Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon and Auckland Mayor, Wayne Brown, have signed a landmark Auckland City Deal, marking the Government’s first formal city partnership.
Prime Minister Luxon said the Deal sets out how Government and Auckland Council will work together to unlock the city’s potential.
He said Auckland had huge potential for growth that the whole country can benefit from.
“Auckland is New Zealand’s economic engine room. This Deal is about getting that engine room firing on all cylinders so that we can lift incomes, create more jobs and make Auckland, and therefore New Zealand, more prosperous.”
Mayor Brown (pictured) said the new partnership was another major win for Auckland.
“This is a new way of working that establishes shared accountability, recognising the size and significance of Auckland – we are more like an Australian state than any other local authority in New Zealand,” says Mayor Brown.
“The Deal better reflects Auckland’s contribution to the national economy. It’s clear; when Auckland does well, New Zealand does well.”
Key commitments of the Auckland City Deal include:
- Establishing a long-term partnership between Government and Auckland Council, including regular meetings between the Prime Minister, Ministers and the Mayor. There will also be a senior official from both Government and Council who will be accountable for delivering on the Deal.
- Reviewing Eden Park’s ownership and operating model, recognising Eden Park as the national stadium, and contributing $5 million each toward relocating Auckland Cricket to Colin Maiden Park.
- Investing in the redevelopment and roofing of the Auckland Tennis Centre to support international events.
- Developing a strategy for innovation precincts in areas such as the Fisher and Paykel precinct and around University of Auckland’s flagship innovation centre in Newmarket (including MedTech-iQ); and strengthening Auckland’s global trade and investment links.
- Jointly developing a destination and major events strategy to grow tourism, events, and hospitality in Auckland.
- Establishing a coordinated 30-year transport strategy for Auckland, with priority projects reflected in the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2027 including the North-West Rapid Transit project, Botany to Airport public transport, Mill Road, and CRL level crossings.
- Working together on the additional Waitematā Harbour crossing project, time-of-use charging, and more efficient transport network management.
- Introducing a new Crown uplift funding tool for mutually-agreed, high-priority projects. The Crown will consider contributing funding for projects where the Council raises new funding significantly above current Long-Term Plan and BAU funding levels (e.g., from council asset recycling or targeted rates).
- Working together on Predator Free 2050, Pest-Free Auckland, the Auckland Indigenous Biodiversity Strategy, and restoring the biodiversity of the Hauraki Gulf.
Infrastructure Minister, Chris Bishop says Deal highlights four particular growth areas where the Government and Council will work together to drive jobs and growth.
“In Drury, Government and Council will work with private developers on coordinated infrastructure planning to support major housing growth, including new schools and a hospital alongside local infrastructure investment,” he says.
“In the Maungawhau–Kingsland–Morningside corridor, Government and Council will collaborate on zoning changes, infrastructure planning and urban development opportunities associated with the CRL.
“In the city centre, a revitalisation plan will open up opportunities for housing and business growth, including further residential upzoning and a potential new primary school.
“At the Airport, Government and Council will work with Auckland Airport on a plan to improve surface access to this major trade, freight and employment hub.”
Mayor Brown agreed that integrated planning alongside transport was vital.
“We must build where we have already invested significantly in infrastructure, and not in flood plains. We must provide housing near where people work,” he said.
“We can’t just build anywhere a developer wants to build. The Council has been clear greenfields developments are costly and don’t pay for growth, so I’m pleased we will be able to work with the Government to determine where growth makes the most sense, through the Regional Spatial Plan.”
Mr Bishop said the Deal wasn’t about reinventing the wheel and creating another layer of bureaucracy.
“It’s about coordinating across Government into one place so that it’s easier to work together and invest together to get stuff done. The new Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport will play a key role here.”
The Auckland City Deal establishes the model for future agreements with other regions, with work underway on two further Deals in 2026, in line with the National-ACT Coalition Agreement to institute long-term city and regional infrastructure deals, allowing PPPs, tolling and value-capture rating to fund infrastructure.
View the Auckland Deal Schedule .pdf and City and Regional Deals – Auckland Deal Agreement.
