Howick Local Board

Auckland Council is reviewing its community grants policy to ensure funding continues to make a difference for communities and provides good value for money.

Around $25 million is distributed each year through regional and local grants, supporting community groups, events, arts, sports, environmental projects and more.

Community groups, grant recipients and those who have missed out are encouraged to share their experiences and ideas. Your feedback will help shape how community grants are delivered in the future.

Shaping the future of community grants in Auckland Auckland Council is taking a fresh look at how it distributes grants to make sure funding continues to make a difference to Auckland’s communities while delivering value for money.  

Howick Library is reopening in a few weeks!

📅 Reopening: Monday 2 November 2026
🕘 From: 9am

What should the Prince Regent Drive playground look like next? We are planning an upgrade for the Half Moon Bay playground. Prince Regent Drive is a neighbourhood park, designed mainly for local families who can easily walk to the playground. Its location alongside the Rotary Pathway also means people from further afield can enjoy it too! As a local park, it doesn’t include facilities like public toilets.

The upgrade will work within the allocated budget and planned level of provision for the park. We’d love to hear your ideas on how we can make the most of this investment, particularly for under 5s and learn-to-ride activities.

If it’s a spot you and your family use, this is your chance to help shape what comes next. Have your say by 24 October - clikc on this link to make your feedback count https://tinyurl.com/sdpznn6d

Project timeline
📌 24 Sep – 24 Oct 2026: Community consultation
📝 Nov 2026 – Feb 2027: Draft concept plan and Local Board approval
🏗️ Mar – Sep 2027: Preparation for construction
🛝 Summer 2027–2028: Playground construction
(Dates may be subject to change).

Celebrating Cultures Pop-Up at Botany Town Centre kicks off tomorrow (Saturday 26 September) with a big opening celebration and everyone is invited 👍

Come along for a full day of live performances, cultural showcases, creative workshops, interactive activities and family fun, celebrating the incredible diversity of East Auckland.

The opening day will bring the Pop-Up to life with performances on stage, cultural demonstrations and hands-on activities from local artists, community organisations and cultural groups. There’ll be plenty of opportunities to get involved, try something new, meet people and experience different cultures.

And there’s even more happening throughout the day. The Edge radio will be bringing entertainment, giveaways and prizes to add to the celebrations.

✅ Saturday 26 September
✅ 10am–2pm
✅ Botany Town Centre, The Stage, Town Centre Drive and The Conservatory (between H&M and Hallensteins)

Celebrating Culture Pop-Up is delivered by Arts Out East a Te Tuhi programme proudly funded by the Howick Local Board and supported by Botany Town Centre.

📢 Have your say on proposed safety improvements at the Donegal Park Drive and Broadhurst Road intersection in Flat Bush.

Auckland Transport (AT) is asking the community to have their say on proposed changes to make the Donegal Park Drive and Broadhurst Road intersection safer and easier for everyone to get through.

Key issues raised include:
🚗 Drivers failing to give way on Broadhurst Road
👀 Restricted visibility when exiting the side roads
⚠️ High vehicle speeds along Donegal Park Drive

Proposed changes include:
🔄 A new roundabout, with larger vehicles able to drive over it if needed
🌿 Moving and improving the rain gardens to make room for new kerb ramps
🚶 New pedestrian refuge islands to provide a safer place to stop while crossing, along with upgrades to the existing kerb ramps and tactile pavers
🛣️ Extending the broken yellow lines and adding new white road markings to help guide drivers

The project aims to improve safety at the intersection, where 16 crashes were reported between 2020 and 2024. Of these, 15 involved crossing or turning movements.

The proposed roundabout would help slow vehicles, improve visibility and provide a more controlled and predictable way for drivers to enter and exit Broadhurst Road.

🗣️ Have your say by 14 October
AT is asking for specific knowledge, operational issues or suggestions that may help refine the proposed design.

🌐 To provide feedback online: Go to https://at.govt.nz/projects-and-initiatives
➡️ East Auckland Consultations ➡️ Donegal Park Drive/Broadhurst Road, Flat Bush ➡️ Give feedback online📱 You can also provide feedback by scanning the QR code in AT's consultation notice.

