Aucklanders show strong support for Climate Action Targeted Rate

Aucklanders overwhelmingly back a proposed Climate Action Targeted Rate (CATR) to help combat the climate crisis, according to consultation.

Public consultation on Auckland Council’s proposed Annual Budget 2022/2023 took place between 28 February and 28 March. Nearly 12,000 individual pieces of feedback were received, more than in any Annual Budget other than the 2020/2021 Emergency Budget.

More than two-thirds (68 per cent) of individuals who submitted feedback through the consultation supported the proposed targeted rate, with organisations and Māori entities also endorsing the proposal at 66 per cent and 67 per cent support respectively.

Strong support was common across a range of demographics including age, local board area, and ethnicity.

All age brackets had greater than 50 per cent support, with high levels of support coming from younger Aucklanders (73 per cent of under-15s and 83 per cent of people aged 15-24) and seniors (65 per cent of people aged 65-74 and 64 per cent of people aged 75-plus).

Support for climate action was strong across the region, with feedback from individuals showing a majority in 20 of the 21 local board areas backing implementation of the targeted rate.

Submissions also showed mostly strong support across ethnic communities, with 74 per cent of European, 68 per cent of Māori, 63 per cent of Asian, and 47 per cent of Pasifika individuals backing the CATR.