Source: Auckland Council
Savings and service reviews led the agenda as the Value for Money Committee’s first 2026 meeting echoed its always-on focus for increased efficiency.
At Thursday’s committee, chair Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson welcomed the council’s continued savings progress – with another $14.9 million saved in the three months to 31 December 2025.
“This lifts our savings to date to $67.9 million – or 79 per cent of our $86 million target for 2025-2026,” says Deputy Mayor Simpson.
“As a council group, we’re continuing to focus on both cost reductions across the business and increasing revenue. These enhance efficiency and deliver savings that keep rates down for Aucklanders.”
For every $30 million of planned savings in the council’s budget, a rates rise of around 1 per cent is avoided.
Further financial opportunities are identified through the ongoing Value for Money programme.
For the 2025-2026 year, five Value for Money reviews will look at council’s waste services, stormwater services, heritage property, resource consenting and legal services. These will build on 10 further completed reviews in the last three years.
“Value for Money service reviews have identified more than $60 million of financial opportunities over the past three years. Benefits come from clearer governance, standardised processes and stronger contract management. We are continuously looking at how to do things better,” says Deputy Mayor Simpson.
“The reviews also support improvements in the quality of what we do, as it’s important to continually check we are delivering great services for Aucklanders.”
The Value for Money Committee also oversees key procurement and contract decisions – applying a value for money and efficiency focus to all decision-making for suppliers and services.
