Auckland Conversations

Shaping Tomorrow Together by Auckland Council

Our City Tomorrow by Auckland Council

Superblocks for the Supercity? by Auckland Council

Transporting Us To A Cooler Future by Auckland Council

An (In)Equitable Transition: Where To From Here? by Auckland Council

Building A Wellbeing Economy From The City Up by Auckland Council

A Vision for Auckland: Designing with future generations in mind by Auckland Council

Radical Collaboration - Accelerating Climate Action Together by Auckland Council

Can Auckland count on your vote? Why every vote counts by Auckland Council

Your part in protecting and improving the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park for future generations. The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, New Zealand's only marine park, turns 20 years old this year. To celebrate, we reflect on the riches it has provided to the people of Tāmaki Makaurau, New Zealand and international visitors. It’s a place of rich beauty and great adventure. The Gulf is home to 25 species of whale and dolphin and is a global seabird hotspot with 26 species resting and nesting here. There are over 45 predator-free Gulf islands that provide sanctuary for some of our country’s most endangered wildlife including kokako, kiwi and tuatara. Tīkapa Moana is recognised as a precious taonga (treasure), highly valued by many for cultural, environmental, social, recreational and economic reasons. However, as we commemorate the 20th birthday, we also reflect on the impact humans have had on our cherished Marine Park. The once mighty ecosystem is suffering from the decimation of shellfish beds, decreasing fish stocks, a seabed littered with plastic, sediment issues and increased pressure from development and tourism. We all have a responsibility to ensure our actions support and improve the mauri of the Gulf. The next 20 years need to embody regeneration and renewal, not degradation, to ensure the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park is safeguarded for future generations – it’s our gift to the Gulf.

Our built environment in Aotearoa has to go zero carbon by 2050 – throughout the entire lifecycle, from construction, raw material extraction, the manufacture of products such as steel and concrete used to make our buildings, and the energy used for things like heating and lighting. Not all of the solutions to get our built environment to zero carbon will be easy. They may involve difficult challenges. But we have to accept those challenges, and deploy solutions quickly. During World Green Building Week this September, NZGBC will be hosting a series of nationwide crunch debates tackling these tough issues head on. This event in Auckland will focus on reducing pollution from product and materials, including concrete and steel, in buildings and infrastructure. Your host for the evening will be international business journalist Rod Oram who will be joined by a panel of experts.

The decisions made around the council table impact us more directly than those made at central government level. So why do so few people vote in the local elections and what can be done to get more people involved in local politics? This September and October, New Zealanders go to the polls to choose the people who will represent them in local government for the next three years. While voter turnout at the last general election in 2017 was 79%, nationwide turnout at the last local election in 2016 was 43%. In Auckland it was even lower, with just 38.5% of Aucklanders choosing to vote. And yet local government affects nearly every aspect of our daily lives. Auckland’s mayor, councillors and local board members make decisions on everything from rubbish collections, libraries and playgrounds to the public transport system that moves us around the city and the amount we pay in rates. Join us at Auckland Conversations as actor, writer, director and comedian Oscar Kightley leads a panel to discuss why in his words, local elections, ‘are just so damned important’ and what could be done to improve voter turnout.

Global growth is also driving growth in Auckland. People are flocking to Tāmaki Makaurau to live and work and Auckland’s current population is projected to grow by 1 million people within the next 30 years. This unprecedented growth is putting pressure on our communities, housing and transport infrastructure, as well as our environment. The quality of life enjoyed by Auckland’s future generations will depend on the way we plan, design and build our city. The Auckland Plan 2050 sets the high-level direction for the future of Auckland with an emphasis on developing a quality compact city. The shift towards more compact forms of housing provides a great opportunity to deliver both high quality homes and sustainable neighbourhoods for everyone. More and more Aucklanders want to live close to rapid transit – rail and bus routes – which is driving the need for quality intensification and a shift towards vertical living. So how do we accelerate intensification? And how do we shift the mind-set of Aucklanders that seem determined to hang on to the quarter-acre dream? Join us at Auckland Conversations to discuss how we can focus on providing a sustainable approach to the future planning of our city.

Older Aucklanders are an increasing part of the region’s population. How do we work towards making sure that older Aucklanders and those approaching that age group are respected and valued in our community? Auckland will be home to substantially larger numbers and greater proportions of ethnically and culturally diverse older people over the next few decades. The older population is growing faster than any other age-group and is predicted to increase from 11 per cent in 2013 to 19 per cent by 2046. The aging population will create opportunities as well as greater and more complex demand for services and infrastructure. Insufficient planning for this could mean the challenges worsen as the number of older people grows significantly over the next 20 years. Some older Aucklanders have needs that are not being met by existing services. While Auckland is a great place to live for most older people there are some who face greater challenges. Those in the “older-old” age group and of lower socioeconomic status are more likely to be socially excluded which in turn has an impact on their health and happiness. How can we improve the wellbeing of older Aucklanders, especially those most in need? Join us at Auckland Conversations as we discuss with Sir Bob Harvey and a panel of experts how we can work collaboratively to develop a plan for an age-friendly city which will also allow us to obtain membership to the World Health Organisation’s Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities and demonstrate our collective commitment to Auckland being friendly and inclusive where everyone can contribute and participate.

