Auckland Council has cut the number of positions tied to Great Barrier Island by more than a third since 2021, while wages have risen and the type of work carried out has shifted away from traditional council services towards advisory and environmental roles.
Figures released to the Barrier Times under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act show the number of council roles connected to Great Barrier fell from 14 in 2021 to nine this year.
The reduction follows the council’s decision to sell off its maintenance arm, AIM Services, to Australian owners. That business was responsible for tasks such as parks, public toilets and roadside work. Animal management roles appear to have also disappeared from council books.
Although there is still a role for building consents, most of the new and remaining positions have pivoted towards consultative or environmental work rather than day-to-day council services. Conservation-related positions now include one Conservation Advisor and two Senior Conservation Advisors.
Council pay bands show steady increases over the same period. In 2021, most local positions sat between Band C and Band G, paying from about $63,000 to $93,000. By 2025, similar jobs are listed between Band D and Band H, paying up to $120,000. The highest band has doubled its share of the roles since 2021.
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Using council’s midpoint figures, the current payroll for Great Barrier-related staff totals about $1 million a year, before superannuation or other overheads.
The figures exclude elected members on the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board, whose annual pay is just $32,324 for ordinary members for 2025/26.
The information also does not include Auckland Transport, which is a separate council-controlled organisation.
The release comes as Great Barrier homeowners face some of the steepest rate increases in the Auckland region, following a 38 percent average rise in property valuations compared with a 9 percent fall across the city.
Local real estate agent Mike Jensen said Tuesday the new valuations are far above actual market levels. “If you rang me, I’d be quoting $350,000,” he said. “The new RVs are completely inaccurate. I pay no attention to them.”
