Auckland Council's conservation role

What we do

Auckland Council manages and protects our natural environment, restores ecosystems and enhances biodiversity in the region.

We are mandated to do this under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). This is one of many pieces of legislation that mandate our work, for example the Biosecurity Act 1993 and the Local Government Act 2002.

Auckland Council is dedicated to ensuring that the biodiversity of Tāmaki Makaurau is flourishing and treasured. By working alongside mana whenua, our conservation partners and the community, we can achieve incredible outcomes for nature and Aucklanders.

Where we work

• Regional and local parks – protecting and restoring parks, reserves and green spaces. Management of diverse habitats and native species across the region’s parks.
• Public land we own, manage and maintain e.g. reserves, roads and designated areas for utilities.
• Private land – supporting landowners with conservation efforts.
• Islands – helping maintain the pest-free islands in the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana.
• Marine and freshwater environments – restoring coastal and inland waterways.

We also work closely with the Department of Conservation to protect public land they are responsible for.

There are environmental plans and strategies that guide our work. We have also identified biodiversity focus areas (areas of ecological significance across the region) that help prioritise our efforts.

How we work

Auckland Council takes a strategic and science-based approach to managing and protecting our indigenous ecosystems and species. Here are some examples:

• Manage pest animals and plants and their pathways (e.g. to pest free Hauraki Gulf islands)
• Prevent the spread of plant pathogens e.g. kauri dieback disease and myrtle rust
• Protect populations of native species (plants and animals)
• Manage priority native habitats and restore ecosystems
• Protect marine and freshwater habitats
• Carry out monitoring, surveillance and threat responses
• Provide a broad range of advice, support, resources, tools and funding to expand community conservation action
• Support the private sector and business to connect with conservation activities.

Funding

We receive funds from Auckland ratepayers including the Natural Environment Targeted Rate (NETR). 

Partnering with mana whenua

Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) is our country's founding document. It is the basis for an ongoing partnership between Māori and the Crown. Te Tiriti recognises the unique and special place of Māori as tangata whenua.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Te Tiriti) provides the high-level context for the unique relationship between Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland Council and the mana whenua of region. Building strong positive relationships based on understanding and mutual respect will help strengthen Auckland's bicultural foundation.

Te Tiriti is especially relevant in Auckland because the largest population of Māori in New Zealand lives here. Auckland Council recognises 19 mana whenua entities with customary interests in the region. Also, many mataawaka (Māori living in the Auckland Council region who are not in a mana whenua group) call Auckland home.

The Auckland and te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi section of the Auckland Plan 2050 provides further information. We also have specific legislative responsibilities that Auckland Council has to Māori across many of our functions.

The following Te Tiriti principles support mana whenua of the region as kaitiaki:

• Rangatiratanga – the duty to recognise Māori rights of independence, autonomy and self-determination.
• Partnership – mutual good faith and reasonableness are the core of the Ti Tiriti partnership.
• Active protection of Māori rights and interests including taonga and taonga species.

Find out more about kaitiakitanga, engaging with mana whenua and the 19 mana whenua that Auckland Council recognises in the Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland region. You can also read examples of council and mana whenua working together for better environmental and social outcomes.

Supporting Aucklanders

Our natural environment delivers social, cultural, economic and environmental outcomes for all Aucklanders.

We value our natural environment for:

• identity, well-being and belonging (relational values)
• its own sake and worth (intrinsic values)
• the resources and benefits it provides us (instrumental values).​

Aucklanders love their city and the natural environment it provides. Community-led conservation efforts are a key contributor to our collective vision - a region where nature is thriving and treasured by all.

Auckland Council empowers groups, organisations and individuals interested in or engaged in conservation. The conservation support we offer section covers how we can help you.