The Future of Auckland: Is density a dirty word?

Why density is so important in designing and planning a sustainable future for Auckland.

5:00pm: Networking & refreshments
5:30pm: Start
7:00pm: Finish

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.

Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Action Framework

Our climate is changing and the time for action is now! Tell us if we are heading in the right direction by having your say on Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Action Framework. To read the framework and have your say, visit akhaveyoursay.nz. Consultation closes on 6 September 2019.

Thank you for easing congestion, reducing emissions and freeing up space in our city! Arriving by bike? Roll right up to the Mayoral Drive Lobby entrance at the Grand Millennium. Bike valet service, by Bike Auckland, provides free, secure parking for your convenience during the event.

Andrew Eagles

Chief Executive, NZGBC

Andrew is a qualified economist with more than fourteen years’ experience in the built environment. Working for consultancies, associations, government and built environment charities, he has a wealth of knowledge in housing, market mechanism, advocacy and the construction supply chain.Andrew joined the New Zealand Green Building Council in September 2016 as Chief Executive. The NZGBC is the country’s leading not-for-profit for the sustainable built environment. As well as exemplary research, the NZGBC oversees Homestar and Green Star the award winning certifications for New Zealand homes and buildings, and NABERSNZ, the tool for confirming performance of offices in use.

Pamela Bell

Founder and Former Chief Executive Officer, PrefabNZ

Pamela has experience in architecture (MArch), Olympic-level sport (snowboarding), small business development (Fruition Apparel Ltd and NZ Snowboard Academy Ltd), governance (Snow Sports NZ) and management. She founded PrefabNZ in 2010 and exited in 2019 when prefabrication reached a 'tipping point' of awareness for government, industry and public alike.

Highlights include:

Master of Architecture thesis 'Kiwi Prefab: Prefabricated Housing in NZ' (2009)
'Kiwi Prefab' workshop at Victoria University established PrefabNZ (2010)
‘Kiwi Prefab: Cottage to Cutting Edge’ book and exhibition at Puke Ariki Museum, New Plymouth (2012-2013)
PrefabNZ UNIpod design competition (2015) and prototype at CoLab (2016)
HIVE Home Innovation Village Canterbury (2012-2014) commemorative limited edition book (2016)
SNUG 'a home in my backyard' design competition - www.snughome.nz (2018-2019)

Today, Pamela is on the BRANZ Board that oversees the Building Research Levy. She is a member of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Building Advisory Panel (BAP) that provides industry input. Her governance interests are reflected in membership of the NZ Institute of Directors (IoD).

John Duguid

General Manager, Plans and Places, Auckland Council

John originally trained as an architect in the early 1990s then moved to his chosen career as an urban planner in the late ‘90s. His first significant role was as an urban designer with the former North Shore City Council working on projects such as the Albany Centre and the Long Bay structure plan. In 2007 he was successful in securing the role of Central Area Planning Manager with the former Auckland City Council. Without doubt, the highlight of John’s time in this role was helping bring the vision for the City Centre Waterfront and Wynyard Quarter to fruition. John and his team made a major contribution to the transformation of the Waterfront by taking the Wynyard Quarter plan change through the process from public notification to operative. At the same time, his team also processed at break-neck speed the resource consents for the Viaduct Events Centre, the North Wharf buildings and the ASB head office building. This ensured that Wynyard Quarter was “ready-to-go” as a show-piece for Rugby World Cup 2011.

In November 2010 John was successful in securing the role of Plan Development Manager with the newly-formed Auckland Council. This Plan Development unit had three key tasks: reviewing over 100 bylaws from the legacy councils; developing and implementing local spatial plans; and preparing the Auckland Unitary Plan. During his time in this position, John played a significant role in taking the Auckland Unitary Plan – now largely regarded as a game-changer for Auckland - through from initial concept to substantially operative. In September 2015, he was appointed as the General Manager of Auckland Council’s Plans and Places Department.

John is a self-confessed urbanist with a strong interest in music and architecture, and as a rugby-mad Scotsman, he is still waiting for the day his team get one over the All Blacks!

