.
- Are keen to refresh their tourism plan; remind them that Aotearoa NZ is very attractive for eco-tourism, some of which is cycle tourism. They could capitalise on that interest by investing in, and supporting, delivery of a safe cycle network, and 30km/hr streets, across their area.
Kaipātiki Local Board
- Are interested in what youth have to say; let them know kids want to move around in active ways, and need safe streets (eg. protected cycleways or 30km/hr speeds) so they can ride, scoot, and walk to school. Youth want to travel from A to B independently too.
- Are keen to invest in management of parks; let them know you want safe cycleways and recreational cycling opportunities in parks and you want them to connect (via safe cycleways or 30km/hr streets) into the wider area.
- Are keen to support businesses; let them know you want more bike parking and safe cycleways connecting to town centres and businesses.
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board
- Are keen to maintain local road safety; let them know that you want safe cycleways and 30km/hr residential streets, which would provide for more transport options and safety for everyone
- Want to improve local playgrounds; let them know you want pump tracks and other bike play opportunities
- Let them know you want safe cycleways and recreational cycling opportunities in parks and you want them to connect (via safe cycleways or 30km/hr streets) into the wider area.
- Let them know you are really excited for the Māngere West cycle route currently being built.
Manurewa Local Board
- Are keen to increase funding for initiatives that respond to the needs of young people; let them know kids want to move around in active ways, and need safe streets (eg. protected cycleways or 30km/hr speeds) so they can ride, scoot, and walk to school. Youth want to travel from A to B independently too.
- Are aiming to identify ways to support the Council’s response to roaming dogs. Let them know your thoughts; we know that roaming dogs can put people off of cycling, and some people have had quite scary experiences with them.
- Let them know you want a network of safe cycleways and 30km/hr streets across the area
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board
- Are keen to protect and restore waterways; let them know that heavy metals from car use runs off the road and pollutes our water ways, and providing people with options to travel by cycling, public transport, and walking will help to improve water quality by reducing car use.
- Are keen to encourage community to make more use of open space in the area; let them know you want safe cycleways and recreational cycling opportunities in parks and you want them to connect (via safe cycleways or 30km/hr streets) into the wider area.
- Let them know you appreciate the Links to Glen Innes cycleways project, and are looking forward to its safe completion so that you can cycle to… (the shops, the gym, work, education, friends)
- Let them know you want a network of safe cycleways and 30km/hr streets across the area
- Let them know kids want to move around in active ways, and need safe streets (eg. protected cycleways or 30km/hr speeds) so they can ride, scoot, and walk to school. Youth want to travel from A to B independently too.
Ōrākei Local Board
- Are keen to maintain efforts to improve water quality; let them know that heavy metals from car use runs off the road and pollutes our water ways, and providing people with options to travel by cycling, public transport, and walking will help to improve water quality by reducing car use.
- Let them know you are enjoying Te Ara Ki Uta Ki Tai (Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive) and are using it to get to… (work, education, shopping, friends)
- Let them know you are excited for Stage 4 of Te Ara Ki Uta Ki Tai (the boardwalk connection from Ōrākei to Tāmaki Drive) to be underway.
Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board
- Are keen to deliver more facitilities at Te Pae o Manukau / Manukau Sports Bowl and Velodrome; let them know you support delivery of more opportunities for bike play
- Let them know you want safe cycleways and recreational cycling opportunities in parks and you want them to connect (via safe cycleways or 30km/hr streets) into the wider area.
Papakura Local Board
- Are intending to reassess the Papakura Greenways Local Paths Plan; let them know you want safe cycleways and recreational cycling opportunities in parks and you want them to connect (via safe cycleways or 30km/hr streets) into the wider area.
- Let them know that you support efficient management of parking spaces; and sometimes the most efficient and beneficial use is to rellocate the parking space to create seating, green spaces, cycleways, and public transport priority.
- Let them know you love the Southern Corridor, and are excited for it to extend to Drury
Puketāpapa Local Board
- Are keen to invest in more climate action and environmental projects; remind them that building a network of safe cycleways and retaining 30km/hr speeds on residential streets supports more people to choose to cycle, scoot, and walk for their trips, which is crucial for climate action.
