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City Counselling

Two alternating Auckland City Councillor's Julie Fairey and Shane Henderson tell us the latest in Council news every Thursday on The Wire. 

City Counselling w/ Julie Fairey: 5th March, 2026

City Counselling w/ Julie Fairey: 5th March, 2026 City Counselling w/ Julie Fairey: 5th March, 2026, 13.41 MB
Thu 5 Mar 2026

Auckland Council’s annual plan is currently in consultation, open until Sunday 29th of March. The plan focuses on two key areas for Auckland Council - public transport and water infrastructure.

The public transport element is particularly focused on the opening of the City Rail Link, which council says will massively boost public transport capacity and connectivity across Auckland. The operational costs of the CRL, among other reasons, will contribute to an 8% rates increase for the average-value residential property in 2026/2027. 

The water infrastructure upgrades are also significant, as they follow years of countrywide water infrastructure neglect. As wastewater issues are seen across the country in recent weeks and months, Auckland Transport is looking to make infrastructure upgrades to avoid similar scenarios. 

This past week has also seen the government propose move-on orders for rough sleepers in cities across the country. The move-on orders have been criticised by some, who say they unnecessarily punish our most vulnerable populations. 

For City Counselling this week, News Director Castor spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about each of these issues, beginning with the annual plan.

City Counselling w/ Shane Henderson: February 26, 2026

City Counselling w/ Shane Henderson: February 26, 2026 City Counselling w/ Shane Henderson: February 26, 2026, 10.56 MB
Thu 26 Feb 2026

Central government has granted new police powers to issue move-on orders for rough sleepers around the motu, with failure to comply resulting in penalties of a $2000 fine or the possibility of three months incarceration. 

2 cases of measles have been reported in Auckland, both of which have been linked to overseas travel.

And, the celebrations continue in Tāmaki this week with the Chinese Lantern festival taking place this weekend at the Manukau Bowl.

Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about these topics.

City Counselling w/ Julie Fairey: February 19, 2026

City Counselling w/ Julie Fairey: February 19, 2026 City Counselling w/ Julie Fairey: February 19, 2026, 24.78 MB
Thu 19 Feb 2026

Big Gay Out was held by the Burnett Foundation on Sunday, and appearances from some politicians were met with controversy, ending with a protestor’s removal from the main stage. 

There have been discussions of a $9 toll to finance a new harbour crossing this week, while Auckland council’s Value For Money committee has also commenced for 2026.

Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about these topics, alongside new council initiatives that utilise AI. 

City Counselling w/ Shane Henderson: 12th February, 2026

City Counselling w/ Shane Henderson: 12th February, 2026 City Counselling w/ Shane Henderson: 12th February, 2026, 6.37 MB
Thu 12 Feb 2026

Auckland Museum is in a precarious situation around funding, requiring significant support to manage the asbestos concerns of last year and other maintenance issues. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says the government should pay for some of the repairs, especially as they provide financial support for Te Papa in Wellington. 

Also this past week has seen proposals for a merger between the Kaipara and Rodney district councils. This would split Rodney away from the rest of Auckland, a move with various pros and cons for the region.

Finally, yesterday saw the Auckland International Events Centre opening after thirteen years of construction. For City Counselling this week, News Director Castor spoke to Auckland Councillor Shane Henderson about each of these issues, starting with Auckland Museum.

City Counselling w/ Julie Fairey: January 22, 2026

City Counselling w/ Julie Fairey: January 22, 2026 City Counselling w/ Julie Fairey: January 22, 2026, 29.02 MB
Thu 22 Jan 2026

Tāmaki was hit with severe heavy rain warnings in recent days, with extreme weather and states of emergency declared around the motu. These heightened caution around risks of flooding in areas affected by 2023 Auckland Anniversary floods.

Last week, there were changes to national laws that now allow ‘granny flats’ to be built on properties without the need to obtain resource consent.

And stripping of marine life from rock pools around Whangaparāoa has raised discussion of shellfish protections, but not without increasing racial tensions in community discourse.

Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about how these topics impact Tāmaki Makaurau.

