Thinking Out Loud

Imagine Auckland Council determining its annual rates revenue target through the usual public consultation in the Annual Plan or Long-Term Plan, just as it does today. The total funding required for transport, parks, libraries, waste services, and infrastructure remains unchanged. The difference? Instead of basing the variable portion of general rates on a property’s full capital value (land plus buildings), the council shifts that portion to land value only. This adjustment,

We use our city's prosperity index against voting records to produce a scorecard of our councilors' performance. Updated Scorecard Overview As of 20 April 2026, this scorecard reflects the latest updates for the 2025–2028 term. We utilize the 8 City Builders Association Question Hubs categories and established scoring rules. Each councilor receives a score based on their votes: +2 for pro-city builder positions, -2 for anti-city builder positions, and 0 for abstentions or abs