RRI Green Planning Archives: New Zealand

Waitakere City, Aotearoa New Zealand: A  Postcard From Paradise

Marin Economic Commission Annual Awards Luncheon
San Rafael, Marin County, 22 October, 12 p.m.

Mayor Bob Harvey, Waitakere City

Greeting—Mihi,

Chairman William McCubbin, Commissioners, guests and friends. Thank you for inviting me to be part of this celebration today. Let me just say how impressed I am with the finalists and winners. Congratulations to you all.

The greeting you have just heard is in the language of the indigenous people of my country, the Maori. While many of the beliefs, systems and values of our relatively young society in New Zealand are founded in European colonisation we are equally grounded in Maori custom and traditions. Maori culture is at the core of our Society and therefore of our cities. It sets the framework for everything we do. To me this is hugely important. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Because here, at the end of the millennium, a centuries old culture is helping us embrace the challenges of creating a more liveable and dynamic city. Along with sustainability, there is a certain spirituality about the approach we in New Zealand are taking to building cities. But with everything we do, there is a commitment to building a robust and thriving economy.

And I guess that's the reason that I am here. My 'postcard from paradise' has a message: Business and the environment is the perfect marriage. In the new century, I believe companies will seek out exciting, vibrant and sustainable communities as places to do business. In the 21st century, thriving economies be sustained by strong communities and healthy natural environments. The three are inseparable.

In many ways, I feel at home here in Marin County. Like Marin, my city sits on the edge of a major metropolis. Waitakere by American standards is a small Edge City, with a population of 170,000 people. In many ways Waitakere is a microcosm of the whole of my country. It is one of New Zealand's fastest growing cities, one of the youngest, and most diverse.

It is home to 96 separate and different cultures. A modern melting pot. It's part of the sprawling metropolis of the Auckland Region, New Zealand's largest conurbation, which has a population of 1.3 million. Like you, much of our being is interwoven with the lives of our neighbours. Like the Bay Area, many people in Waitakere travel into neighbouring cities and districts every day for work. We live a life of total inter-dependence.

Like you, we are committed to nurturing and supporting local business initiatives to reduce our dependency on others. That too shapes everything we do. Like Marin County, ours is 'new' land, a colonised landscape bound by the vast Pacific Ocean. Like you, we are committed to creating a sustainable future that secures our social, environmental and economic well-being.

So what are we doing that is different? In 1992 Waitakere City was inspired by the great conference in Rio that gave us Agenda 21. In that regard we are part of a global movement dedicated to building better cities. It's a vision we share with many others. And I am delighted to be able to continue that sharing process here today.

We in New Zealand truly admire the strong initiatives in many cities across the Pacific and America, to take firm and irreversible steps towards a more sustainable future. We are inspired by cities like Portland, San Diego, Honolulu. All are leading Pacific cities that have embraced this new way of thinking. But in Waitakere we are also looking at substantial change.

I quote from my good friend Lord Richard Rogers, one of the worlds leading architects and environmentalists. He said: "Cities are breeding environmental disaster . . . but there is nothing in the nature of city living that makes this inevitable". Lord Rogers is saying two things strongly – we change or we die. It's that simple.

Communities, political leaders and importantly businesses are accepting responsibility – accepting that tomorrow's lives depend on actions taken now. Personally, I am driven by a belief that as local leaders we have a moral obligation to take action now for the future of our communities. As community and business leaders, we can either accept that challenge or watch our cities self-destruct.

In a previous life I ran my own advertising agency. For thirty years I lived and breathed the business of selling. But by the middle of the 1980s the advertising business ceased to be much fun. In the 80s, greed was good. Business was devoid of ethics, and profit was the only principle that people adhered to. That didn't fit with me.

In the 80s we paid the price for that short-sightedness. Our cities were dying, our communities torn apart by violence and conflict and our environment under serious threat. In short, we were going to hell in a handcart, and our 'leaders' seemed unwilling or unable to do anything about it. My decision to stand for Mayor came from that sense of frustration, and a clear belief that we could do things better.

Our cities were missing strong, ethical leadership that could deliver a vision for our social and environmental well-being. That has led me to stand up for what I believe in during my time as Mayor. In 1995 I led a delegation of New Zealand civic and political leaders to Tahiti to protest against nuclear testing.

Last year Waitakere was awarded a UNESCO Cities For Peace Award, one of only eight such awards awarded internationally. Standing up for my beliefs was the challenge I brought to my job as Mayor. Because if we want our cities to change, it'll take dedicated leadership and vision.

I said earlier that bringing together our environmental and business agendas is simply the 'perfect marriage'. That's because ethics is no longer a dirty word in business. Companies are taking on board the concept of sustainability, linking business and environmental excellence.

So we are not alone in our commitment to linking business and the environment. In Waitakere that commitment means creating a city in which people can meet their economic and social needs, while maintaining and improving the natural environment so that the needs of future generations are also met and protected. And, I have to tell you, it's working.

In just seven short years we are already seeing the pay off. Business and private sector investment has increased and we are witnessing dramatic and positive changes to our city's urban form. In the early 1990s the city averaged around $100 million dollars a year worth of new construction work.