City Counselling w/ Shane Henderson: January 15, 2026

City Counselling w/ Shane Henderson: January 15, 2026 City Counselling w/ Shane Henderson: January 15, 2026, 10.11 MB
Thu 15 Jan 2026

NZ Fire and Emergency Strike action has continued this month, with the planned strike coinciding with the substantial blaze last Friday at The Pita House in Pakuranga. Volunteer firefighters arrived on the scene in half an hour, with a statement from the emergency service saying employed responders would have otherwise been at the scene in four minutes. 

Tāmaki has also been hosting the ASB Classic, with the final taking place earlier this week, crowning Ukrainian Elina Svitolina as winner. 

I spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about these topics, as well as his focus areas for council mahi in 2026.

City Counselling w/ Julie Fairey: December 18, 2025

City Counselling w/ Julie Fairey: December 18, 2025 City Counselling w/ Julie Fairey: December 18, 2025, 18.24 MB
Thu 18 Dec 2025

From Dec 27 to Jan 18, all train lines across Tāmaki will be shutting down for summer maintenance, a closure which is expected to be the last of its kind ahead of the opening of the City Rail Link. 

The current measles outbreak in Tāmaki is being continually monitored, with exposure sites being updated daily on info.health.nz. The public are encouraged to track whether they’ve been in possible contact with the virus, and get up to date on any vaccinations to limit possibilities of transmission. 

Auckland Council are supporting arts initiatives across the summer months, with Music in the Park kicking off in early January, and Movies in the Park following in February. 

Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about these topics, and also asked for comment following the attack by two gunmen at Bondi Beach earlier this week.

City Counselling w/ Shane Henderson: December 11, 2025

City Counselling w/ Shane Henderson: December 11, 2025 City Counselling w/ Shane Henderson: December 11, 2025, 11.23 MB
Thu 11 Dec 2025

Safety measures on public transport are of growing concern this week following the fatal and unprovoked attack that took place on route 76 in East Tāmkaki on Monday night.

Earlier this week there were also multiple critical incidents that occurred simultaneously across Auckland’s West Coast beaches and waterways, seeing an unusually high deployment of emergency services and surf lifesavers for this early in the summer.

Swedish home and furniture retailer Ikea opened in Sylvia Park a week ago today, drawing huge excitement for many.

Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about these topics.

City Counselling w/ Julie Fairey: December 4, 2025

City Counselling w/ Julie Fairey: December 4, 2025 City Counselling w/ Julie Fairey: December 4, 2025, 21.53 MB
Thu 4 Dec 2025

Tāmaki Makaurau’s council budget is among those impacted by the proposal of a rates cap, considering Tāmaki’s average 5.8% annual rates increase across the 25/26 financial year. 

Youth homelessness is a growing concern as discussions continue around “move on” orders for those without housing in Auckland’s CBD.

And the Skycity Convention Centre is set to open in 2026, with high hopes for what it may bring for Tāmaki Makaurau after its prolonged development.

Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Counsellor Fairey about these topics.

City Counselling w/ Shane Henderson: Thursday 13th November 2025

City Counselling w/ Shane Henderson: Thursday 13th November 2025 City Counselling w/ Shane Henderson: Thursday 13th November 2025, 20.02 MB
Thu 13 Nov 2025

Similar to how Prime Ministers choose who their cabinet members are, the Mayor last week announced his appointments for committees in Auckland Council.

Committees are powerful pieces of the Auckland Council machine, determining the direction on key policy issues around community assets, budgeting, transport and housing. 

Notably different to his approach last term, the Mayor has opted to appoint key allies to committee chair roles. These are councilors who have had a good working relationship with the mayor over the last three years and will mean that there are less roadblocks when it comes to advancing his agenda. 

At the same time the Mayor and Central Government are responding to increased complaints about anti-social behaviour in the CBD by considering laws and bylaws that would ban homelessness. 

Critics of this policy note that such laws would not address the key drivers to poverty and housing need and would simply endanger those individuals experiencing homelessness further. 

Thursday Wire Producer Sanat talked to Councilor Shane Henderson today about these committee appointments and this proposed ban on homelessness.