Auckland Council has re-notified Plan Change 120 (“PC120”) with significant amendments to the version originally notified in November 2025.
The amended version reflects the Government’s revised housing capacity target and reduces the extent of proposed intensification in many parts of Auckland. Key changes include:
- Retaining walkable catchments around the city centre, metropolitan centres and rapid transit stations.
- Reducing building heights to six storeys in many walkable catchments outside 10 km from the CBD.
- Removing much of the proposed intensification along frequent bus routes beyond 10 km from the CBD.
The natural hazard provisions are left largely unchanged.
What you need to know:
If you lodged a submission on the original PC120, your submission remains valid unless affected by the Council’s partial withdrawal of the plan or a later scope decision by the Independent Hearings Panel. However, given the extent of the amendments, we recommend reviewing the updated maps and considering whether a further submission is appropriate.
The opportunity for this second round of submissions closes at 5.00pm on 24 September 2026.
One of the most significant issues will be the Auckland Council’s narrow approach to what it considers to be “within scope” following the amendments. We expect this issue to be contested before the Independent Hearings Panel and it may affect whether some original submission points can still be considered.
If you would like advice on how the amended PC120 affects your property or your original submission, our team is happy to assist.