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Introducing Auckland
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Introducing Auckland
A guide to living in AucklandEnglish | Arabic | Chinese | Hindi | Korean | Māori | Samoan
Haere mai / WelcomeWelcome to Auckland - First City of the Pacific and New Zealand's largest and liveliest city. Here you will find useful information to help you settle into life in Auckland. Use the links at the top to find a translation of the guide.
Welcome to Auckland city
Auckland arts, events and recreation
Business help
Things to do in Auckland Our home is your homeAuckland City Council welcomes you and invites you to enjoy the opportunities and experiences Auckland has to offer. We want you to make the most of your new home and share in the care of our beautiful natural environment. Auckland city lies on a narrow stretch of land between the beautiful Manukau and Waitemata harbours. Most of Auckland's population lives on the mainland but there are also 65 islands in the Hauraki Gulf that make up 74 per cent of Auckland's total land area. The gulf and its islands are recognised as a regional and national treasure with diverse landscapes and ecological systems. The Auckland area was home to Maori for a thousand years before Europeans settled here. The recognised mana whenua, or indigenous people of Auckland are Ngati Whatua o Orakei. Now, over 181 different ethnic groups from all over the world call Auckland home. Our ethnic diversity helps make Auckland an exciting place to live. Auckland City Council has a range of services to support new residents and can offer advice to help make settling in Auckland easier. An interpreter is available through the call centre for people with English as a second language, contact us for more information. Auckland city communitiesTo help build strong, vibrant communities we provide:
Auckland City Council provides some great ways to get involved in your local community and meet new people. Our communities are what make Auckland a great place to live. Community centres and hallsAuckland City Council provides a variety of affordable and useful facilities for everyone to use and enjoy. You can book these for regular events, one-off occasions or lease them long term. These venues are mostly funded by Auckland City Council which means a reasonable fee for the user. You may also be eligible for a discount and funding options are available.
Community groupsThere are many community groups in Auckland city offering a wide range of activities, including sporting, social and political. You are sure to find one that matches your interests. You might want to join an existing group or start a new one. The Community Information to You (CITY) database is part of the Auckland City Libraries website and has a list of current groups and additional information.
Community Net AotearoaAn internet resource to support communities throughout New Zealand (also see Citizens Advice Bureau). Visit www.community.net.nz. Community advisorsCommunity advisors are there to assist community groups with such things as getting funding, sorting out a good decision making structure and finding information about what's going on in the city. Contact us to get in touch with your local community advisor. Funding supportAuckland City Council offers a variety of funding options, advice and support for not-for-profit community groups. The community development team offers support through funding, workshops, training, network contacts, fundraising and assistance with projects. They can also help you fill out your funding application form. See grants and funding for more information or contact us to get in touch with your local community advisor to access further funding information.
Auckland City Council community groups can submit articles of community interest to the Catalyst a free monthly community newsletter by contacting a community advisor. You can also contact us to get sent a community and recreation facilities guide. Auckland arts, events and recreationAuckland City Council currently provides:
Auckland offers a wide range of attractions and activities with something to suit everyone. We are involved in almost everything that goes on in the city whether it be organising, sponsoring or facilitating. We provide a huge range of services and activities such as:
Auckland eventsThere are alot of things to do in Auckland city. Including:
You can access events information from the weekly events email newsletter, and the back page of City Scene, the council's weekly newspaper. Auckland City LibrariesAuckland City Libraries has:
Auckland City Libraries are exciting places for the whole community. In addition to a wide range of library services, they also run events. These include story times for children, a variety of beginners computer classes, book clubs, after school homework centres, exhibitions and cultural activities for people of all ages. You can also view rare treasures in special collections, and research local and family history in the Auckland Research Centre at the Central City Library. How to joinThe Central City Library has an award-winning café called Real. Come and try its great coffee, food and wine seven days a week. Discover the latest library events online or visit your library to pick up a Library LIVE guide. If you live within Auckland city it is free to join the library. Simply go to your local library and bring:
