We talk to George Weeks, lead author of the 2020 Auckland City Centre Masterplan (CCMP).

Leonie Freeman discusses property's role in the city centre economy by A city of neighbourhoods

We talk to Simon Bridges about Business and Auckland by A city of neighbourhoods

In this episode, we speak to Adrienne Young-Cooper. Adrienne is a currently a full-time, non-executive company director and trustee on a number of entities and organisations. This follows a leading public-sector career and running a medium-sized consultancy. She has specialised in transport (land, aviation and maritime) sectors, social housing and urban and property development and investment. In this episode, Adrienne shares her belief that Auckland's city centre would benefit from two things: increasing its residential population and turning it into the economic heart of the country by making it the primary location for our biggest companies. As someone who spends time outside the city for work, she also acknowledges that the rest of New Zealand see that if Auckland does well, then the whole country benefits. (0:00) Introduction (1:16) Our issues are the same and they are very different (3:51) What we can do to increase City Centre residents (8:26) Why resistance to change is the same everywhere (12:41) What solutions were there for homelessness in the City Centre (15:36) How there is scope for more solutions to homelessness (16:39) The solutions go beyond housing (18:03) Where specialist governance can be successful (23:25) How other parts of the country see Auckland (26:49) Auckland's conditions demand different aproaches (27:56) The economic priority for Auckland City Centre (30:57) Farewell

In this episode, we speak to Steve Armitage, Chief Executive of Hospitality NZ and former GM Destination of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development, now Tataki Auckland Unlimited. Steve has overseen the economic development aspects of many of Auckland’s major events, including the Cricket World Cup, 36th America’s World Cup, FIFA Women’s World cup and Rugby World Cup, and with this experience, he touches on the how important it is to keep Auckland visible on the world stage. However, he says hospitality is all about human connection – we have great diversity and vibrancy in Auckland, and our quality built environment and improving accessibility supports that- but people still need an occasion, celebration or event to bring them into the city. With 24 of the Top 50 Metro eateries in the city centre, Steve outlines how he believes Auckland can become a must-see international destination. (0:00) Introduction (1:15) The State of Auckland Hospitality (3:23) Planning for Changes in the Sector (5:25) How Events Affect Auckland (7:52) Hospitality's Role in the Economy (10:27) How Auckland Hospitality Compares (13:26) How Auckland can Improve (17:01) Delivering on Promises (21:18) Interest in the International Convention Centre (23:33) The Need for Strong Leadership (25:14) Farewell

In this episode, we speak to Patrick Reynolds, Deputy Chair of the Auckland City Centre Advisory Panel, Director of Greater Auckland, and former board member of Waka Kotahi NZTA. Patrick is popularly known for his architectural photography and celebrated for his active role in urban issues especially transport in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Patrick talks about the origin of the Auckland city centre and the role of transport in shaping our economic and cultural centre from the mid twentieth century until now. He explains that there is a critical difference between a central business district and a true city centre. His advice to mayors and ministers is that we have begun doing many of the right things, but we need to do more to make Auckland’s economic and cultural centre internationally competitive. 0:00 Introducing Patrick Reynolds 1:48 Accelerating the booming city centre? 3:59 Making the city centre more attractive 7:53 Making a city centre for all Aucklanders 9:23 Mass transit alternatives 12:58 Balancing place and movement 15:29 Aesthetics of the city centre 16:35 The impact of intentional planning 20:56 Impatient optimism 23:07 Wrapping up

In this episode, Rory Palmer chats with Simon Wilson - award-winning senior writer for The Herald, and author of the 'Love This City' weekly newsletter. This episode covers, among other things, the interplay between private and public sectors in transforming a city - the 'sweet spot' between disruption and progress - as well as Simon's favourite parts of the city. All this and much more besides. Listen here.

Eke Panuku is advancing the practice of deconstructing, rather than demolishing, buildings and infrastructure in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland. “Deconstruction” sees materials repurposed for other projects – reducing the financial and environmental costs of both waste to landfill and new materials production. The benefits of the Eke Panuku approach are broad and surprising, while the costs are comparable to traditional demolish and dump approaches. This episode of A City of Neighbourhoods interviews Kristen Webster and Duncan Munroe who are corporate responsibility experts within Eke Panuku. Kristen and Duncan explain why deconstruction should be the first option considered when it’s time to remove old buildings and infrastructure.

