Conference Themes

shaping our urban legacy

Urbanism Aotearoa brings together the many representatives who help deliver our neighbourhoods, towns and cities across New Zealand. An inspiring multi-day event, curated by a collective of organisations and passionate urban professionals committed to best-for-people and place outcomes.

We are seeking to bring together a broad and diverse range of speakers, thinkers and presenters to stimulate discussion and debate about our urban legacy - focusing on how we will collaborate to deliver our shared tomorrow.

Conference Themes

The conference programme will explore the following themes: 


Mana-enhancing: 

Evolution of urbanism in Aotearoa through mātauranga Māori; shift in not only the way we think, but also in our actions and the way we deliver; questioning the central definition of ‘urbanity’ as we consider decolonization.  

QUESTION:  How do we conceive of design and realise successful built environments in Aotearoa that embody mātauranga Māori and enhance Te Taiao, the natural world?  


Regenerative:

Kaitiakitanga; climate responsiveness; a low carbon future; designing for resilience and sustainability; density done well; stewardship of land, water and resources; density and accessibility; barriers to delivery in meeting our climate goals; transition to circular economy; electric vehicle take-off and landing (EVOTL); emissions reduction and climate adaption plans. 

QUESTION: How do we live the value of kaitiakitanga of the natural world in our role of shaping resilient, successful urban places? 


Liveable Communities:

Community presence, influence and place making for safer neighbourhoods; social infrastructure; role of government; movement systems and tactile urbanism; solutions to improve our mental and physical health; walkable, functional and safe places; mixed use communities; sustainable transport solutions; sense of place; our human needs; citizen-centric urbanism; place made and community shaping; wellness – designing for a healthy urban environment; influence of increased multiculturalism.  

QUESTION: How do we co-deliver change with our communities together with the necessary infrastructure and services to help communities thrive in a more equitable Aotearoa? 


Technology and innovation:

Transformational technology in urbanism; data and connectivity; smart city solutions; privacy and identity in urban design; community-led futures; role of e-commerce on urban centres; isolation in the work-from-home world; ‘electric everything’; energy transformation. 

QUESTION: What is urbanism in our transformational world – post Covid pandemic, technological innovations re-modelling business, and the environment under extreme pressure? 


Productive and economic:

Regional urbanism; infrastructure requirements and connectivity; working where you live; alternate modes of development; governance and coordinated investment; funding and decision-making; joint accountability; market incentive construction costs; inflation; global influences; workforce; role of government and legislation; process, planning and codes; supply chain ecosystem and disruption. 

QUESTION: What is viable development in the dynamic of our new urbanity and how is this impacting the commercial imperatives driving investment? 


Integration:

Land use; transport; policy to delivery; governance structures; strengthening the connection between what we see as ‘economy’, society / whānau and taiao; products, structures and materials; bio-inspired processes; spheres of society - transdisciplinary approach (science, business, entrepreneurship, politics, civil society).  

QUESTION: How do we develop integrated systems thinking and industry-wide collaboration to deliver resilient and liveable built environments in Aotearoa? 


Other:

Subject topics and themes not included in the above.  All Abstracts will be considered by the Conference Advisory Committee and topics outside the scope will be reviewed for inclusion in the context of existing topics, themes and the overall program