Green space is needed in urban areas to provide health and wellbeing benefits for current and future residents, commuters and visitors, together with multiple ecosystem services benefits. We consider that green spaces are an element of urban infrastructure no less important than transport corridors or fresh water. Furthermore, their distribution is a significant element of urban form and indicator of resilience and equity in residents’ lives. We have studied the provision of public green space in central Wellington City, in relation to current and projected future population levels, as an example of green space availability and distribution issues in a larger New Zealand city. Our research was initiated under the compact and dispersed development strand of the NZCSC’s Resilient Urban Futures programme and continued with research commissioned by Wellington City Council.
Researchers: Paul Blaschke, Ralph Chapman, Philippa Howden-Chapman, Jenny Ombler, Ed Randal, Meredith Perry, Nadia Freeman, Fiona Chan, Maibritt Pedersen Zari, Elaine Gyde.