Computer accessAll libraries have computers that you can use for finding information, reading newspapers online, email, and internet searching. You can also get free access to the library catalogue, digital library and Microsoft Office software packages such as Word and Excel. Caring for your propertyAuckland City Council:
If we all work together to take care of our environment, we can help to keep Auckland safe, clean and a great place to live. The council provides a number of services to support and ensure that your neighbourhood is pleasant for everyone. Auckland city property informationThe council provides a range of property information products. For instance, the council can provide you with a Land Information Memorandum or LIM. A LIM can tell you a lot of things about a property, including whether there are any flooding or erosion problems on the site; whether the buildings have been built legally; whether there is any contamination on site and details about sewage and storm water drains. Auckland City Council offers an urgent LIM service. This service provides users with LIM reports within four hours, which can be invaluable when you are buying property and need information as quickly as possible. The council also has other property products available, including valuations, property files, and neighbourhood reports. Rubbish collectionsAuckland City Council supplies every household with a blue recycling bin and a green "wheelie" bin. The council organises for your rubbish and recycling to be picked up outside your home once a week. The inner CBD works differently with each property receiving 104 official red rubbish bags and 156 official clear recycling bags per year. If you have not received your bags or have any questions please contact us. All residents and businesses are responsible for keeping their properties clean and tidy. This includes keeping grass mown, undergrowth tidy and getting rid of rubbish. Auckland City Council produces two pamphlets that deal with rubbish and recycling:
Contact us to order copy. Caring for the neighbourhoodWe all need to do our bit to help take care of our neighbourhood and be considerate of our neighbours. The council is there to help if problems arise. Some of the things the council deals with include: Civil emergenciesWe don't like to think about natural or human-made disasters, but Aucklanders need to be ready for possible civil emergencies. These can include infrastructure failure such as power and water outages, volcanic activity, or a tsunami. These could strike at any time without warning and you could have to fend for yourself for three days or more with no assistance from emergency services. Auckland City Council can advise you on what to do at home and work to stay safe in an emergency. Contact us or visit www.mcdem.govt.nz for more information. Your homeIn the year ending 30 June 2006 Auckland City Council:
There are a number of rules in place to ensure that your neighbourhood is pleasant for all residents. These regulations help protect the environment and ensure that activities do not adversely affect other members of the community. Altering your homeA building consent and/or resource consent is required when you:
A consent allows you to carry out work in accordance with the council's district plan and government legislation, such as the Building Act 2004. Following these rules ensures that developments are safe and of a high standard. Trees and gardensTrees are important to Auckland City Council and provide value for the whole community. They protect both the soil and us from the effects of noise and weather as well as improving the city's visual environment. Trees over a certain size are protected. A resource consent is required if you want to prune, trim, or remove a protected tree. Resource consent can be applied for and issued free of charge. Any work beneath the canopy of a tree, such as digging or storing materials requires a consent. Auckland City Council produces two pamphlets that deal with tree protection:
PermeabilityPermeable surfaces are those that absorb water such as grass and gardens. Impermeable surfaces are those that cannot absorb water such as pavements, decks, driveways and buildings. If too large an area of your property is covered in impermeable surfaces pressure is put on the storm water system and increases the risk of flooding. The council's district plan outlines exactly how much of your property can be made of impermeable surfaces. If your property consists of too many impermeable surface areas and you do not have a consent, then some of these areas will have to be removed. PetsYou can keep a pet or other animals (eg rabbits and guinea pigs) in Auckland as long as it does not become a nuisance. All dogs over the age of three-months must be registered with the council. Dogs first registered in New Zealand after 1 July 2006 must be microchipped, unless they are working farm dogs. You need a permit to keep more than one dog. Dogs are also required to be on a leash in most public places. Your councilFacts about Auckland city:
