19 February 2010 – 8:39 am
Also posted in health, media, news & events, transport
On Tuesday Evening 16th February 2010 we launched “Sizing up the City; Urban Form and Transport”. The book collects and expands on papers presented at the February 2009 Summer School. It includes the latest research and thinking on sustainable transport and our built environment as well as experiences from councils trying to create more sustainable cities.
“Sizing up the City” book order form
5% More Cyclists Save $200m
just one of the messages in the book was spelt out by local cyclists at the launch linking the book to the BikeWise Challenge “On your Bike” month of February.
from left to right: Andy Foster (WCC), Celia Wade-Brown (WCC),Jude Ball (Frocks on Bikes), Annette King (MP, Labour), Kevin Hague (MP, Greens)
Photo Kevin Hague at book Launch.
Photo Cyclists group
Link to Cycling Advocates Network CAN
Courtesy of the Healthy Community Design News newsletter:
Economic growth associated with less VMT, more transit ridership (Victoria Transport Institute, December 2009).
A new study by the Victoria Transport Policy Institute in Canada finds that gross domestic product (GDP) tends to increase with transit ridership and density, and decline with vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and roadway supply. This essentially validates general analysis on the economic benefits of agglomeration (the value of locating economic activities close together, which is why cities exist) and of a more diverse and efficient transport system (indicated by higher transit ridership).
Read More »
6 January 2010 – 12:46 pm
In the spirit of winding up the last year and considering the new one here are a couple of interesting listy links:
Planetizen releases its ninth annual list of the ten best books in urban planning, design and development published in 2009. This year’s assortment ranges from an impassioned argument for making transit fun to a low-key and practical guide to smart growth.
Looking forward, here’s a link to the Listener article with 20 ideas for a better world by Ruth Laugesen & David Lomas (the full text will be available from 16/01/10). Here imaginative New Zealanders, including our director Philippa Howden-Chapman, share their ideas on how to make the world a better place.
Please feel free to share your top reads or ideas from 2009.
19 November 2009 – 10:30 am
Also posted in NZ policy issues, housing & building, news & events, urban design, urban governance
Public Comment
The following draft Standard is available for you to comment on. The closing date for comment on this draft Standard is 5 February 2010.
DZ 4404, Land development and subdivision Read More »
15 October 2009 – 1:57 pm
Also posted in news & events, transport, urban design
NZTA Seminar
The application of Health Impact Assessments in transport planning and funding.
Rob Quigley and MartinWard will present the results of their recent research.
Date: Wednesday 21 October
Time: 12.30 -1.30pm
Venue: PSIS House, 20 Balance Street, Wellington
RSVP by Tuesday 20 October to rachel.evans@nzta.govt.nz
And a reminder that our seminar is on that evening.
Making the Right Turn, How policy, planning, investment, and behaviour will adapt with oil production and the climate
Dr Susan Krumdieck Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Canterbury. Director of Advanced Energy and Material Systems Lab (www.aemslab.org.nz) pioneering R&D in transitional technologies and systems for power, fuels and transport.and Dwayne Fletcher, Senior Policy Advisor (Strategic Development),Hutt City Council
5.30-7pm, Wednesday 21 October,
Old Govt House, Lecture Theatre 1,
Pipitea Campus
29 September 2009 – 1:17 pm
Also posted in climate change, news & events, transport, urban design
VUW Climate Change Research Institute and Wellington City Council
The Next Steps for Living with Climate Change
12 October 2009
1:30 pm – 5:00 pm
The Icon Room, National Museum Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington
This meeting provides four summaries of some of the latest developments in climate change science relevant to New Zealand and covers why this area is becoming increasingly serious. The following discussion, led by Chris Cameron from the Wellington City Council, will discuss the linkages between studies of the physical, environmental and socio-economic effects of climate change and the management of appropriate responses in local government and central government.
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The New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities
Making the Right Turn
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
5.30-7pm
Lecture Theatre 1 Old Government Buildings, Victoria University of
Wellington, Pipitea Campus, Stout Street, Wellington
Dr Susan Krumdieck – Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Canterbury. Director of Advanced Energy and Material Systems Lab (www.aemslab.org.nz) pioneering R&D in transitional technologies and systems for power, fuels and transport.
Paki Maaka, Urban Design Manager, HUTT CITY COUNCIL
How policy, planning, investment, and behaviour will adapt with oil production and the climate
24 September 2009 – 2:34 pm
It was interesting to read the Editorial in yesterday’s The New Zealand Herald hoping that the new Super City will put to rest what they percieve to be a doomed drive for density.
Perhaps though the comment below is a call for more co-benefit research:
Governments and their officials have been hard to convince of the value of commuter railways in Auckland. Environmental reasoning alone has not persuaded them.
18 September 2009 – 2:48 pm
Also posted in news & events, transport
From the Statistics NZ website
Commuting Patterns in New Zealand: 1996–2006
Speakers: Martin Ralphs and Rosemary Goodyear, Senior Research Statisticians, Statistics New Zealand
When: Thursday 24 September 2009, 2:30pm–3:30pm
Where: Spectrum Theatre, BP House, Cnr Customhouse Quay and Johnston St, Wellington
Seminar: Commuting patterns in New Zealand have come under increasing scrutiny because of growing public and government interest in sustainability. This interest arose because of legislative changes, such as the Local Government Act 2002, which required local councils to consider sustainability in their 10-year development plans. Larger city councils have promoted more sustainable commuting options such as public transport, walking, and cycling. Better information about commuting is important to help inform government and society. Read More »
11 September 2009 – 10:10 am
Also posted in news & events, urban governance
As requested by attendees at the Public Health Association Conference, we will follow the progress of the Review of the Local Government Act and keep you up to date with any papers and consultations.
The review is currently underway and the deadline has been extended until later this month. You can see the orginal cabinet paper approving the review here .
You can also see the last review, which was completed in July 2008 on the Department of Internal Affairs website: here
9 September 2009 – 2:26 pm
Also posted in news & events, research, urban design
Here are some links to recent research and an interesting video lecture:
The National Research Council’s Transportation Research Board calculated the greenhouse gas savings if new housing was more compact and put homes close to jobs and other amenities. A report requested by Congress and published last week, determined that 57 million US homes will be needed by 2030 to accommodate population growth and replacement housing.
“Removing the Roadblocks: How to Make Sustainable Development Happen Now” out last month from the UC Berkeley School of Law and UCLA School of Law.
Yesterday the Victorian Transport Policy Institute released ” Where We Want To Be: Home Location Preferences and their Implications for Smart Growth” by Todd Litman
And finally, thanks to the Ministry for the Environment Urban Leader newsletter I found this very interesting lecture by Bill Hillier on the links between density and crime.
