Urban Planning stories
Growing councils may soon gain new ways to pay for roads and water as a report urges options beyond rates and debt.
The report is seen as a warning that New Zealand’s planning rules are failing cities and could hamper future development unless reform is coherent.
Fragmented local decision making is still set to slow growth unless planning, funding and delivery are aligned, Infrastructure New Zealand says.
Planning reforms will face scrutiny in Wellington, with more than 600 delegates set to quiz parties on housing, growth and resilience.
Rising dairy, transport and industry emissions are testing New Zealand’s green credentials, with the OECD warning that water pollution is worsening.
Councils say tourism growth is straining toilets, roads and car parks, with more than 680 projects worth NZD $1.38 billion in train.
Communities face billions in upgrade costs as local councils seek a single framework linking freshwater standards, funding and affordability.
Auckland’s rapid growth has left New Zealand grappling with housing shortages and overloaded transport, prompting calls for a rethink on planning.
New Zealand taxpayers could face a heavier bill for roads, schools and hospitals unless migrants are charged to help fund growth.
Travellers will get 250 more premium rooms as demand for airport accommodation drives a new Pullman hotel beside Auckland Airport’s terminal.
Urban planners say rising heat, driverless cars and the shared economy are reshaping New Zealand cities and infrastructure.
Vacancy in Wellington’s CBD has fallen below 8 per cent after the Kaikoura earthquake, leaving displaced tenants with few office options.
Auckland’s construction boom is driving demand for demolition specialists, as tight sites, asbestos and traffic risks make each job more complex.
Drivers are unlikely to face major queues, with the new ramp signals expected to operate only when needed to keep Auckland traffic flowing safely.
Auckland road works are a step nearer, with a Board of Inquiry set to weigh the project and submissions later this year.
Public submissions will now test the East West Link, with the board process expected to give industry greater certainty over timing.
Earthquake recovery is largely complete as the university outlines a 30-year campus blueprint, with key projects due by 2018.
Green building could lift investment returns and productivity, with New Zealand's property sector warned it must cut emissions as cities grow.
Owners of vulnerable Wellington buildings will get help with costly earthquake safety work, with a NZD $3 million fund set up by government.
Public safety fears have prompted support for a government fund to help owners secure dangerous facades in Wellington and nearby centres.
