Sentinel Planning

Exciting news for early 2026! Come join us 💫

MDRS – urgent action before 9 October

From 9 October 2025, the MDRS will no longer have legal effect in Auckland. Any project relying on MDRS as a permitted activity will lose that status unless it is already built or protected by a Certificate of Compliance (COC).

A COC can preserve rights for five years, but applications must be lodged before 9 October.

Council has also advised that projects with existing resource consents may be affected if the dwellings themselves relied on MDRS and are not yet completed. In these cases, additional resource consents could be required.

If your project may be impacted, the best available option at this stage is to consider lodging a COC. We recommend reviewing your position now, as timeframes are tight.

🏗️ Development Contributions Reassessments
The Council's development contributions policy was heavily modified when approved on the 1st June as a result of our review work and lobbying in association with the SANZ group.
As predicted in an earlier media article where interviewed after the DC hearing, we are now finding that in some parts of the city, the DCs are actually lower than before. Flat Bush and Drury are current examples where we are observing this. There will be other areas also.
🔎 If the amount is significant—especially for larger projects—it may be worth seeking a reassessment.
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⚠️ Reassessment Conditions
Please note that a reassessment can only be triggered by lodging a new resource or building consent, due to the way the policy is worded. As such, there is a reasonable cost involved in going through the process.
❌ Variations to existing approvals do not qualify as reassessments.
✅ A completely new application must be lodged.
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💡 Opportunities and a Way Forward
As an example, we recently did this for a client on a 6-lot scheme. The development contribution discount was $60,000, while the cost of the new application was around $20,000 (mostly made up of Council fees).
📉 That’s a $40,000 net saving for the client.
📝 If you have a development contribution estimate under an earlier policy, it’s worth checking if the amount would be lower under the current policy.
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🔧 DC Estimator Tool
You can use the link below to estimate contributions under the 2025 policy.
If you're unsure how to use it, we can assist—just send us your earlier approved plans. Please also share any previous DC invoices, as we can only use this calculator for estimates under the current 2025 policy:
🌐 http://dcestimator.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/
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🚫 Already Paid a DC?
Please note that if a DC has already been paid, a discount cannot be obtained unless the existing approval is surrendered.
⚠️ This can be problematic if you're already at the S224c stage.
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We’re happy to review your situation on a case-by-case basis and advise whether it’s worth reapplying via a new RC or BC to achieve a discount.
📊 As a general guide, if the potential saving is over $20,000, it may be worth considering.
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💬 As always, we're here to keep you informed and help you make the best decisions for your project.

DC Estimator Web Identify required land parcels using the search box or zoom function, then select them by left clicking once. To deselect click on the same parcel again.

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