Classification
JOINT BRIEFING
Draft Cabinet paper on the preferred approach to
implement changes to capacity requirements to
Auckland Council’s Plan Change 120
Date:
2 February 2026
Priority:
High
Security classification: Classification
Tracking number: 26-BRF-00207
HUD2026-009084
Action sought
Response by
Hon Chris Bishop
Agree to the recommendations in this 3 February 2025
Minister Responsible for
briefing.
RMA Reform
Minister of Housing
Action for Minister’s Office staff
Return the signed briefing to the Ministry for the Environment ([email address] and
[email address]).
Appendices and attachments
Appendix 1: Draft Cabinet paper
Contact for telephone discussion (if required)
Name
Position
Telephone
1st contact
General Manager, Urban and
Jess Ranger
Infrastructure, Ministry for the
9(2)(a)
✓
Environment
General Manager, Housing
Markets and Urban
Hilary Joy
Performance, Ministry of
9(2)(a)
Housing and Urban
Development
Manager, Urban Policy, Ministry
Stephanie Gard'ner
9(2)(a)
for the Environment
Manager, Land Use and Land
Fiona McCarthy
Markets, Ministry of Housing
9(2)(a)
and Urban Development
Classification
The following departments/agencies have been consulted
N/A
Minister’s office to complete:
☐ Approved
☐ Declined
☐ Noted
☐ Needs change
☐ Seen
☐ Overtaken by Events
☐ See Minister’s Notes
☐ Withdrawn
Minister’s Comments
Classification
JOINT BRIEFING
Draft Cabinet paper on the preferred approach to
implement changes to capacity requirements to
Auckland’s Plan Change 120
Date:
2 February 2026
Priority:
High
Security classification: Classification
Tracking number: 26-BRF-00207
HUD2026-009084
Purpose
1.
This briefing provides you with a draft Cabinet paper and seeks policy decisions to
finalise the draft paper for Ministerial, party and departmental consultation.
Key points
2.
You have asked officials to prepare a draft Cabinet paper (attached at appendix 1)
seeking amendments to the RMA to:
a.
OUT OF SCOPE
b.
Direct Auckland Council to amend its city centre provisions to enable more
capacity; and
c.
OUT OF SCOPE
3.
OUT OF SCOPE
OUT OF SCOPE
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Classification
OUT OF SCOPE
4.
OUT OF SCOPE
5.
6.
7.
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Recommended action
The Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry of Housing and Urban
Development recommend that you:
1.
Note that the attached Cabinet paper seeks
agreement to amend the RMA to give effect to the
following policy proposals, as directed by your office:
a. OUT OF SCOPE
b. OUT OF SCOPE
c. Require Auckland Council to initiate a variation
to increase capacity in the city centre
d. OUT OF SCOPE
2. OUT OF SCOPE
3.
4.
5.
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Classification
6. OUT OF SCOPE
Jessica Ranger
Hilary Joy
General Manager
General Manager
Urban and Infrastructure Policy, Ministry for
Housing Markets and Urban Performance,
the Environment
Ministry of Housing and Urban
Development
2/2/2026
2/2/2026
Hon Chris Bishop
Minister Responsible for RMA Reform
Minister of Housing
___ / ___ / 2026
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Classification
Draft Cabinet paper on the preferred approach to
implement changes to capacity requirements to
Auckland Council’s Plan Change 120
Background
1.
OUT OF SCOPE
2.
3.
You have asked officials to prepare a draft Cabinet paper (attached at appendix 1)
seeking amendments to the RMA to:
a.
OUT OF SCOPE
b.
Direct Auckland Council to amend its city centre provisions to enable more
capacity; and
c.
OUT OF SCOPE
OUT OF SCOPE
4.
OUT OF SCOPE
OUT OF SCOPE
5.
OUT OF SCOPE
6.
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Classification
OUT OF SCOPE
7.
OUT OF SCOPE
8.
OUT OF SCOPE
9.
10.
OUT OF SCOPE
11. OUT OF SCOPE
12.
OUT OF SCOPE
13. OUT OF SCOPE
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Classification
OUT OF SCOPE
OUT OF SCOPE
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
OUT OF SCOPE
20. OUT OF SCOPE
Bringing the city centre into PC120 can shift capacity from the
suburbs
21.
The Cabinet paper proposes directing the Council to initiate a city-centre only variation
to PC120 to increase capacity, which could offset reductions elsewhere.
22.
At most, we estimate that removing some of the planning constraints in the city centre
could increase capacity by up to 50,000 dwellings. However, it is not clear whether the
Council would choose to significantly amend planning constraints given they have
recently considered and confirmed these under PC78.
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Classification
23.
The variation should run in parallel with PC120, but decisions on the city centre will
need to align with the main PC120 timeline for recommendations and decisions to
clarify how much capacity can be reduced elsewhere. Further delegated or policy
decisions may be needed to confirm this process.
24.
We do not see a case for extending the variation to include the metropolitan centres.
Although this could add offsetting capacity, expanding the scope would create
significant resourcing and timing pressures for the Council and the panel, and is less
necessary given the reduced overall capacity requirement.. This would not prevent the
Council from voluntarily choosing to include metropolitan centres if it wished.
OUT OF SCOPE
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OUT OF SCOPE
9(2)(h)
OUT OF SCOPE
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Classification
OUT OF SCOPE
Appendices
Appendix 1: Draft Cabinet paper
Appendix 1, titled Changes to the legislative requirements for Auckland Council’s Plan
Change 120, is refused under section 18(d) of the Act. The appendix comprised a draft Cabinet
paper attached to the report. The final Cabinet paper is expected to be proactively released on
the Ministry’s website by the end of June 2026. There are no material changes between the
draft and final versions. The document schedule in the response letter includes a link to the
release location.
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