About Ask Auckland Council
Ask Auckland Council is an AI-powered online assistant that helps you report problems to us. You can use it on your smartphone or computer through your web browser.
It is free to use and designed to make it faster and easier to report problems, including:
- graffiti
- illegal dumping
- roaming dogs
- missed rubbish, recycling or food scraps collections
- noise from parties or people.
The online assistant can also guide you to the right place to report other issues.
The service is an additional way to report problems. All other existing methods are still available.
How to use Ask Auckland Council
When you Report a problem online that Ask Auckland Council can assist with, you can access the service by clicking the blue button when prompted.
You do not need to create an account.
You can report a problem you have seen, even if it is not on your property. Provide as much detail as you can, including the location. You can use a landmark if you do not have an exact address.
Ask Auckland Council helps collect important details and submit it to our staff. It does not make decisions, enforce rules or take action, but it does make reporting and fixing the issue faster.
The range of problems that Ask Auckland Council can help with will expand over time.
Emergency enquiries
Ask Auckland Council does not handle emergency enquiries. If you are reporting an urgent or safety-related issue, the online assistant will direct you to the appropriate emergency contact or service.
Online assistant features
Ask Auckland Council uses generative AI technology to understand your questions and help you report problems quickly. It can:
- understand everyday language
- recognise details in a photo
- ask follow-up questions
- create reports
- guide you to the right information.
It works on most modern web devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers.
You can upload one photo per report at present but this could change if needed on future updates.
You can use Ask Auckland Council at any time, day or night. It can understand other languages but currently only responds in English.
After you report a problem
Once you have reported a problem, we will send you a follow‑up notification. You can choose whether to provide your contact details to get further updates.
The online assistant will either be able to collect details of the issue or guide you to the right webpage.
There is no automatic save function at present. You can keep a record of your online conversation by taking a screenshot or copying the information.
Accuracy and reliability
Checks and safeguards help ensure the online assistant gives accurate and reliable responses when you report a problem. The answers are based on information provided on council websites.
We will continue to improve responses based on how people use the tool.
From February 2026, Ask Auckland Council was tested by a group of 1000 Aucklanders, selected to reflect the diversity of our city. Early testing shows:
- the tool works well in real-life situations
- it is fast and easy to use
- photo processing is particularly helpful for reporting issues
- its accuracy with te reo Māori names
- it is safe, secure and reliable
- it works well for people with access needs.
Data protection and privacy
Information you enter is securely shared with our staff to process the request. It is deleted from Ask Auckland Council once the conversation ends.
Usage data may be kept to help improve the service. All data is stored securely and is not shared with other organisations. This is consistent with how we manage customer information across phone calls, emails and online forms.
Personal or incidental information (for example, background), including anything captured in photos, is handled securely and deleted once your session ends.
Ask Auckland Council includes safeguards to keep the service secure. It checks photos and is designed not to respond to inappropriate requests.
Environmental impact
Ask Auckland Council runs on Google Cloud, which aims to operate on carbon-free energy by 2030. Check information on Google’s carbon-zero target on its website.
Cost and funding
Ask Auckland was funded by Auckland Council's Customer Experience budget. This initiative supports our goal of making it easier for people to interact with council services.
As of mid-February 2026, about $1 million had been invested in developing Ask Auckland Council. Some of that money also helped with other initiatives to improve customer experience.
You can request additional information using an official information request.
How to give feedback
Email askauckland@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz with your feedback. This is a key part of shaping future improvements to Ask Auckland Council.
How to install Ask Auckland Council
You can install Ask Auckland Council as a web app on your browser to use when needed.
On iPhone or iPad (using Safari)
- Open Safari.
- Go to the Ask Auckland Council website.
- Tap the Share icon (square with an upward arrow) at the bottom of the screen.
- Scroll down and select 'Add to Home Screen' (if you do not find this option, scroll to the bottom and tap 'Edit Actions' and add 'Add to Home Screen').
- Enter a name for the app (optional), then tap 'Add' in the top-right corner.
The icon will appear on your home screen.
On Android (using Chrome)
- Open Google Chrome.
- Go to the Ask Auckland Council website.
- Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
- Select 'Add to home screen' or 'Install app'.
- Tap 'Add' or 'Install' to confirm.
The icon will appear on your home screen and in your app list.