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Urban issues New Zealand Urban Design Protocol
Urban Design Champions’ workshops
MfE runs urban design champions’ workshops up to three times a year in order to support appointed urban design champions in their role. The workshops provide an opportunity for champions to hear from others and to network.
August 2007 workshop
The August 2007 workshop was held as a one-off by MfE in partnership with Tauranga City Council as part of their 'Inspire' Urban Design Week. The theme for this workshop was 'smaller city centres.' A key note presentation was given by Mike Scott, Director of Planisphere, Melbourne. Mike talked on urban design strategies and community engagement. Presentations were also given by Jane McCredie, Urban Design Manager, Manukau City Council; Paul Bowman, Hamilton City Council; Paul Bowker, H & H Developments; and Martin Bryant from Wraight Associates.
May 2007 workshops
To celebrate the NZ Urban Design Protocols’ 2nd birthday and the achievements of all its signatory organisations to date MfE held a series of events in Wellington. On 3 May the Minister for the Environment, Hon Benson-Pope hosted a cocktail function at the Grand Hall, Parliament. A key note presentation was given by Charles Johnson, CEO of the City of Waneroo, Perth. Charles talked about the benefits of urban transformation authorities. On Friday 4 May the Ministry held an urban design symposium to showcase a few examples of the excellent initiatives some of the signatories have undertaken. Presentations were given by 12 organisations on intensive residential development, design panels and urban strategies. Over 200 people from signatory organisations attended the celebrations.
Charles Johnson (City of Waneroo, Perth, Australia) giving his key note presention
Anthony Flannery (Chow:Hill), Anthony Williams (MfE) and Martin Udale (Property Council and McConnell Property) at the Grand Hall, Parliament
November 2006 workshops
Over 100 people attended the November workshops held in Johnsonville (Wellington), Halswell (Christchurch) and Henderson (Waitakere). The theme of these workshops was transport and urban design and the Ministry invited Raeburn Chapman from the Roads and Traffic Authority in New South Wales to present on urban design policy and practice relevant to transport infrastructure.
Peter Joyce sets the scene at the Waitakere Urban Design Champions Workshop in November 2006
June 2006 workshops
These workshops were held in Waikanae, Pukekohe and Dunedin. A total of 100 champions from signatory and potential signatory organisations attended the workshops. The workshops were held in conjunction with the Kapiti Coast District Council, Franklin District Council, Dunedin City Council and the University of Otago. Each half day workshop included a fieldtrip to local urban design projects and was combined with a panel of speakers and discussion on urban design perspectives including how these applied to the local issues.
February 2006 workshops
Over 130 people attended three workshops in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch. The theme of the workshops was “Competitive Cities - the role of urban design”. The keynote presentation from Marcus Spiller, economist and planner, is available below:
Competitive cities – the role of urban design: Keynote presentation (PDF 366 KB)
This workshop was also used to launch the first edition of the Urban Design Toolkit. (The second edition of the Urban Design Toolkit was published in April 2007).
Lindsay Gow (Deputy CEO Ministry for the Environment) shows the Urban Design toolkit to Hon Minister David Benson-Pope (Minister with Responsibility for Urban Affairs)
August 2005 workshops
Two workshops for urban design champions were held in Wellington and Auckland. Approximately 110 people attended, representing most of the signatory organisations. The main purpose of these workshops was to provide some guidance on the role of champions within their own organisations. Richard Simmons, the Chief Executive of Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment in the UK was the keynote speaker.
The summary notes of these workshops are available online.
Last updated: 28 January 2008
