Co-delivering change for a thriving Aotearoa

In the pursuit of a more equitable Aotearoa, it is essential to co-deliver change with our communities. This notion was discussed in our ‘Liveable Communities’ Theme at the 2023 Urbanism Aotearoa Conference. Our presenters and panel speakers delved into the challenges, solutions and opportunities.

Overcoming barriers to change

One significant barrier to effecting change at the community level is affordability – for example, the cost of accessing different modes of transport and barriers associated with the maintenance costs of assets, particularly in the longer term which is often vested with local councils.  

Integrating community perspectives and reprioritising public spaces are vital aspects of creating liveable communities. Accommodating other modes of transport requires careful planning to ensure safety and accessibility for the community. By asking the right questions and involving the community in the planning process, we can achieve line-of-sight outcomes that meet their needs. Flexibility in planning approaches and adaptability are also essential for safeguarding the future.

Building strong communities

Enhancing cycleway and pedestrian networks not only improves connectivity but also has a positive impact on people's connectedness with their community and place. Inclusive design, grounded in local communities, is essential to bridging the gap between the ‘wants’ and what is actually delivered. Flexible frameworks and guidelines are necessary to allow for different levels of adoption, and behaviour-based campaigns can create activation at a local level. Designing with cultural identity in mind is crucial for creating inclusive and thriving communities. Recognizing the need for flexibility while serving the community is essential. Positive benefits to people, communities, and nature cannot be separated, and expanding transportation choices is essential for community resilience. Collecting data to understand the barriers to be removed is essential as these are the prohibitors to behaviour change.

Measuring outcomes 

Being able to measure outcomes is vital for stakeholders and project success. Design guides that integrate cultural design elements and principles are valuable tools for creating inclusive and effective infrastructure. Our speakers debated that the focus needs to be integrated design, with people and communities at the center. How do you operationalise frameworks and evaluate and measure success, thereby adapting these learnings were key questions posed. 

Creating desirable places

Our speakers said we need more success stories! We need more examples of what ‘good’ urbanism looks like for our understanding to move from design theory to delivery. To make our places desirable to live in, we need to create community ‘value’.

Partnerships play a vital role in the success of projects aimed at creating liveable communities. Making places desirable to live, creates community value and fosters resilience. Access to transport nodes and end-of-journey line of sight is essential for creating community spaces that promote resiliency. Sharing more success stories and examples of what good looks like can inspire and guide future projects.

Thinking about the appropriate application of place and building a consolidated urban form is essential for sustainable development. Tackling the challenge of density in cities, rather than carving up rural land, aligns with the desires of the community. Development controls for density and better design are critical for encouraging acceptance of compact urban forms.

The discussion within this theme concluded that creating liveable communities requires actionable steps including advocating for affordable and accessible modes of transport; engaging with the community in the process of planning; embracing active modes of transport such as walking and cycling; collaborating with local communities to identify needs and workable solutions; implementing tactical urbanism projects such as community gardens and temporary bike lanes; organising community events such as book exchanges and neighbourhood cleanups or repair workshops – and to do this prioritising funding for community-level projects is required; create design guidelines that prioritise safety, accessibility and inclusivity; and for the sector to invest in urbanism education and awareness campaigns such as sustainable transport options that empowers individuals to make informed choices.