New Zealand's governance responsibilities can be divided into three separate levels. Central governmentCovering all of New Zealand, the elected government is responsible for health, education, welfare, police, defence and immigration at a national level. Auckland Regional CouncilCovers the greater Auckland area and deals with public transport, regional parks, regional land use and regional environmental planning. Auckland City CouncilIs the local government body responsible for Auckland city's well-being, development and maintenance. In addition to managing day-to-day needs like rubbish collection, footpaths and storm water services, the council also works hard to support the economic development of the city and provide a supportive, active environment for people working and living in the city. Council electionsIf you are over 18 years old, a citizen or permanent resident and have lived in New Zealand for more than one year, you can vote or stand in national, regional, or local body elections. If you wish to stand as a candidate for the local body elections (Auckland) contact the electoral officer on 379 2020. If you wish to vote you need to enrol to vote first. Phone Elections New Zealand on 0800 367 656 for help to enrol. Having your sayYou can express your views on city-wide and local issues to elected representatives, such as councillors and community board members. You can also raise issues through council committees, community boards, formal council meetings and formal consultation, such as the annual plan process. Community board members are elected to look after local interests and to be a link between the community and the council. Community boards were established to ensure people have their say on local issues. Contact details for councillors and committee board members may be obtained from the council website or by contacting Auckland City Council. RatesRates are paid by all ratepayers in Auckland - this is usually the owner of the property. Rates pay for a wide range of facilities and services including roads, drainage, maintenance of parks, rubbish collections, museums, the art gallery, the zoo and libraries. Rates may be paid:
Refer to your rates notice for more information on rates. TransportAuckland city has:
Auckland City Council is delivering more transport choice for the city. We are constantly improving the city's cycling and walking network, access to public transport including bus, train and ferry services, and the road network. Visit www.maxx.co.nz for free information on planning your journey around Auckland by public transport. The website includes timetable and fare information for travel by train, bus and ferry. Take the busThere are bus services servicing key routes to and from the CBD as well as across the city. The Link and City Circuit buses travel around the CBD with other services available for travel between the CBD and the city suburbs. Travel by bus is getting quicker as Auckland's network of bus lanes grows. Bus lanes can be used by buses, cyclists, motorbikes and emergency services. The lanes operate during peak traffic times and these times can vary. It is important to check the signs to find out when the bus lanes are operating. View the other rules for using the Auckland City Council's bus lanes. Catch a trainThere are two rail lines across Auckland servicing the city. The Britomart Transport Centre is in downtown Auckland, meaning travelling by train is a real choice for visiting the CBD. At some local stations across the city, park-and-ride facilities are available or planned so its easier for people to travel by train. Some bus routes also service the rail stations. Take a ferryCatching a ferry is a great way to travel. Ferry services connect the city with the North Shore, eastern bays and Hauraki Gulf Islands. In the CBD, all ferries leave from the historic Ferry Building at the bottom of Queen Street. MAXX Regional Transport Land Transport Safety AuthorityGeneral enquiries, including motor vehicle registration and driver licensing visit www.ltsa.govt.nz. Driving a car in New ZealandYou can drive a car with a valid overseas drivers licence or an international driving permit in New Zealand for up to 12 months. If you stay longer than 12 months you must get a New Zealand drivers licence. Contact the Automobile Association to find out more about New Zealand's road rules and driver licensing. If you do drive, you'll need to find parking. Auckland City Council's ParkRight car park buildings offer secure and competitively priced parking in the central city. The council also manages pay-and-display parking on the city's streets. This ensures everyone has an equal chance of finding a park. Remember to check the signs before you park and pay using text messaging, credit card or coins to avoid a parking fine. DirectoriesAccident and emergencyIn an emergency, dial 111 for police, fire or ambulance. Telephone directoriesTelephone directories are a useful source of information. They are updated every year and delivered to your home. You can also get them from your local New Zealand Postshop. The telephone directory is also called the White Pages. This lists the telephone numbers for all people and businesses in Auckland in alphabetical order. Visit www.whitepages.co.nz. The Yellow Pages list businesses only. Visit www.yellowpages.co.nz. Auckland City Council servicesSee our A - Z of council