Kia ora Ben

 

Thank you for your request for information  

 

We have attached an information sheet on our processes and requirements
under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

 

We will respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no
later than 20 working days after the day your request was received. This
will be by 23.06.2026

 

If you have further questions, please feel free to contact Kosala
Kulatunga via reply email to
[1][Auckland Council request email] quoting reference
8140019461

 

 

Ngā mihi,

The Privacy and LGOIMA team

Auckland Council

 

 

From: Ben Gracewood <[FOI #34778 email]>
Sent: Monday, 25 May 2026 7:50 am
To: Official Information <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Developments within the Te Atatu
"restricted capacity" water network

 

Dear Auckland Council,

I have sent this same request to Watercare, but I would like information
from Auckland Council on consents that contain decision around the
restricted water network and consents if this information contains
decisions by Auckland Council personnel rather than Watercare personnel.

For some time, Watercare have noted that Te Atatu Peninsula is an area
with "limited capacity"
([2]https://www.watercare.co.nz/builders-and...),
at times being labelled a "red zone" for wastewater
([3]https://www.oneroof.co.nz/news/watercare...).

We have noted ongoing resource and building consents granted during this
period, including consents for 13 new units on Dawnhaven Drive.

Please provide the following information:
1. Timeline from when development constraints (if any) were recommended
for Te Atatu Peninsula
2. Since the capacity constraints have been understood (or since 2024 if
no constraints have in fact been put in place): information about Auckland
Concil decisions on resource consents granted in Te Atatu Peninsula where
more than 4 units are replacing one unit (e.g. 2 single dwellings being
converted to 8 or more units, or one single dwelling being converted to 4
or more).
3. Where permission has been granted, the reasons for granting this
permission despite the "restricted capacity" zone, and reasons why the
development should go ahead despite the "restricted capacity".

Yours faithfully,

Ben Gracewood

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[4][FOI #34778 email]

Is [5][Auckland Council request email] the wrong address for
Official Information requests to Auckland Council? If so, please contact
us using this form:
[6]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[7]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

show quoted sections

Kia ora Ben,

 

Thank you for your request for information.

The request requires further clarification, as the current parameters are
unclear. Could you please provide responses to the following questions:

Could you please confirm whether this enquiry relates to the BCO10336748
at 27 Dawnhaven Drive and 29 Dawnhaven Drive Te Atatu Peninsula for 13
dwellings?

 

If not, could you please provide the correct addresses to ensure we do not
supply any irrelevant information?

 

We would appreciate receiving your response as soon as possible so that we
can progress your request without delay.

 

 

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Kosala

The Privacy and LGOIMA team

Auckland Council

 

 

From: Matthew Vaa On Behalf Of Official Information
Sent: Tuesday, 26 May 2026 9:09 am
To: 'Ben Gracewood' <[FYI request #34778 email]>
Subject: Official Information: 8140019461, Te Atatu Consent Decisions

 

Kia ora Ben

 

Thank you for your request for information  

 

We have attached an information sheet on our processes and requirements
under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

 

We will respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no
later than 20 working days after the day your request was received. This
will be by 23.06.2026

 

If you have further questions, please feel free to contact Kosala
Kulatunga via reply email to
[1][Auckland Council request email] quoting reference
8140019461

 

 

 

Ngā mihi,

The Privacy and LGOIMA team

Auckland Council

 

 

From: Ben Gracewood <[2][FYI request #34778 email]>
Sent: Monday, 25 May 2026 7:50 am
To: Official Information <[3][email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Developments within the Te Atatu
"restricted capacity" water network

 

Dear Auckland Council,

I have sent this same request to Watercare, but I would like information
from Auckland Council on consents that contain decision around the
restricted water network and consents if this information contains
decisions by Auckland Council personnel rather than Watercare personnel.

For some time, Watercare have noted that Te Atatu Peninsula is an area
with "limited capacity"
([4]https://www.watercare.co.nz/builders-and...),
at times being labelled a "red zone" for wastewater
([5]https://www.oneroof.co.nz/news/watercare...).

We have noted ongoing resource and building consents granted during this
period, including consents for 13 new units on Dawnhaven Drive.

