Auckland Council adopts new Development Contributions Policy

The newly adopted Development Contributions Policy ensures the cost of growth-related infrastructure is fairly shared between developers and ratepayers.

The Contributions Policy 2025 enables the council to recover development contributions from those undertaking development. The policy supports a 30-year plan for growth-related infrastructure in the investment priority areas in Auckland.

The increased investment the council is committing to is reflected in an increased development contributions price in some areas. This is particularly so in investment priority areas – Inner Northwest, Tamaki, Mt Roskill, Mangere and Drury – where the scale of growth requires aligned funding.

Some feedback suggested that it would be fairer for development contribution prices to increase over time rather than remain flat. The council has considered this and agreed that, while still recovering the full costs of infrastructure over time, prices should start lower and increase at 2 per cent annually. This ensures earlier developers pay a similar cost, in real terms, as those who develop later on.

On average, development contributions in the investment priority areas, paid in the 2025/2026 financial year, will be $48,000. This is down from the $68,000 that was consulted on.