Why Auckland Council plants trees
Each year, Auckland Council plants approximately 5000 street and park shade trees.
This is part of our ongoing commitment to creating a greener, healthier and more climate-resilient city.
Trees are a vital part of Auckland’s landscape.
About our planting programme
We guide our planting programme using the goals outlined in:
- Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan
- Auckland's Urban Ngahere (Forest) Strategy
- relevant local board plans
- our Auckland Plan.
Our tree planting programme provides essential green infrastructure for our community, now and into the future.
Key benefits
Stormwater management and flood reduction
- Tree roots help absorb rainwater and reduce pressure on our stormwater systems.
- Well-placed trees help reduce flooding and stop soil from washing away, especially during storms.
A more beautiful, liveable city
Street trees make our neighbourhoods look and feel better. Greener streets can:
- increase property values
- improve mental health
- create more walkable communities.
Improved air quality
Trees help clean the air by absorbing pollution and trapping dust.
This supports better health, especially for:
- children
- older people
- those with breathing problems.
Climate resilience and cooling
Urban trees cool cities by shading streets and releasing moisture into the air. This helps:
- cool our streets and suburbs, particularly in summer
- reduce the need for artificial cooling
- improve community comfort and safety.
Enhancing biodiversity
Trees provide homes for birds, insects and plants.
This helps restore nature in the city.
More biodiversity makes ecosystems stronger and brings Aucklanders closer to nature.
Leaf litter and maintenance
Both deciduous Trees that shed their leaves for part of the year. and evergreen trees naturally shed:
- leaves
- twigs
- other organic material.
Both tree types are planted to increase diversity and suit specific site conditions. Leaf litter is also an important part of nutrient recycling, returning valuable nutrients to the soil.
Regular street maintenance keeps leaf litter manageable.
How we select trees
Tree planting is part of a wider strategy to reduce flooding risk.
We carefully select species and locations to help manage stormwater.
We choose street trees carefully to suit their urban surroundings.
We consider their shape, growth and site placement.
This ensures:
- successful trees that thrive
- sunlight can reach nearby homes
- we maintain public safety and services.
We use a diverse mix of deciduous and evergreen species to:
- reduce the impacts of pests, disease and drought
- maintain adequate winter light for nearby homes
- make sure trees thrive in urban soils and hot, dry conditions.
We do not plant trees or avoid planting trees to preserve private views or berm parking spaces.
Views may change over time and residents preferences vary. We will prune trees as necessary to keep trees healthy and safe.
