Manaaki Tāmaki Makaurau: Te Rautaki mō te Takiraha, te Hākinakina me te Rēhia o Tāmaki Makaurau Manaaki Tāmaki Makaurau: Auckland Open Space, Sport and Recreation Strategy

The Manaaki Tāmaki Makaurau: Auckland Open Space, Sport and Recreation Strategy is a guide for the council and non-council organisations and community groups. It aims to deliver open spaces and sport and recreation opportunities that benefit all Aucklanders, now and in the future.

The strategy aligns with and supports the delivery of the:

• Auckland Plan 2050
• Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan
• Ngā Hapori Momoho: Thriving Communities Strategy 2022-32
• Tāmaki Ora: our refreshed Māori outcomes performance measurement framework.

Our Policy and Planning committee adopted the strategy on 15 May 2025. Visit Te Komiti mō te Kaupapa Here me te Whakamahere / Policy and Planning Committee to read the minutes of the meeting.

Open spaces, sport and recreation opportunities provide a range of benefits that include:

• contributing to the health of Tāmaki Makaurau by supporting the physical and mental health and wellbeing of:
  • people
  • land
  • families
• improved water quality
• climate mitigation and resilience
• better social connections.

The Manaaki Tāmaki Makaurau: Auckland Open Space, Sport and Recreation Strategy has:

• five strategic directions
• four investment principles
• three policies.

The strategy sets five strategic directions for the future provision of open spaces and sport and recreation opportunities.

• Make all of Tāmaki Makaurau our backyard.
• Deliver innovative open spaces in high-density areas.
• Enhance our response to climate disruption.
• Protect and enhance our environment, biodiversity and heritage.
• Support Aucklanders to live healthy, active lives.

The case studies are real-world examples of how the strategic directions will be put into action.

The strategy has four investment principles that guide how we use our resources to deliver the five strategic directions.

• Take a benefits-led approach to improve the wellbeing of people, places and the environment.
• Invest based on evidence of need and the voices of Aucklanders.
• Honour our Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations.
• Work together towards a healthy future, using all our resources.

The strategy has three policies that set the council's expectations for delivering open spaces, sport and recreation opportunities.

This policy sets guidelines for making the most of our green, blue and grey open space network to contribute to oranga tāngata, whenua, wai and whānau.

It guides the planning, development and management approach for open spaces by:

• the council and council-controlled organisations
• private developers
• external development agencies such as Kāinga Ora.

The 'open space provision and acquisition policy' directs planning and investment decisions to:

• expand Auckland’s existing open space network
• deliver well-functioning urban environments in line with the Future Development Strategy.

Developers and planners must consider this policy when they prepare structure plans. This is required under the Resource Management Act 1991 or any other legislation that replaces it.

This policy outlines how the council will:

• invest in play, sport and recreation
• support other organisations to deliver these opportunities to Aucklanders.

This will help Aucklanders to live healthy and active lives.

The strategic directions, investment principles and policies will guide the implementation and monitoring approach. This will align with the council’sseven investment areas and 23 activities set out in the Long-term Plan 2024-2034.

The implementation approach will be based on manaakitanga to show respect and care for resources and for others. This will encourage community connections and promote unity.

The strategy brings together five existing strategies, policies and plans. The following documents are no longer valid and should not be used:

• Parks and Open Spaces Strategic Action Plan (2013)
• Parks and Open Space Acquisition Policy (2013)
• Open Space Provision Policy (2016)
• Auckland Sport and Recreation Strategic Action Plan 2014–2024 (refreshed 2017)
• Increasing Aucklanders’ Participation in Sport: Investment Plan 2019–2039.

In August 2022, the Parks, Arts, Community and Events Committee approved the development of a refreshed and consolidated framework for an 'open space, sport and recreation policy'.

Visit Kōmiti Whakarite Pārae, Mahi Toi, Hapori, Kaupapa / Parks, Arts, Community and Events Committee to read the minutes of the meeting on Thursday 11 August 2022.

The 'Open space, sport and recreation policy framework refresh and consolidation' background paper summarises the challenges and opportunities that helped to develop the strategy.

To develop the strategy, we worked with:

• the Open Space, Sport and Recreation Joint Political Working Group
• local boards, advisory and Māori rōpū
• key stakeholders and partners
• council kaimahi.

We asked for feedback on the draft strategy through AK Have Your Say website and a People’s Panel survey.