A City of Neighbourhoods

Frith Walker is Manager of Placemaking in the Auckland Urban Development Office. Frith has had an unparalleled impact on placemaking in Auckland. She’s been at the forefront of ensuring community-centric urban regeneration since Auckland came under single governance in 2010. Frith’s role has ensured urban design is soundly based on local culture, knowledge and preferences. The great success of Auc...

In the episode we focus a global lens on Auckland placemaking. Ethan Kent’s advice on how to shape great urban precincts is in demand across the globe. Ethan is the executive director of PlacemakingX, based in Brooklyn New York. We were fortunate to talk to him recently in Auckland about how to harness the energies of communities and business to successfully regenerate places they can share and lo...

Bill McKay on Placemaking: People-centred Archictecture by A City of Neighbourhoods

When New Zealand media want to understand what’s going on in the growth and make up of our populations and the communities that comprise it, Professor Paul Spoonley is often the first person to talk to. A sociologist and demographer, Paul is Distinguished Professor Emeritus and Honorary Research Associate at Te Kura Pukenga Tangata / College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Massey University. He...

Jeremy Hansen is Director of Communications and Community at Cooper and Company, the people behind Auckland's highly successful Britomart precinct. Jeremy's contribution to Auckland and Aotearoa, however, is even broader - he has co-written and edited several important books on architecture and urban design, is a frequent contributor to national print and online media, and hosts the popular podcas...

Graham Tipene has a deep connection to Tāmaki Makaurau, living at Ōrākei, the place where he and his tupuna were born. Graham is a much sought after artist in the disciplines of tā moko tattooing and in installation artworks that gives life to the history and culture of Auckland within it’s modern infrastructure. This podcast episode discusses the thinking behind some of our city’s most recent and...

Simon takes us on an exciting exploration of how the diverse elements of the city centre are woven into a unified and purposeful programme of works. (0:00) Introduction (0:54) The Role of the AUDO in the City Centre (1:29) Simon's Role in the AUDO (2:37) The Diverse Groups are Included in Shaping City Centre Decisions (4:42) How the City Centre Advisory Panel Works (6:01) The Longevity of a Divers...

(0:00) Introduction (0:30) What's Unique about Auckland City Centre (2:12) How the City Centre Brings People Together (3:08) How the City Centre Compares Internationally (4:08) How Agglomeration Helps (7:33) What Auckland Needs to Do to Keep Talent (9:16) How the City Centre Adapts to a Changing Society (12:19) The Priorities for Businesses and Residents in the City Centre (12:19) How Productivity...

We talk to George Weeks, lead author of the 2020 Auckland City Centre Masterplan (CCMP).

Leonie Freeman discusses property's role in the city centre economy by A City of Neighbourhoods

We talk to Simon Bridges about Business and Auckland by A City of Neighbourhoods

In this episode, we speak to Adrienne Young-Cooper. Adrienne is a currently a full-time, non-executive company director and trustee on a number of entities and organisations. This follows a leading public-sector career and running a medium-sized consultancy. She has specialised in transport (land, aviation and maritime) sectors, social housing and urban and property development and investment. In...

In this episode, we speak to Steve Armitage, Chief Executive of Hospitality NZ and former GM Destination of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development, now Tataki Auckland Unlimited. Steve has overseen the economic development aspects of many of Auckland’s major events, including the Cricket World Cup, 36th America’s World Cup, FIFA Women’s World cup and Rugby World Cup, and with this exper...

In this episode, we speak to Patrick Reynolds, Deputy Chair of the Auckland City Centre Advisory Panel, Director of Greater Auckland, and former board member of Waka Kotahi NZTA. Patrick is popularly known for his architectural photography and celebrated for his active role in urban issues especially transport in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Patrick talks about the origin of the Auckland city centre...

In this episode, Rory Palmer chats with Simon Wilson - award-winning senior writer for The Herald, and author of the 'Love This City' weekly newsletter. This episode covers, among other things, the interplay between private and public sectors in transforming a city - the 'sweet spot' between disruption and progress - as well as Simon's favourite parts of the city. All this and much more besides. L...

Eke Panuku is advancing the practice of deconstructing, rather than demolishing, buildings and infrastructure in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland. “Deconstruction” sees materials repurposed for other projects – reducing the financial and environmental costs of both waste to landfill and new materials production. The benefits of the Eke Panuku approach are broad and surprising, while the costs are compar...

In this episode, we talk with Oliver Ferrick, a Civil engineer from Glasgow Contractors, about his restoration work on Papa ki Awataha Jessie Tonar Scout Reserve. He chats to Rory Palmer about the unique challenges of the upgrade and how important it was to support the initial mahi Kaipātiki Project had achieved in the area. Oliver emphasised how much he enjoyed the stakeholder engagement aspects...

In this podcast, we talk about the importance of ‘connections’, with Niko Elsen – Principal Urban Designer, Master Planning, and Roxanne Haines - Principal Strategic Placemaker. We discuss why quality connections are core to Eke Panuku and more importantly how they connect people to their town centres.

We talk about Thriving Town Centres with Duncan Ecob – Head of Design, and Naomi Craymer – Principal Strategic Advisor As Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland’s urban regeneration agency, our focus is on strengthening and growing communities around thriving town centres. To explain our approach, we’ve created the Thriving Town Centres guidance, which defines our core principles and critical success factors.

Leigh spent 32 years at Manukau City Council, up to amalgamation in 2010. Leigh was in charge of most regulatory and infrastructure functions up to the time he was appointed the CEO in 2005. Leigh is a qualified Planner and was very involved in the development of southern Auckland. Leigh Auton is founding Director of Auton & Associates Ltd. He recently retired as a Trustee of the Auckland Philharm...

We talk with Kevin Lidgard, Head of Marinas (Westhaven, Silo & Viaduct marinas) about he and his family’s life long maritime connection.

Denise Bijoux - Managing Director Catalyse and works as a community activator at the neighbourhood/local level, inspiring and supporting locally-led change in place as well as developing social, physical and organisational infrastructure. Her work at Placemaking Week Tāmaki Makaurau draws from many years working in and alongside communities and their projects. Denise brings experience both of driv...

Audrey Williams is the General Manager of the Wiri Business Association. Her role initially started out as a part-time role with only 10 hours a week and has evolved steadily over the last decade in the full-time role she holds today. It’s not just her role that has expanded – the Wiri Business Association originally covered 102ha and had around 300 members. Now, it covers 680ha and has around 130...

We talk with Barbara Carney - Community Manager - Manukau Beautification Trust. Organisation: Manukau Beautification Charitable Trust - http://www.beautifulmanukau.nz/people Overview: Beautification of our living and built environments, comes in all shapes and sizes and is the trust’s main focus. They work to connect and inspire others including communities and whanau to make the right choices and...

We catch up with Frith Walker, Panuku’s head of placemaking about her special connection to the past, present and future of Wynyard Quarter. Frith is the fourth-generation in her family to work with Wynyard Quarter and champion its waterfront identity. Hear what she has to share about how Wynyard Quarter has changed, where it’s going and the significance of our connection to the past, in planning...