Viewpoint – Delivering value to ratepayers

As deputy chair of Auckland Council’s Value for Money Committee, I’m pleased to share an update on what our team has achieved so far in the 2025/2026 financial year. Working alongside Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson and Councillors Josephine Bartley, Bo Burns, Julie Fairey, Daniel Newman and Greg Sayers, we’ve stayed firmly focused on one goal: delivering the best possible value for every ratepayer dollar. The progress has been outstanding.

We began the year with an ambitious savings target of $86 million, $20 million higher than last year. Aucklanders deserve high‑quality services without unnecessary costs and we’re delivering on that commitment. By September 30, 2025, the end of the first quarter, we had already secured $53 million in savings, reaching 62 per cent of the target far ahead of schedule. Over the next three months to December, we added a further $14.9 million. That brings the total to $67.9 million. An impressive 79 per cent  of the target with half the financial year still to go.

What’s even more significant is the level of “enduring” savings. Nearly $47 million of the savings achieved will continue delivering benefits year after year. To put that into perspective, every $26–$30 million in planned savings helps avoid a potential 1% rates increase. Our work is directly reducing pressure on household budgets while supporting a growing city.

But our focus isn’t just on the numbers. Value for Money reviews examine how we can deliver services more efficiently without compromising quality. For 2025/2026, we’ve approved five new reviews covering waste services, stormwater, heritage properties, resource consenting and legal services. These build on the 10 reviews completed last term, which identified opportunities ranging from $1 million to $60 million each. Improvements in governance, standardised processes, contract management and procurement all contribute to better outcomes for Aucklanders.

Recent committee highlights include smarter procurement for facilities maintenance, which includes opening opportunities for more local suppliers while reducing costs, optimising external legal services to secure the best possible rates, and innovative approaches to refuse bin supply that reduce unit costs regardless of collection frequency. These are practical, behind‑the‑scenes improvements that make a real difference to everyday council operations.

It’s a privilege to serve as deputy chair under Desley’s strong leadership. Our committee is collaborative, determined and constantly asking, “How can we do this better, for less?” We’re proving that financial discipline can be both effective and empowering.

Looking ahead, we’re committed to driving even more savings and smarter service delivery. Aucklanders deserve every win we can deliver, and we’re only just getting started.