Rodney Local Board
- Are keen to promote physical activity and play opportunities; let them know that one of the easiest ways for people to be active more often is active transport; walking and cycling for their trips. And, that a network of safe cycleways and walking paths would give locals more options to travel in active ways when they want to.
- Are keen to support the Rodney Greenways Plan to provide more walking, cycling and horse riding opportunities in the area; let them know you support this.
- Let them know kids want to move around in active ways, and need safe streets (eg. protected cycleways or 30km/hr speeds) so they can ride, scoot, and walk to school. Youth want to travel from A to B independently too.
- Let them know that they could use their transport targeted rate to build a network of trails throughout the area, providing people with more options to walk and cycle for their A to B.
- Let them know that heavy metals from car use runs off the road and pollutes our water ways, and providing people with options to travel by cycling, public transport, and walking will help to improve water quality by reducing car use.
- Let them know you want them to support the Matakana Coast Trail Trust’s safe cycle route.
Upper Harbour Local Board
- Are keen to promote physical activity and play opportunities; let them know that one of the easiest ways for people to be active more often is active transport; walking and cycling for their trips. And, that a network of safe cycleways and walking paths would give locals more options to travel in active ways when they want to.
- Let them know you love the existing safe cycleways and recreational cycling opportunities in parks and you want more – and, you want them to connect (via safe cycleways or 30km/hr streets) into the wider area.
- Let them know your thoughts on the refresh of Sanders Reserve mountain bike paths.
- Let them know you’re excited for Oteha Valley Road to be improved for cycling (shared path to be delivered) and you’ll use it to go to… (work, education, shops, friends)
Waiheke Local Board
- Intend to upgrade Ostend and Oneroa village centres; let them know you want more bike parking and safe cycle routes connecting to town centres and businesses.
- Let them know you want safe cycle routes and recreational cycling opportunities in parks and you want them to connect to a network of other safe cycle routes in the wider area.
- Let them know kids want to move around in active ways, and need safe streets (eg. protected cycleways or 30km/hr speeds) so they can ride, scoot, and walk to school. Youth want to travel from A to B independently too.
- Let them know that heavy metals from car use runs off the road and pollutes our water ways, and providing people with options to travel by cycling, public transport, and walking will help to improve water quality by reducing car use.
Waitākere Ranges Local Board
- Are keen to support businesses; let them know you want more bike parking and safe cycleways connecting to town centres and businesses, and that this can support more staff and customers to get to local shopping areas
- Are keen to improve parks; let them know you want safe cycleways and recreational cycling opportunities in parks and you want them to connect (via safe cycleways or 30km/hr streets) into the wider area.
Waitematā Local Board
- Are keen to support physical activity opportunities for people who have less access to physical activity (eg. older community members); let them know that one of the easiest ways for people to be active more often is through active transport; walking and cycling for their trips. And, that a network of safe cycleways and walking paths would give locals more options to travel in active ways when they want to. Cycling in particular is easy on the joints, and ebikes have made cycling more accessible for a wider range of people, including older community members.
- Let them know you want safe cycleways and recreational cycling opportunities in parks and you want them to connect (via safe cycleways or 30km/hr streets) into the wider area.
- Let them know you’re glad Great North Road is underway and are excited to cycle it once its complete
Whau Local Board
- Are interested in increasing community preparation for emergency situations; let them know that bikes are a key part of building a resilient transport system, and responding to emergency situations.
- Are keen to promote physical activity and play opportunities; let them know that one of the easiest ways for people to be active more often is active transport; walking and cycling for their trips. And, that a network of safe cycleways and walking paths would give locals more options to travel in active ways when they want to. Typically more safe cycleways also leads to more gender balance in cycling; safe cycleways enable more women and girls to get on bikes for their transport.
- Let them know how much you’re enjoying the New Lynn to Avondale pathway, and that you use it to go to… (work, education, the shop, friends)
- Let them know you want them to support delivery of safe streets and cycleway projects in Kelston and around New Lynn as well as Avondale
Have your say by Friday 28 March 2025, 11.59pm.
