Thomas Consultants Ltd

23/03/2026

The opening of Te Atatū South’s Boardwalks is a major milestone, with more progress underway in New Lynn and Avondale. However, there’s still work to be done to finish Te Whau Pathway. Auckland Council is currently seeking public feedback on its Annual Plan, which will help decide future funding. If you want to see the pathway completed, now’s the time to have your say—submissions close Sunday 29 March.

tewhaupathway.org.nz

https://www.facebook.com/reel/26380308618322930

Connecting harbours and communities

26/02/2026

We are excited to be part of the Lifestyle Expo happening next Saturday 7th March, 10am - 3pm at 197 Wishart Road, Helensville.

Come along and check out the great lifestyle subdivision we have delivered for our client, Chris Smith.

We look forward to seeing you there!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BTwUhVaBo/

22/10/2025

At Thomas Consultants, we recently celebrated Diwali with warmth, joy, and togetherness. The event brought staff together to share the rich cultural significance of Diwali highlighting themes of light triumphing over darkness. The celebration was made even more special with a delicious spread of traditional Indian food, fostering connection and appreciation across the team. It was a vibrant moment of cultural exchange and festive cheer that lit up our workplace.

23/09/2025

Recent announcements on the amendments to the Government's legislation allowing granny flats to be built without consent: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/573782/granny-flat-legislation-select-committee-calls-for-minor-amendments.
Bill is likely to pass by the end of the year.

Contact us now on phone: (09) 836-1804 or email: [email protected] if you would like to more information on the impact of these changes on your project.

A select committee report has called for minor changes to the government's legislation allowing small homes, like granny flats, to be built without a consent.

19/09/2025

We are paying close attention to the draft replacement plan change for Proposed Plan Change 78.

The draft replacement plan change was approved by the Policy and Planning Committee on 18 August 2025 for feedback from local boards and mana whenua.

View here: https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plans-projects-policies-reports-bylaws/our-plans-strategies/unitary-plan/auckland-unitary-plan-modifications/Pages/details.aspx?UnitaryPlanId=291

On 24 September 2025, the committee will decide whether to withdraw and replace Plan Change 78 and notify a replacement plan change for the public submissions.

Contact us now on phone: (09) 836-1804 or email: [email protected] if you would like to more information on the impact of these changes on your project.

Auckland Unitary Plan details

07/08/2025

This morning, Thomas Consultants had the privilege of attending the house blessing ceremony for our clients, Homes of Choice at 41 Buller Crescent, Manurewa. It was a meaningful milestone in a project we've been proud to support and helping to deliver accessible and inclusive housing for individuals with disabilities. The event celebrated not only the completion of these purpose-built homes but also the positive impact they will have on the lives of future residents. We're honoured to continue working alongside Homes of Choice, contributing to projects that promote community, dignity, and independence.

31/07/2025

We attended the house blessing ceremony for another project we worked on for Homes of Choice at 41 Pitt Avenue, Clendon Park yesterday. The ceremony was a deeply meaningful experience for our team. Standing alongside whānau, community members, and project partners, we felt proud to have played a role in delivering a home that embodies dignity, safety, and inclusiveness. The karakia and warm welcome brought a sense of connection that went beyond professional achievement, it was a celebration of shared values and purpose. It is a strong reminder that the work we do isn’t just about buildings but about creating spaces where lives can flourish.

10/07/2025

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 "𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗮̄𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘂"

Auckland Council has completed a region-wide study to map landslide susceptibility in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) to better understand and manage landslide risks, which impact homes, infrastructure, and services, particularly during events like the 2023 Auckland Anniversary floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.

The study produced two maps: one for shallow landslides (affecting the top few meters of soil on steep slopes) and one for large-scale landslides (affecting deeper soil layers over larger areas). These maps identify areas prone to landslides based on factors like topography, land use, geology, and past landslide data, but they do not assess specific hazard frequency or risk consequences.

The maps are intended to guide land use planning, urban development, and infrastructure decisions, helping to avoid high-risk areas and inform where detailed site-specific assessments are needed. They will be included in Land Information Memorandum (LIM) documents to inform property owners and developers, with a note that they are not suitable for property-level risk assessment without further study. The maps will support updates to the Auckland Unitary Plan to strengthen rules for building in hazard-prone areas, potentially by mid-2025, pending legal changes. They will be updated as new data becomes available.

