Auckland region

Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland covers a land area representing less than 2% of New Zealand but is home to over a third of New Zealand’s population. The current population of 1.7 million is projected to grow to 2.3 million by 2050. Currently 11% of the region is urbanised. Rural production is the most dominant land use and continues to be a valuable and important part of the region. Some of the best agricultural soils in the country are found in Auckland — mostly in the south, which rely on water from several highly productive aquifers. No mainland location in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland is further than 20km from the coast and most of the catchments and rivers are small. The region is characterised by extensive and varied marine environments, including three main harbours, and many estuaries and bays. Current and future choices about where and how Tāmaki Makaurau grows, influences how we address environmental degradation, and the opportunities to use growth to restore our natural environment. Find out more about Auckland’s natural environment at Auckland council website  Auckland council and the synthesis of state of the environment monitoring at Knowledge Auckland. Sites at swimming spots across Auckland is also provided on the Auckland Council  Safeswim website.