Please provide the following information:
1. Timeline from when development constraints (if any) were recommended
for Te Atatu Peninsula
2. Since the capacity constraints have been understood (or since 2024 if
no constraints have in fact been put in place): information about Auckland
Concil decisions on resource consents granted in Te Atatu Peninsula where
more than 4 units are replacing one unit (e.g. 2 single dwellings being
converted to 8 or more units, or one single dwelling being converted to 4
or more).
3. Where permission has been granted, the reasons for granting this
permission despite the "restricted capacity" zone, and reasons why the
development should go ahead despite the "restricted capacity".

Yours faithfully,

Ben Gracewood

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[6][FYI request #34778 email]

Is [7][Auckland Council request email] the wrong address for
Official Information requests to Auckland Council? If so, please contact
us using this form:
[8]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[9]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

show quoted sections

Kia ora Ben,

 

We have carefully reviewed the scope of your request. As it is currently
framed, responding in full would require Auckland Council to locate
information across multiple systems and then manually review, collate, and
assess the material for release, including applying and explaining any
necessary redactions. This level of work would involve substantial
collation and research.

 

Our Building Consents and Regulatory Engineering teams have advised that
this request would take more than the one hour of staff time that can be
provided without charge.

Under Auckland Council’s LGOIMA charging policy:

o The first 60 minutes of staff time are provided free of charge; and
o After this, charges apply at $38 per half hour (or part thereof).
o  

Therefore, could we ask you to refine and narrow the scope of your
request? Refining the scope (for example, by narrowing the timeframe,
limiting document types, or focusing on the aspects of most interest to
you) may reduce the amount of information required to be collated and
reviewed. Alternatively, if you would prefer to proceed with your original
request in full, we can provide a formal estimate of charges before
continuing.

 

Please refer to the area that we required to refine:

1. Timeline from when development constraints (if any) were recommended
for Te Atatu Peninsula (This information is best obtained from Watercare,
as they are responsible for managing and advising Council on capacity
constraints.)

2. Since the capacity constraints have been understood (or since 2024 if
no constraints have in fact been put in place): information about Auckland
Council decisions on resource consents granted in Te Atatu Peninsula where
more than 4 units are replacing one unit (e.g. 2 single dwellings being
converted to 8 or more units, or one single dwelling being converted to 4
or more).

This would require a significant amount of work, including a detailed
review of resource consent decisions for the relevant area by the Resource
Consents team. This is likely to exceed the reasonable time limits under
LGOIMA. It is therefore recommended that the requester either agree to
meet the associated costs or refine the scope of the request.)

3. Where permission has been granted, the reasons for granting this
permission despite the "restricted capacity" zone, and reasons why the
development should go ahead despite the "restricted capacity". (The
reasons for decisions vary, as each application is assessed on its
individual circumstances. Compiling detailed reasons for all developments
across Te Atatū Peninsula would require considerable time.)

 

Please note that any clarification or amendment of a request is treated as
a new request for the purpose of calculating the maximum statutory
timeframe for response (see section 13(7) of the LGOIMA).

 

Could you please let us know your preference as soon as possible, so we
can respond accurately and in a timely manner?

If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Kosala

The Privacy and LGOIMA team

Auckland Council

 

 

From: Ben Gracewood <[FOI #34778 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 4 June 2026 1:33 pm
To: Official Information <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Additional Information request: Official Information:
8140019461, Te Atatu Consent Decisions

 

Hi Kosala

No, this is not specifically regarding Dawnhaven Drive. It is regarding
the entire Te Atatu Peninsula suburb.

In my initial request I asked:

1. Timeline from when development constraints (if any) were recommended
for Te Atatu Peninsula
2. Since the capacity constraints have been understood (or since 2024 if
no constraints have in fact been put in place): information about Auckland
Concil decisions on resource consents granted in Te Atatu Peninsula where
more than 4 units are replacing one unit (e.g. 2 single dwellings being
converted to 8 or more units, or one single dwelling being converted to 4
or more).
3. Where permission has been granted, the reasons for granting this
permission despite the "restricted capacity" zone, and reasons why the
development should go ahead despite the "restricted capacity".

So what I'm looking for is any and all consents granted throughout Te
Atatu Peninsula that are/were impacted by Watercare's restricted capacity,
and where those contents were granted, what were the grounds for allowing
them to go ahead despite the restricted capacity in the water network.

Yours sincerely,

Ben Gracewood

show quoted sections

Kia ora Ben,

 

I am writing to let you know that we will require a little more time to
respond to your request. We apologise that we are unable to provide our
response by the due date of 23.06.26.

