Auckland Council has indicated water restrictions in the region will not lift, marking one year 13 May, 2021 07:58 PM 3 minutes to read Mayor Phil Goff said he hoped water saving measures people have taken was a 'habit' people would maintain. Photo / File Mayor Phil Goff said he hoped water saving measures people have taken was a 'habit' people would maintain. Photo / File NZ Herald By: Jake McKee Auckland Council has no intention to lift the region's water restrictions yet, which will have been in place for one year this Sunday. Restrictions were introduced almost one year ago - May 16, 2020 - and authorities had previously flagged the earliest restrictions could lift is August 2021.