Penny Hulse

Councillor, Auckland Council

Councillor Penny Hulse represents the Waitākere Ward on the Auckland Council and is Chair of the Environment and Community Committee.

She brings 25 years of local government experience to the role having first been elected to the Waitākere Community Board in 1992 before being elected Chair of the Board in 1994.

In 1995 she was elected as a Waitākere City Councillor and as a Trustee of the Waitakere Licensing Trust.
Since then she has served as Chair on a range of committees including Healthy City, Environmental Management, City Development, and Community & Public Health. She was Deputy Mayor to Sir Bob Harvey from 2007 until 2010. Following amalgamation, she then served two terms as Deputy Mayor to Len Brown and successfully led the Unitary Plan process.
She has been instrumental in helping build the West and understands the area and people well. Penny has strong links with her community and cares passionately about the Auckland region. She served two terms on the Waitemata District Health Board, is currently a Director of West Auckland Trust Services and an elected member of the Waitakere Licensing Trust.

Her other community involvement includes Community Waitākere Charitable Trust, West Auckland Riding for the Disabled, The Waitākere Brass Band, Trustee of Swanson Railway Station Trust, Waitākere Anti Violence Essential Services and former Director of EECA Board.
Penny’s special areas of interest are Climate Change, Sustainable City Development, Environmental Advocacy, Community Development and Youth Empowerment. She is also a big supporter of arts and culture.

Penny is a keen cyclist and has been commuting to the CBD from Te Atatu Peninsula by electric bike since the opening of the Nelson Street Cycleway in December 2015.

Waiata Rameka-Tupe

Environmental Youth Leader, Para Kore Ki Tāmaki

Waiata Rameka-Tupe is a youth environmental leader that operates in her passion, under the marumaru (shelter) of Para Kore Ki Tamaki. She specialises in educating rangatahi/maapu, marae, kura and Māori organisations about an indigenous, rangatahi approach to zero waste conversations. Earlier this year, Waiata was a part of the Mana Rangatahi collective that informed the Auckland Climate Action Plan with the separate whakaaro (understanding) of the Conscious Climates Mana Rangatahi Action Plan. Through her experiences as being a leader in these spaces and as a staunch protector of the pēpī (babies) growing now within her family, Waiata is passionate to enable movement for a sustainable future in Tāmaki Makaurau through the mana (energy) of rangatahi and through the drive of our communities.

Pianina Kahui-McConnell

Environmental Youth Leader, Para Kore Ki Tāmaki

Pianina is one of the Rangatahi Environmental Leaders for Para Kore Ki Tamaki. She has a passion for connecting to te taiao (nature) and protecting honouring and being in the taonga that is and lives in the moana. Pianina has been taking Para Kore (zero waste) to over 30 different Maori organisations, Kura Kaupapa and Marae across Tamaki Makauru. She specialises in zero waste management, plastic pollution and climate change education. She is a proud, bold, and passionate voice for Papatuanuku and Hinemoana. She has been following the passion in her heart which honours the love she has for protecting the sea, education for our people through our ancestral knowledge and being a voice for those who are not heard in the system.

John Mauro

Chief Sustainability Officer, Auckland Council

John Mauro is Auckland Council’s first Chief Sustainability Officer. John and his team provide thought leadership, drive strategic direction and champion change to mainstream sustainability and resilience in the Auckland region.

The focus of the office is to unlock the potential of Auckland’s low carbon transformation, build climate resilience, and lead by example through business and operational practices – from building portfolio to procurement, from fleets to financing - so all activities deliver smarter sustainability outcomes.

John has over 20 years of experience in climate policy, research and advocacy. He came to Auckland from Seattle, where he worked as Policy Director for a transport not-for-profit, helped deliver the US Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement and Seattle’s first climate plan while in the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Environment, and ran an organization dedicated to smart growth policy and advocacy.

Follow John on Twitter

Auckland Conversations

Ideas, inspiration and action for world-class cities

The Future of Auckland: Is density a dirty word?

Full Video

Introduction

Panel discussion and Q&A

Closing

The Future of Auckland: Is density a dirty word?