Landslides in Auckland are typically triggered by heavy rainfall, earthworks, or earthquakes and occur on steep or weak slopes, or due to erosion or structural failures. The maps, available soon online and detailed in a factsheet, aim to enhance resilience to natural hazards like landslides, exacerbated by climate change, but require specialist assessments for precise site-specific risk evaluation.

For more details, visit

Auckland Council has completed a region-wide study to map landslide susceptibility to help Aucklanders understand the impacts of landslides at a regional level.

26/06/2025

𝗔𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

Yesterday, Auckland Council adopted its Annual Plan for 2025/2026, aligning with the Long-term Plan 2024–2034 and local board priorities. Based on feedback from over 13,000 residents, the plan outlines key services, infrastructure investments, and a 5.8% average residential rates increase (around $223 per year).

Key Highlights:

𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

- $4.3 billion in capital spending, mainly for transport, water, and community facilities.
- Supported by $1.7 billion in new debt, used sustainably to spread costs.
- $5.1 billion in operating expenses to maintain services like parks and libraries.

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁

- $1.7B capital + $1.7B operating funding.
- Key projects: Eastern Busway, City Rail Link support, ferry decarbonisation, road safety upgrades.

𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿

- $1.25B capital + $850M operating funding.
- Projects: wastewater upgrades (e.g., Snells Beach, city centre), stormwater resilience, Huia/Nihotupu water supply replacement.

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

- $118M capital + $90M operating spend.
- Focus on housing growth areas (e.g., Mangere, Tamaki), port and waterfront master planning, urban regeneration.

𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

- $67M capital + $721M operating spend.
- Projects: pest/pathogen control, marine pest monitoring, standardised rubbish collection.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 & 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀

- $385M capital + $865M operating funding.
- Expanded local board funding, sports facility upgrades, safety hubs, and animal control improvements.

𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 & 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

- $74M capital + $214M operating spend.
- Events: Pasifika, Diwali, Lantern Festival; stadium investment planning; visitor levy advocacy.

𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 & 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

- $692M each for capital and operating.
- Focus on shared services, savings ($86M total), and supporting Māori outcomes and governance.

The plan reflects a balance of fiscal responsibility and growth-focused investment, with initiatives touching all parts of Auckland and addressing infrastructure, environmental, and community needs. Implementation begins 1 July 2025.

More information can be found here:

Read the long-term plan documents in full to find out how we will work to improve the lives of Aucklanders over the next 10 years and how we will fund our plans.

19/06/2025

The Matariki Celebration today was a heartfelt morning tea gathering to honor the Māori New Year. We came together to share kai (food), enjoy traditional treats, and reflect on the significance of Matariki—renewal, hope, and connection. With a welcoming atmosphere, it was a special moment to celebrate cultural unity and set intentions for the year ahead.

05/06/2025

𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Yesterday, we proudly celebrated Gagana Samoa – Samoan Language Week – with a vibrant event honoring the rich culture, language, and traditions of Samoa. Team members enjoyed learning about the meaning of the theme as well as traditional Samoan food. The celebration highlighted the importance of preserving Pacific languages and deepened our appreciation for the diversity within our workplace. Fa’afetai to everyone who participated and helped make the event a meaningful success. A big thank you to Helen and Sosene for the event!

02/06/2025

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱

Auckland Council has adopted the Development Contributions Policy 2025 to fairly distribute the cost of growth-related infrastructure between developers and ratepayers. The policy supports a 30-year, $10.3 billion infrastructure investment plan in priority areas like Inner Northwest, Drury, Māngere, Mount Roskill, and Tāmaki, aligning with Auckland’s projected population growth of 200,000 by 2034 and 400,000 by 2054. It funds essential infrastructure such as stormwater, transport, parks, and community facilities.

Key points:

• Developers will pay development contributions to cover infrastructure costs, reducing the burden on ratepayers.
• Average contributions in priority areas for 2025/2026 are $48,000 per household unit (down from $68,000 proposed), with a 2% annual increase to ensure fairness over time.
• Outside priority areas, contributions average $20,000 per household unit (down from $32,000 proposed).
• The policy, effective from July 1, 2025, was revised based on stakeholder feedback and supports strategic infrastructure to match Auckland’s growth.
• Total capital investment includes $8.9 billion outside priority areas (with $1.5 billion from contributions) and $10.3 billion in priority areas (with $4.8 billion from contributions).

For details, visit

Find out what development contributions are and the types of projects you may need to pay fees for. Use our tool to estimate your contribution fees.