AT will review the feedback and decide the next steps. The outcome of the proposal and a summary of community feedback will be posted on the AT website. If you provide your email address, AT can email you the proposal outcome when it is ready.

IMPORTANT Park Hill Road Walkway – Community Update
📍 Location: Park Hill Road Walkway, 21R Beach Road, Howick
Following the recent strong winds, a large pine tree has fallen into the stream at the Park Hill Road Walkway, causing significant damage to the boardwalk and adjoining footpath.

Thankfully, no injuries have been reported. We’ll share further information as investigations into the damage and affected services continue.

For safety, the walkway is closed at both entrances with temporary fencing in place ⬅️
There is also concern about the stability of a nearby pine tree. Council’s arboriculture contractor will carry out risk-reduction work before the affected trees are removed. Because of the location and complexity of the site, this work will happen in stages.

The damage to the boardwalk is significant. Once the site is safe and access can be restored, further inspections and engineering assessments will be carried out to determine the full extent of the damage and what options are available for the walkway.

The walkway is an important connection between Parkhill Road, Beach Road and the wider Howick area, so we know the closure will affect local residents and regular users 📝 We’ll keep the community updated as more information becomes available, including what happens next with the walkway.

For everyone’s safety, please stay clear of the closed and fenced-off area while the necessary safety work is carried out.

📢Aucklanders are encouraged to have their say on the Plan Change 120: Housing Intensification and Resilience.

Submissions close: 24 September 2026, 5:00pm https://tinyurl.com/64nrt363

Auckland Council has proposed changes to Plan Change 120 (PC120), which was originally notified in November last year.
It responds to Government legislation requiring Auckland to enable more development and provide more housing capacity. It also strengthens planning rules to better protect people and property from flooding and other natural hazards. The council agreed proposed changes to PC120 in July.

Under the new proposals, around 85% of Auckland's urban area would remain unchanged from the zoning rules adopted in the Auckland Unitary Plan in 2016. These maps show the areas most effected in East Auckland which is the walkable catchment around town centres: Howick, Highland Park, Pakūranga, and Botany.

Areas in dark orange are Terraced Housing and Apartment Zones, allowing up to six stories. This is enabled capacity and isn't mandatory - it's up to the property owner if they want to develop.
There are small changes to other areas (usually downzoning to respond to natural hazards).

Submissions are heard by the Independent Hearings Panel, who will consider the evidence and make recommendations to council by mid-2027.

If you made a submission on the original PC120 last year, this still stands. However, you can make a replacement submission or an additional submission.

🗓️ Submissions close 5pm Thursday 24 September 2026.
Find out more, including interactive maps and how to have your say, here:

🎄Christmas is better with a little help from our talented community - expressions of interest for performers are open now 🎤

We’re looking for local performers to bring the music, energy and festive magic to Stockade Hill this December. If you’ve got a talent you’d love to share with the community, this is your chance!

📅 Event date: Friday 11 December 2026
📍 Location: Stockade Hill, Howick
⏰ Time: 6pm – 9pm
💡 FREE event – by the community, for the community
🎶 We're calling for local performers of all kinds – singers, dancers, bands, cultural groups, magicians – to take the stage and help light up the night.

📝 Expressions of interest are open now
⏳ Closes: midnight, Friday 30 October 2026.
⚡ Quick to apply – just 5 minutes!
🎛️ Full sound, stage, and greenroom provided. You bring the talent!
📩 Apply now or get more info: https://tinyurl.com/yh3y98nb
📧 Have questions? Please email [email protected]

🏡 Flat Bush showed up! 300+ people at Community Welcome Day.

A huge thank you to the Flat Bush Library Library team, Ormiston Town Centre, 20+ community organisations who were a part of the day and everyone who came along❤️

Great to see our community connecting, discovering what’s on offer locally and building relationships.

Proud to be there with fellow Howick Local Board members and our staff. Flat Bush is growing - and so is its community 🙌