services Auckland City Council officesFor general enquiries you can find information here on the website or contact us directly. An interpreter is available for people with English as a second language through the call centre. Civic service centre Parking, traffic and roading, central area planning. Graham Street service centre Building, planning, environmental health and licensing, property information. Waiheke Island service centre A range of specialist advice, with an emphasis on Waiheke Island issues. Great Barrier Island service centreA range of specialist advice, with an emphasis on Great Barrier Island issues. Business helpAuckland Regional Chamber of Commerce and IndustryProvides training assistance, resources, news and upcoming events for local businesses. Visit www.chamber.org.nz. ChildrenChild, Youth and FamilyGovernment department promoting the well-being and safety of children and positive parenting. Visit www.cyf.govt.nz. What's upTelephone counselling service for children and young people (noon to midnight). Visit www.whatsup.co.nz. Ethnic communitiesAuckland Regional Migrant ServiceSupports migrants with help and information to settle successfully in Auckland. Visit www.arms-mrc.org.nz. Ministry of Pacific Island AffairsPromotes the development of Pacific peoples in New Zealand by providing policy and communications advice to agencies on issues that affect Pacific peoples. Office of Ethnic AffairsProvides advisory services to government and non-government agencies on policy matters. They have ethnic advisors who encourage supportive social networks for ethnic community groups so an environment where identity and cultural heritage are valued can be maintained. Visit www.ethnicaffairs.govt.nz. Government servicesSome services you require may be provided by central government. This may include finding a job, assistance with housing, schools, study, immigration, or New Zealand law. Information on how to contact the correct government department is available by visiting www.govt.nz. HealthPublic hospitals in Auckland city are:
HousingDepartment of Building and Housing Provides information and guidance on building law and compliance. Also gives advice to tenants and landlords. Visit www.dbh.govt.nz/. Housing New Zealand CorporationProviding affordable rental homes for people on a low or moderate income. Visit www.hnzc.co.nz. Jobs and workNew Zealand Immigration Service (Department of Labour)Provides information, visa and permits for different migration categories. Information on what New Zealand has to offer immigrants and assistance for employers. Visit www.immigration.govt.nz. New Zealand Inland Revenue DepartmentInformation on obligations and entitlements on income and business tax. Visit www.ird.govt.nz. Work and IncomeProvides assistance with finding a job, seasonal employment or help becoming self-employed. Also offers financial assistance for individuals through benefits such as sickness or unemployment benefits and superannuation. Can provide extra help with accommodation, childcare and disability-related costs as well as emergency help. Visit www.winz.govt.nz. Career ServicesProvides advice on choosing, planning and developing your career. They have information on jobs in New Zealand and information on courses and training. Career Services also have information on industries in New Zealand and national and regional work trends. Visit www.kiwicareers.govt.nz. Skill NZInformation on gaining new skills and qualifications while in a job. Visit www.skillnz.govt.nz. New KiwisInformation that matches the skills of migrants with organisations and businesses. Visit www.newkiwis.co.nz. SEEKA job, career and employment website. Visit www.seek.co.nz. LanguageEnglish for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)Provides home tutors for people wanting to learn English. Visit www.esolht.org.nz. Personal helpCitizens Advice Bureau (CAB)Free information, advice and referral provided by community volunteers. Visit www.cab.org.nz for a multi-lingual service. PoliceFor non-emergencies, contact your local police station or community constable listed under Police in the government section of the telephone directory White Pages. Studying and learningPre-schoolsKidspot Provides an online directory of early education suppliers. Visit www.kidspot.co.nz. SchoolsMinistry of Education Provides information on schools, teaching and job vacancies. Also has school term dates, information about studying in New Zealand, student loans and allowances, and school enrolment procedures. Visit www.minedu.govt.nz. Things to do in AucklandTourism Auckland visitor information centreProvides information on what's on in Auckland, where to stay, what to do, how to get around and Maori tourism. Visit www.aucklandnz.com. Universities and institutes of technologyAUT UniversityOffers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees as well as diplomas and certificates. Visit www.aut.ac.nz. UnitecOffers degree level study and post graduate degrees across a range of professional and vocational areas. Visit www.unitec.ac.nz. University of AucklandOffers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees as well as diplomas and certificates. Visit www.auckland.ac.nz. Updated December 2007 |
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