Auckland Council has unveiled a new web-based AI assistant designed to streamline how residents report common issues such as graffiti, illegal dumping, roaming dogs, missed bin collections, and noise complaints.
The tool, called “Ask Auckland Council,” went live on 13 April and is accessible across smartphones, tablets, and computers via a web browser.
Mayor Wayne Brown said the initiative reflects the council’s push to modernise its services and make it easier for Aucklanders to engage. He noted that the AI assistant improves over time as more people use it, helping deliver faster and more convenient reporting. Unlike basic chatbots, the system can interpret everyday language, recognise place names in te reo Māori, ask follow-up questions, and even analyse uploaded images to better understand reported problems.
Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson said the tool was developed in response to feedback that existing reporting channels were confusing and inefficient. Early testing with around 1,000 users found the AI assistant was nearly twice as easy to use as traditional methods, with 80 percent of users rating it as simple compared to 42 percent for older systems.
The council says the AI assistant is part of a broader effort to improve internal processes so issues can be resolved more quickly once reported. Built in partnership with Group Shared Services, the platform includes safeguards to meet privacy, legal, and security standards, while also filtering inappropriate or inaccurate inputs.
More features and reporting categories are expected to be added in coming months, with the long-term goal of evolving the tool into a single digital entry point for council services—a “one stop shop” for Auckland residents.
A link to the tool is located on the Report a problem page on the Auckland Council website. Aucklanders can still use existing channels to report a problem.
For more information, click here.
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