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Auckland Council The Auckland Plan

Te ahunga whakamua taiao me ngā ahurea tāonga tuku iho

Environment and cultural heritage progress

We know we have achieved this outcome when Aucklanders preserve, protect and care for the natural environment as our shared cultural heritage, for its intrinsic value and for the benefit of present and future generations.

Annual scorecard

Scorecard measures

The annual scorecard tracks progress against this outcome through the following measures:

Measure 1: Treasuring and stewardship of the natural environment and cultural heritage.

Measure 2: Active management of priority native habitats.

Measure 3: Active management of threatened native plants and animals.

Measure 4: Marine and freshwater quality.

Measure 5: Air quality and greenhouse gas emissions.

Measure 6: Statutory protection of environment and cultural heritage.

2022 annual scorecard

The 2022 annual scorecard (PDF 13MB) provides updated data on 13 sub-measures this year.

Water quality measures are unchanged compared to their baselines.

Air quality sub measures (fine particulate matter and NO2 levels) have generally improved.

Auckland’s next five-yearly State of the Environment Report (PDF 18.3MB) provides an integrated overview of data and trends across all environmental domains.

Three yearly progress report

The Three yearly progress report (PDF 17.3MB) provides a more detailed analysis of trends for this outcome, drawing on a range of other reports and data sets.

The 2020 Three yearly progress report indicates that we have made positive progress with our beach water quality, domestic waste, the number of community groups active in environmental restoration initiatives and public awareness, and our understanding and appreciation for Auckland’s cultural heritage. The pattern of consented activity within the existing urban area has also continued to largely follow the quality compact approach.

The report identified some opportunities for greater progress that are important to the future of this outcome:

  • Transitioning to sustainable urban planning and development approaches.
  • Building resilience of our environment, species, cultural heritage and infrastructure to climate change impacts.

A full discussion of these findings can be found in the "Environmental and cultural heritage" chapter of the Three yearly progress report (PDF 17.3MB)

Note: The Three Yearly progress report (PDF 17.3MB) does not capture the impacts of COVID-19. For the most recent data available for Auckland, see Auckland Council's Research and Evaluation Unit, in the "New on Knowledge Auckland" section.

​Measure 1: Treasuring and stewardship of the natural environment and cultural heritage

Measure 2: Active management of priority native habitats

​​Measure 3: Active management of threatened native plants and animals

​​Measure 4: Marine and freshwater quality

​Measure 5: Air quality and greenhouse gas emissions

​​Measure 6: Statutory protection of environment and cultural heritage