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Ngā mihi,

Privacy & Official Information

Auckland Council

 

 

From: Adriana van Altvorst
<[FYI request #34890 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 10 June 2026 8:56 pm
To: Official Information <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Emergency Preparedness, Building
Compliance, Disability Inclusion & Accountability – Residential Buildings,
Hotels & Residential Facilities

 

Tēnā koutou,

Pursuant to the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following
information regarding emergency preparedness, civil defence planning,
building compliance, and disability inclusion policies and practices
managed or overseen by Auckland Council, specifically relating to
multi‑unit residential buildings, hotels, and residential facilities
(including those for the elderly and vulnerable people):

Role and Responsibility:

Is Auckland Council (including Auckland Emergency Management) formally
designated as a lead agency or partner agency in regional and local
emergency preparedness and civil defence planning for residential
buildings, hotels, and residential facilities?

Under which legislation, bylaws, or policy documents does Auckland Council
hold responsibility for ensuring that emergency systems, building design,
and evacuation procedures in these types of buildings are accessible to
disabled people?

Consultation with the Disability Community:

Has Auckland Council or Auckland Emergency Management consulted with the
disability community, disabled persons’ organisations (including DPA,
Whaikaha, the Auckland Council Disability Advisory Panel, or local
disability groups), or individuals with lived experience of disability
when developing or reviewing emergency preparedness plans, building
compliance standards, or evacuation guidelines since 1 January 2023?

If yes: Please provide copies of all consultation reports, meeting
minutes, feedback summaries, or policy documents that record this
engagement.

If no: Please explain why consultation did not take place, and outline
what steps the Council will take to rectify this.

Disability Inclusion Plans:

Does Auckland Council or Auckland Emergency Management have a documented
Disability Inclusion Plan, Accessibility Strategy, or specific guidelines
regarding emergency response and building access for disabled people
living or staying in residential buildings, hotels, or residential
facilities?

If yes: Please provide a copy of the full document, including any action
plans, timelines, or accountability measures.

If no: Please confirm whether such a plan is in development or intended to
be created.

Implementation & Engagement Methods:

How does Auckland Council practically and consistently include the
disability community in the design, review, and approval of emergency
systems, building standards, and evacuation procedures for these types of
buildings?

Please describe the specific processes, advisory bodies, or consultation
channels used to ensure disabled people’s voices are heard and their needs
are embedded in Council policy and operations.

Building Code & Accessibility Standards:

Does Auckland Council consider the New Zealand Building Code and
associated compliance documents to contain sufficient provisions,
requirements, or mandates to ensure that emergency warning systems,
evacuation routes, and assembly areas in residential buildings, hotels,
and residential facilities are accessible and usable by all disabled
people (including people who are hard of hearing, Deaf, neuro‑divergent,
or have mobility impairments)?

If you consider the provisions sufficient: Please cite the specific
clauses, standards, or regulations that guarantee equal safety and access.

If you consider the provisions insufficient: Please explain what gaps
exist and what action the Council has taken or recommended to address
them.

Specifically:
Does the Council’s interpretation or application of the Building Code
allow for “English‑only” emergency signage or audio‑only alarms without
alternative accessible formats?

Staff Training & Rights Awareness:

How does Auckland Council ensure that all employees — particularly those
handling building compliance, safety, and customer complaints —
understand, consider, and actively uphold the rights of disabled people
under the Human Rights Act 1993, UNCRPD, and relevant accessibility
legislation?

Specifically:
When a disabled resident makes a formal complaint that a building is
non‑compliant because it fails to provide reasonable accommodations
necessary for their personal safety during emergencies (e.g. lack of
visual alarms, no evacuation assistance), what mandatory training,
guidance, or instructions are given to staff to ensure these complaints
are prioritised, assessed through a disability rights lens, and resolved
appropriately?

Please provide all training manuals, internal guidelines, or policy
directives issued to staff regarding disability rights and reasonable
accommodation in the context of building compliance and safety complaints.

Accountability & Enforcement:

In cases where residential buildings, hotels, or residential facilities
are found to be non‑compliant with emergency safety laws, accessibility
requirements, or Building Warrant of Fitness standards:

Who holds the legal responsibility and authority to enforce compliance?

Which agency or body is accountable for ensuring that required changes are
actually made?

What specific steps or penalties are available to the Council to ensure
compliance?

Please provide all policy documents, guidelines, or compliance manuals
that outline the accountability framework and enforcement process for
non‑compliant buildings.

I understand that under the Act, you are required to respond within 20
working days. If any part of this request cannot be answered, please
provide a reason for refusal in accordance with the Act, and release any
information that can be made available.

I look forward to your response.

Ngā mihi maioha,
Adriana van AltvorstEmail: [1][email address]

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