 

Auckland Council is therefore extending the time limit for responding to
your request under section 14 of the Local Government Official Information
and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA).

 

We will provide our response by 03.06.2026. Please note this is the
maximum response timeframe and we will do our best to respond earlier if
possible.

 

The reason for this extension is:

 

- Consultations necessary to make a decision on the request are ongoing
and a proper response to the request cannot reasonably be made within the
original time limit

 

You have the right to request a review of this extension by the Office of
the Ombudsman.

 

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further, please
feel free to contact us.

 

 

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Kosala

The Privacy & LGOIMA team

Auckland Council

 

 

From: Matthew Vaa On Behalf Of Official Information
Sent: Tuesday, 26 May 2026 9:09 am
To: 'Ben Gracewood' <[FOI #34778 email]>
Subject: Official Information: 8140019461, Te Atatu Consent Decisions

 

Kia ora Ben

 

Thank you for your request for information  

 

We have attached an information sheet on our processes and requirements
under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

 

We will respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no
later than 20 working days after the day your request was received. This
will be by 23.06.2026

 

If you have further questions, please feel free to contact Kosala
Kulatunga via reply email to
[1][Auckland Council request email] quoting reference
8140019461

 

 

 

Ngā mihi,

The Privacy and LGOIMA team

Auckland Council

 

 

From: Ben Gracewood <[2][FOI #34778 email]>
Sent: Monday, 25 May 2026 7:50 am
To: Official Information <[3][email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Developments within the Te Atatu
"restricted capacity" water network

 

Dear Auckland Council,

I have sent this same request to Watercare, but I would like information
from Auckland Council on consents that contain decision around the
restricted water network and consents if this information contains
decisions by Auckland Council personnel rather than Watercare personnel.

For some time, Watercare have noted that Te Atatu Peninsula is an area
with "limited capacity"
([4]https://www.watercare.co.nz/builders-and...),
at times being labelled a "red zone" for wastewater
([5]https://www.oneroof.co.nz/news/watercare...).

We have noted ongoing resource and building consents granted during this
period, including consents for 13 new units on Dawnhaven Drive.

Please provide the following information:
1. Timeline from when development constraints (if any) were recommended
for Te Atatu Peninsula
2. Since the capacity constraints have been understood (or since 2024 if
no constraints have in fact been put in place): information about Auckland
Concil decisions on resource consents granted in Te Atatu Peninsula where
more than 4 units are replacing one unit (e.g. 2 single dwellings being
converted to 8 or more units, or one single dwelling being converted to 4
or more).
3. Where permission has been granted, the reasons for granting this
permission despite the "restricted capacity" zone, and reasons why the
development should go ahead despite the "restricted capacity".

Yours faithfully,

Ben Gracewood

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[6][FOI #34778 email]

Is [7][Auckland Council request email] the wrong address for
Official Information requests to Auckland Council? If so, please contact
us using this form:
[8]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[9]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

show quoted sections

Kia ora Ben,

 

Hope this email finds you well.

 

Our Building Consents team has advised that there are 333 building
consents that would need to be reviewed to locate the detailed
information.

 

Allowing for the first hour for drafting the response, each building
consent would require approximately 45 minutes to extract the relevant
information, rename files, and upload them to a shared folder. This
equates to a total cost of:

333 × 0.75 hours × $57 = $14,235.75

Please note that this estimate excludes Resource Consent records, which
would require additional time and cost.

 

Could you please confirm whether you would like to proceed on this basis,
or alternatively, whether you would prefer that we provide general
information outlining the reasons why consents were granted, the
procedures followed, and noting that Watercare ultimately approves the
physical connection in each case?

Please also note that our teams are working within statutory timeframes,
and this work would need to be completed in addition to those obligations.
Accordingly, we would require approximately 3-4 weeks to complete the
work.

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Kosala

The Privacy & LGOIMA team

Auckland Council

 

 

 

From: Ben Gracewood <[FOI #34778 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 17 June 2026 7:27 am
To: Official Information <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Refinement request: Official Information: 8140019461, Te
Atatu Consent Decisions

 

Dear Official Information,

I would like you to proceed with my request in full. So yes, please
provide me with an estimate of charges.