Economic growth can often be accompanied by disparity, economic and social marginalisation. How do we change this and increase the living standards for all Auckland’s citizens? What will this mean and how will our jobs, vocational opportunities and economy change? We would like to start a conversation about the challenges Auckland faces as an international city from an economic and prosperity perspective, in parallel with LA and Guangzhou. Stephen Cheung is the Executive Vice President of Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) and the President of World Trade Center Los Angeles (WTCLA). He leads investment attraction to the LA County region and facilitates successful location of new businesses, projects and deals from both international and U.S. investors into the region. Stephen will share with us his aspirations and vision, and impressions on what it takes to be an international city focused on inclusive growth. Stephanie Honey, Associate Director of the New Zealand International Business Forum, will MC the night. Stephen Cheung will also be joined by a panel of industry experts including: Tony Alexander, Chief Economist, Bank of New Zealand Nick Hill, Chief Executive, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development This Auckland Conversation is brought to you in partnership with Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) and with the support of Bank of New Zealand (BNZ)

With Auckland’s population set to swell to 2 million by as early as 2029, growing demands on housing and infrastructure, and climate change exposing our city to impending natural disasters, future-proofing Auckland has become more important than ever before. The way we plan, design, construct and govern our city will determine Auckland’s future viability. The world’s cities are under threat by climate change. Building a sustainable city is an integral part of Auckland’s future. But what does the ideal sustainable city look like? And is it possible? Join us with Dr Michelle Dickinson as she facilitates the conversation focusing on crucial attributes and solutions – high-rise medium-density, incorporating resilience into urban design and development, and high-quality living for our people with easy access to employment, social infrastructure and clean, green spaces. This Auckland Conversation is brought to you in partnership with New Zealand Green Building Council.

Facilitated by our MC Te Radar, our panel of experts will kick start the conversation to help identify challenges and find new strategies and solutions to promote sustainable management of Te Mauri o te wai - the life supporting capacity of Auckland’s water. Water quality is becoming an issue for Auckland. From believing that water was plentiful and free to now facing the impacts of water scarcity, poor water quality and the effects of climate change, but what can we do about it? A value-based approach connects our decisions back to what matters most. When we talk about values, we are describing what is important to us: the deep connections between water, the environment and people. We all have a responsibility and an interest in working together to ensure our decisions are improving our water future, not deferring the problems for future generations to resolve. There are different ideas of how we protect and enhance Te Mauri o te wai, and we believe this opens an exciting space for discussion and collaboration.

The challenge of public transit today is not just having good ideas but being able to explain them. It's crucial to integrate the task of planning with the tasks of explanation and of creating leading innovative processes that engage and empower the public. The goal is managing behaviour change in a positive way – changing the way people travel and the positive outcomes that can produce for Auckland. Jarrett Walker, a popular speaker and author of the popular book Human Transit, is one of the field’s great explainers. His worldwide transit consulting practice is all about helping communities see their options, and think about their goals, so that they make great decisions for themselves. We aim to start a conversation here about how transit works, what choices it presents, and how we can use it to create a better Auckland with some real-life examples of change that’s about to reshape the way we use the CBD and beyond. Eddie Tuiavii, Senior Hearings Advisor at Auckland Council will MC the night. Jarret will also be joined by a panel of industry experts including: Jessica Rose, Albert Eden Local Board member and representative for Women in Urbanism Auckland Daniel Newcombe, Manager Strategic Projects, Central, North & West, Auckland Transport Ludo Campbell-Reid, Design Champion and General Manager Auckland Design Office, Auckland Council This Auckland Conversation is brought to you in partnership with Auckland Transport and with support from MRCagney, celebrating 15 years in Aotearoa.

Auckland’s growth is far from slowing and looking ahead 30 years, our urban area will grow and change. How do we manage this growth? A big part of the future lies within south Auckland. The south is the largest future urban growth area in Auckland with around 5,300 hectares of land identified for urban development. Auckland Council are currently working on structure plans for both Drury and Pukekohe and the Supporting Growth Alliance between NZTA, Auckland Transport and Auckland Council are providing expertise in the transport planning for that area. Urban development expert Hila Oren, CEO of the Tel-Aviv Foundation, will speak on her experiences in infrastructure development around the world. She will be joined by a panel of industry experts to discuss how areas in South Auckland, such as Drury and Pukekohe, can leverage off the changes in Auckland to create a platform for future development. Andrew Baker, deputy chair of Franklin Local Board, will MC the night with Deputy Mayor Bill Cashmore providing closing remarks. Hila will also be joined by a panel of industry experts including: John Duguid, General Manager Plans & Places, Auckland Council Cynthia Gillespie, Executive General Manager, Planning & Investment, Auckland Transport Quin Henderson, Chief Executive Officer, Southbase Construction Ltd

Healthy Streets for Auckland by Auckland Council