Urbanism NZ 2023 includes six urban environment discussion themes and collaborative, sector led session across a 2 day programme.
The Integration session theme is focusing on how we develop integrated systems thinking and industry-wide collaboration to deliver resilient and liveable built environments in Aotearoa.
Our cities face complex and inter-related challenges. Climate change resilience, affordability, high quality intensification and enriching connections with the natural environment are pressing challenges for New Zealand cities. Solutions to these do not neatly fit in the realm of any one discipline. Solutions can only arise out of our commitment for integration of diverse expertise and perspectives. The reward is worth it: Cities that are not only liveable now and into the future but also lovable and resilient with a sense of connection and pride.
Ekin Sakin, Principal Advisor Urban Design, Christchurch City Council
Changing the urban development paradigm – nurturing resilient communities
Aotearoa NZ is currently in a period of generational change in the urban development sector, reflected in the process of major regulatory reforms which seek to respond to systemic challenges and new drivers facing the built and natural environment. The panel will discuss the policy and development enablers and barriers to the creation of neighbourhoods that facilitate access to housing, shops, social infrastructure and employment.
Plan of plans – an integration tool
This presentation will address the theme of integration from policy to delivery and uphold the humble ‘plan of plans’ as a technique that deserves greater recognition and application in our practices of bringing things together.
Stuart Houghton Partner, Urban Designer, Boffa MiskellDo we need an Aotearoa Spatial Plan?
Our country’s resource management system is undergoing the most significant review since the Resource Management Act (RMA) was enacted in 1991. A key outcome of this Review is the imminent introduction of the Spatial Planning Act (SPA), which will the preparation of Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS). This presentation looks beyond the Region to ask: What could a national ‘Aotearoa Spatial Plan’ look like? And do we need one?
Stephanie Griffiths, Urban Designer, Boffa Miskell
Tim Church, Urban Designer, Boffa Miskell
Urban Designers as Placemakers – learning from international, to deliver for local
In September 2022, Christchurch’s residents made it very clear to its Council that residential intensification, with little regard for ‘place’, was not acceptable. What is our role as urban designers, to ensure we deliver as ‘placemakers’? What else is in the toolbox to enable intensification in the right places - for thriving communities now and into the future?
Sophie Burtt, Urban Designer, Eliot Sinclair
The four ingredients to revitalising urban spaces
This presentation focuses on the urban regeneration opportunities that can be unlocked with public transport, bringing insights from light rail systems from across the world. We explore, ‘how can we best leverage Auckland Light Rail to establish a sustainable and resilient urban corridor for the city’.
Tim O’Loan, Aurecon
Urbanism NZ Aotearoa aims for a collaborative discussion with all the areas across our built environment. On Day Two of the conference, our MC Susie Ferguson sits down with two developers with deep and broad experience to discuss pragmatic solutions for urban renewal projects.
Founder and CEO of the Templeton Group, Nigel McKenna is a sometimes controversial, always straight talker with a 30-year career in property and one of the most experienced developers in New Zealand. A common theme to all his projects is a strong focus on design to ensure that the outcome achieved is not only aesthetically attractive but also functional and viable.
Bernadette Pinnell is the Global Business Director of Home in Place, delivering affordable housing in the Pacific and in the North West of the USA with development partners. Bernadette’s doctoral research investigated the social sustainability of urban renewal projects in Australia. After 15 years in Sydney, she returned to Aotearoa, establishing an affordable housing organisation in partnership with developers and government which now accommodates over 600 households.
Hear from five of our urban sector member institutes as they provide their pitch to our challenge “How can your organisation and its members better contribute to the collective conversation about making better urban environments?”
Attend the pre conference dinner Wednesday 26 April – tickets on sale here
Register for the conference and attend the Wednesday study tours
Conference delegates make sure you attend the Networking Event Thursday 27 April – purchase tickets here
Attend the exhibition .
Urbanism Aotearoa is a conference about making connections to bring about change. Our conversation started in 2018 and with a pandemic enforced hiatus, we are very pleased to be able to continue this in 2023.
Our focus is on the complex systems with interconnected issues directed by different stakeholders but seeking the same outcome - good urban environments for all people. As such, this conference is put together by a collective of organisations and urban professionals to stimulate discussion.
Urbanism NZ provides a diversity of conversations on our urban environments and their delivery including the evolution of urban design in Aotearoa through mātauranga Māori; climate responsiveness; designing for a healthy urban environment; working better with communities; infrastructure requirements and connectivity; land use and transportation.
Check out more conference news here.