However, I presume in collating that estimate you will need to have a view
on the number of consents granted that exceed the "restricted network
capacity", so please provide that as early as possible. Then I am also
willing to pay for your time to provide reasons why consents have been
granted despite the Watercare restricted network capacity.

Yours sincerely,

Ben Gracewood

show quoted sections

Kia ora Ben,

 

As outlined in our previous correspondence, providing a full response to
your request involves substantial collation and research. You have the
right to contact the Office of the Ombudsman regarding the charges we have
proposed, and we will fully cooperate with any investigation they
undertake.

In response to your request, our Building Consents Department has provided
the following information:

 

Please consider the following:

·                Watercare announced on 15 November 2024 that Te Atatu had
limited capacity for additional wastewater discharge to its network.

·                For properties that already had uplifted resource
consent, Watercare undertook to provide wastewater connections (as they
had already taken those into account in the limitation calculation).

·                In addition, regardless of whether an area had wastewater
constraints or not, certain "Red Zones" were identified where areas had
downstream trunk line limitations. The standard process was to request
customers to obtain written confirmation from Watercare at time of seeking
Building consent.

 

On 11 June 2025 Watercare issued a press release and listed Te Atatu as an
area with limited capacity and upgraded its maps including Red Zones. See
extracts from Watercare's webpages below regarding limited capacity and
Red Zones.

Building consent applications received after 15 November 2024 had various
assessments.

Auckland Council sent this communication to affected customers:

 

Kia ora,

You may have seen an update from Watercare that they are at or approaching
capacity for new water or wastewater connections in several parts of
Auckland. We are reaching out to you because you have applied for a
building consent in an affected area.

Your building project has been designed relying on the availability of a
public water supply or wastewater connection. As such, we may not be able
to issue you with a building consent until a connection to the public
water supply or wastewater system can be confirmed. Please visit Watercare
for more information on capacity constraints and fill out their Water and
wastewater network capacity check V2 to find out how your project may be
impacted.

If a connection for your project is available, please obtain written
confirmation from Watercare and submit a copy of this to the online
portal.

If no connection is available at this time, you may consider an
alternative solution that meets the Wastewater network standards.
Watercare have advised they will not support wastewater tankering or
off-peak pumping arrangements. Alternatively, you may choose to pause the
development or withdraw your application for a building consent until such
time as a connection is available.

Once you have been in touch with Watercare, please let us know how you
wish to proceed.

Ngā mihi mahana,

The Auckland Council Building Consents team

 

In addition to the above at the time of lodging a Building
Consent Auckland Council's development engineering team sought
confirmation from Watercare or asked the applicant to provide this and/or
relied on a recently granted major Engineering Plan approval that
Watercare had approved for the proposed development before granting
building consent.

 

We have provided a list of 335 building consents issued in Te Atatu lodged
after 15 November 2024 as requested.

Of these 2 had lapsed at the time the report was run and 333 are
active. It should be noted that this does not include Resource Consents
that may have been granted which span this time, nor trade waste approvals
from Watercare or other consents.  

 

 Excerpts from Watercare webpages:

"Area with limited capacity

Our bulk infrastructure (treatment plants and large pipes) in these areas
is limited because our data shows that, on average, some locations have
more than six wastewater overflows per year, and growth is expected to
continue.

Our network discharge consent sets a target of no more than two overflows
per location per year on average. However, more frequent overflows are
permitted if this is the best practicable option and we have a plan in
place to improve the situation.

The map focuses on capacity at a town or suburb level. Across Auckland,
some individual streets may be limited due to bottlenecks in local water
or wastewater pipes. We encourage people to assess the impact of their
proposed development as part of the resource consent process.

What does this mean for potential developers?

In these areas, developments of up to five additional standard houses – or
developments with expected wastewater volumes equivalent to up to five
standard homes – can go ahead unless there is a bottleneck in a local
water or wastewater pipe. Larger developments will be declined at resource
consent stage. We will continue to closely monitor capacity and may review
this position in the future.

 

Red Zones

These are local transmission constraints - Watercare approval is required
for upstream connections."

 

 

 

You have the right to seek an investigation and review of this response by
the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

 

If you have any questions about this response, please contact me, quoting
LGOIMA No 8140019461.

 

 

Ngā mihi,

Kosala Kulatunga

Privacy and Official Information Business Partner

Governance Services

 

 

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