Is the Reserves Act 1977 holding back Auckland's reserve network from meeting growing demand — should we make it easier to add or upgrade facilities on public reserves?
Intensification is driving more use of ageing reserves. Critics say the Act makes floodlights, artificial turf and clubrooms slow and bureaucratic.
Q.6.2 — Environment
Is the Reserves Act 1977 holding back Auckland's reserve network from meeting growing demand — should we make it easier to add or upgrade facilities on public reserves?
Auckland's open space and sports reserve network is under real strain from population growth and housing intensification. With 60–70% of future homes coming from denser urban areas, backyards are shrinking, pushing more families, kids, and clubs onto public parks and reserves.
The Reserves Act 1977 protects reserves for public benefit — classifying them, requiring management plans, and restricting commercial use. This is great for preventing loss of green space, but critics say it can make upgrades slow, costly, or bureaucratic:
- Leasing or licensing for clubrooms or lights often needs a full public process.
- Adding facilities (floodlights, artificial turf, multi-code hubs) can trigger classification reviews or hearings.
- Revenue generation (cafés, events) is limited to keep reserves "free and open."
- Swapping or exchanging reserve land for better-located facilities is complex.
Proposals suggest easing parts of the Act — streamlined consenting for minor upgrades, better revenue options for sustainability, or faster processes for essential community facilities — without gutting protections.
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Written by Mark Pervan, Director, City Builders Association Limited
Mark Pervan is the founder and director of City Builders Association Limited, an Auckland civic think tank funded solely by membership. He has run manufacturing plants, with global sourcing and supply chain management in the same role, and has been project manager on multiple commercial and residential building projects. He was also responsible for product design and development across multiple mediums, and served as sales and marketing manager. He is a company director and business owner, including as a director of Idea Foundry. He served three years as an elected member of the Puketāpapa Local Board (2022–2025) and was a council candidate for the Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa ward of Auckland Council.
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