Councillors narrowly vote to consult on up to 1.7 million new homes in Auckland
Tuesday, 9 June 2026
In the latest update on Auckland’s Plan Change 120 saga, councillors have narrowly voted to consult on a scenario that will see the city intensify by up to 1.7 million new homes.
The proposal responds to a legislated mandate from RMA Reform Chris Bishop that originally called for two million new dwellings but was watered down to 1.6 million, and then again to 1.4 million.
Want to know what it means for your property? Read here.
On Tuesday, councillors were deeply divided over whether to aim for a zoning plan that would achieve the required minimum or go higher.
Planning committee chair Richard Hills put up a resolution calling to consult on up to 1.7 million, while Manurewa-Papakura councillor Daniel Newman put up an amendment seeking to reduce that to 1.6 million.
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The main difference between the two “scenarios” was that the higher target would see intensification along “frequent transport” bus routes through the suburbs.
Apartment buildings would also be zoned for on all train stations in the central isthmus, not just those legislated for on the Western line.
Both options were fiercely debated.
Newman said he preferred a reduced target because it was the closest to the existing Unitary Plan.
“You could say it’s bare bones, but actually a lot of Auckland is rather tired by all the change that has been taking place.”
“It’s been a ridiculous lazy Susan of planning rules set down by central government which we have had to respond to in real time.”
Whau councillor Sarah Paterson-Hamlin said “to deliberately shy away from a more equitable and economically served city doesn’t make sense”.
She said there would be “serious questions about where we put our investment as a city” if there wasn’t intensification around bus routes.
Albany councillor John Watson said throughout the “tortuous process” it had become clear what Aucklanders wanted ‒ “56% are opposed to Plan Change 120”.
He said it was “a charade” for central government to pass off zoning as an affordability measure and the real issue was “the disappearance of low cost quality housing”.
Councillor Shane Henderson said he was “disappointed that the council has a culture of doing as little as possible for housing”.
He said that $3.9 billion in economic benefits was being left on the table by not adopting the full two million homes.
“Our targets have been watered down and dropped without any principals. It’s short termism and I think it’s a disgrace.”
Manukau councillor Lotu Fuli suggested it was right for more houses to be built on inner city bus routes.
“There’s widespread concern in South Auckland about perceived inequities; that it will be carrying the weight of intensification.”
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said it would be “illogical” not to build around train stations on both sides of the city.
“Newmarket and Ellerslie deserve multi storey buildings. Just like Mt Eden and Kingsland ‒ they’re not mad about it but we’ve spent all that money on the bloody train set [CRL].”
Brown said apartment living was “pretty good”.
“You should try it, you will get great views.”
Albany councillor Victoria Short said she was “at a loss why would we choose to be so conservative”.
“I want to back bold decisions and the billions of dollars ratepayers have invested in our transport network that is ready and waiting to support growth.”
Waitemata councillor Mike Lee said 1.7m homes was “unsupportable”.
“On the one hand intensification is great, on the other hand we don’t like it. Do we?
“What’s missing in this debate is what the people of Auckland of want ‒ that’s democracy.”
Councillor Christine Fletcher said successive governments had “made an absolute balls-up of this”.
She said the city didn’t need to “destroy itself” in the planning process.
“Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater … Right now we don’t have a housing crisis. Ask any real estate agent; we have a glut of properties available.”
But fellow Albert Eden councillor Julie Fairey challenged that, saying that Auckland was “still severely unaffordable” but “heading in the right direction thanks to upzoning”.
“I’m astonished to hear a claim we don’t have a housing crisis when at the start of the day we were talking about homelessness.”
“We are not here to do the bare minimum, folks, surely none of us stood to do that.”
Ultimately the amendment failed 10 to 12. However, chairperson Hills put up a resolution that would see both scenarios, up to 1.6m and up to 1.7m, consulted on anyway.
None were opposed to that, but Fletcher abstained and councillor Greg Sayers was not present.
The consultation will first go to local boards and mana whenua, then the revised Plan Change 120 will be open for public submission later this year.
It will ultimately go before a independent hearings panel next year.
Councillors heard the council was having to spend “tens of millions” due to the drawn out process ‒ likely ending up footing somewhere between $20m and $30m.
“Utopia is expensive,” said Fletcher.