In this episode, we talk with Oliver Ferrick, a Civil engineer from Glasgow Contractors, about his restoration work on Papa ki Awataha Jessie Tonar Scout Reserve. He chats to Rory Palmer about the unique challenges of the upgrade and how important it was to support the initial mahi Kaipātiki Project had achieved in the area. Oliver emphasised how much he enjoyed the stakeholder engagement aspects of the project, including sharing stories with passionate locals, some who even looked after the irrigation of plants at the weekends.

In this podcast, we talk about the importance of ‘connections’, with Niko Elsen – Principal Urban Designer, Master Planning, and Roxanne Haines - Principal Strategic Placemaker. We discuss why quality connections are core to Eke Panuku and more importantly how they connect people to their town centres.

We talk about Thriving Town Centres with Duncan Ecob – Head of Design, and Naomi Craymer – Principal Strategic Advisor As Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland’s urban regeneration agency, our focus is on strengthening and growing communities around thriving town centres. To explain our approach, we’ve created the Thriving Town Centres guidance, which defines our core principles and critical success factors.

Leigh spent 32 years at Manukau City Council, up to amalgamation in 2010. Leigh was in charge of most regulatory and infrastructure functions up to the time he was appointed the CEO in 2005. Leigh is a qualified Planner and was very involved in the development of southern Auckland. Leigh Auton is founding Director of Auton & Associates Ltd. He recently retired as a Trustee of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, and is the Deputy Chair of Ako Mātātupu: Teach First NZ. He is Chair of the Pulman Park Trust and the Papakura Kootuitui Trust. Leigh has been either a Chair, Director or Trustee on a number of other organisations, including Auckland Council Property Ltd , Recovery Solutions Group Trust, Emerge Aotearoa, Ngapuhi Asset Holding Company and its subsidiaries, Sistema Aotearoa and Housing New Zealand.

We talk with Kevin Lidgard, Head of Marinas (Westhaven, Silo & Viaduct marinas) about he and his family’s life long maritime connection.

Denise Bijoux - Managing Director Catalyse and works as a community activator at the neighbourhood/local level, inspiring and supporting locally-led change in place as well as developing social, physical and organisational infrastructure. Her work at Placemaking Week Tāmaki Makaurau draws from many years working in and alongside communities and their projects. Denise brings experience both of driving locally-led initiatives from the bottom up to placemaking and of supporting systems change. She is Managing Director at Catalyse (current clients are Panuku Development, Kaipātiki Local Board, Presbyterian Support North, Takapuna Methodist Church, NZ Ethnic Women’s Network and Journey Together), Learning and Outcomes Convenor for Inspiring Communities (working primarily in Tāmaki Makaurau and Te Tai Tōkerau), founding chair at Grow Space and one of the founders of the Morningside Urban Market Garden as well as being the founding chair of Gribblehirst Community Hub. Catalyse website - https://www.catalyse.co.nz Placemaking Week - https://www.placemaking.nz

Audrey Williams is the General Manager of the Wiri Business Association. Her role initially started out as a part-time role with only 10 hours a week and has evolved steadily over the last decade in the full-time role she holds today. It’s not just her role that has expanded – the Wiri Business Association originally covered 102ha and had around 300 members. Now, it covers 680ha and has around 1300 members, making it New Zealand’s largest geographical Business Association.

We talk with Barbara Carney - Community Manager - Manukau Beautification Trust. Organisation: Manukau Beautification Charitable Trust - http://www.beautifulmanukau.nz/people Overview: Beautification of our living and built environments, comes in all shapes and sizes and is the trust’s main focus. They work to connect and inspire others including communities and whanau to make the right choices and ensure sustainable outcomes within Manukau’s Urban environments. Groups, organisations, schools and individuals call upon the Manukau Beautification Charitable Trust to help with environmental education, modest place-making and for support with their community events which involves a little bit of everything we do. Services include: - Graffiti Removal - Clean-ups and placemaking - Mural and Arts - Boomer Business - Eye on nature – Major event - Tiaki

We catch up with Frith Walker, Panuku’s head of placemaking about her special connection to the past, present and future of Wynyard Quarter. Frith is the fourth-generation in her family to work with Wynyard Quarter and champion its waterfront identity. Hear what she has to share about how Wynyard Quarter has changed, where it’s going and the significance of our connection to the past, in planning for the future.

We talk with Sara Zwart about the restoration of the Awataha and Puhinui Streams by A city of neighbourhoods

We talk with Tessa Meyer about Green Star Communities by A city of neighbourhoods

We talk with Clare Thorne - Programme Manager - Waterfront at Panuku