Last year the value of new construction projects in the city was almost $300 million, and there's no sign of it slowing down. Another important indicator of economic success for me is whether we are increasing jobs. Because without jobs a community simply dies.

Well, since 1992 employment opportunities in Waitakere have grown steadily. In 1991 there were around 7 and a half thousand businesses in Waitakere City. By last year that had grown to nearly 11 and a half thousand. That in turn has led to a growth in jobs - from 31 thousand full time jobs in 1992, to nearly 40 thousand full time jobs last year.

And since 1995, the growth of new businesses and new jobs has outstripped the increase in population. So I guess the good news is that change is not only necessary but possible.

So what is Waitakere like? Waitakere is set in a brilliant location between two oceans and at its heart is a regenerating rain forest, the Waitakere Ranges. We are blessed with stunning scenery, a rugged and awe-inspiring landscape that has been celebrated for years in art, in literature, and now in film.

Socially, culturally and environmentally it is a colonised landscape. First came Maori people, we believe sometime between the 8th and 14th centuries. They came in great seaward migrations across the Pacific Ocean. They were the Vikings of the Pacific, making journeys every bit as dangerous and challenging as any of history's great navigators.

In the 18th & 19th centuries colonisation under the British flag saw Western social, economic and cultural life become entrenched. An initial spirit of co operation (under the Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840) fell away as Europeans seized Maori land and the resources that went with it. European expansion carried with it a desire to control and contain the wilderness.

Landscapes and the social order changed greatly. Maori in effect became the under-class. The final social transformation came in the 1940s and 50s with the importing of American cultural and economic dominance – the car, urban migration, urban sprawl and a consumer culture. The legacy for Waitakere is low-density residential development, long journeys to work, with car dependence at levels close to those of Los Angeles.

So, in many ways our cities are similar to those of North America. The landscape is flattened to create spaces for single unit housing, with space for two or three cars. The resulting problems are mirrored in many New World Cities . . . wasted resources, jammed motorways, air pollution, poor public transport.

Good farmland is used for housing – and soil washes off into the harbours – and the ecology suffers. It's a litany of unsustainable practices. Left to fester with no alternative vision or leadership they will simply grow worse. Our city would simply become unliveable. Our only option was to implement a pattern of change to create a liveable city.

So ... These are some of the characteristics of New Zealand society that make it open to change. We see it reflected in wide opposition to nuclear weapons and apartheid in South Africa, and the support of environmental issues. This social climate created the momentum for some significant changes – strong environmental law (in 1991 the Resource Management Act was passed).

The environmental law changes put greater focus on environmental management while the Maori renaissance brought social justice to the fore. So ... a context for change was created – provided local government picked up the challenge. And in Waitakere we did.

So what did we do to reverse these trends and build a better future for our children? Our political vision since 1992 has been to transform the city – socially, economically, and just as important, environmentally. At the political level that meant boldness and clarity. At the level of people and the community it meant involvement. Total involvement.

It meant strong leadership from the Mayor down. Women Councillors took key roles in developing our new vision and linking it with the community. Many brought with them new experiences and diverse viewpoints that up until then had been largely excluded from the decision making table.

So we started with a vision, which is now becoming a reality. And the key component of that vision for change has been one of a compact city. Because our problem is not one of limited land and large populations. Our problem is that the form of our cities is leading to inevitable environmental collapse. But that need not be.

Our new urban centres will be more compact, designed to fit within a regenerating wilderness environment. We have set out clearly where we want to be in the future: Within 20 years, our new urban villages will be connected by public transport, and green networks as well as wildlife trails.

I guess in many ways we are drawing on forms of city living that that are probably more familiar in Europe. It's really an example of extracting wisdom from the past to blend into a modern 21st century concept.

Alongside that pattern of European origin we see new forms of Maori urban living – which combine ancient traditions with modern practices to generate exciting new city forms.

In the New Zealand context the drive that comes from the Maori renaissance and from the Agenda 21 movement appear more likely that not to forge new communities, and new development agendas. In my City, Maori leaders like Dr Pita Sharples, who features in the video clip at the end, have created major enterprises offering a wide range of employment, education, health and social services.

These groups have also pursued mainstream business interests. It is an assertive, energetic movement that is rapidly expanding the resource base and career options for Maori.

So in partnership with our community, we've started the physical transformation of our town centres into attractive, usable and sustainable urban villages. We now have huge tracts of land set aside as Green Networks. We have developed new codes of building practice - and attitudes to match.

We've been a catalyst for better regional co-operation on transport, sewerage and stormwater management. All of these successes have improved the quality of life in my city, and set us on the right course for the future. But in politics it can sometimes be wrong to be right too soon. And some sceptics question whether our liveable community agenda is good for business.

Others ask if our 'green ethos' is compatible with increasing the vibrancy and vitality of our business sector. Well, the answer is a clear and unequivocal yes. Growing the economy is part central to our agenda. Because without a thriving economy that provides jobs and opportunities and growing prosperity, we won't achieve a truly sustainable community.

The vision we have for our city is a balanced one, where the environment, the economy, and our social well-being are inextricably inter-linked. Like the three legs of a stool, if you lose one, you lose them all. It is a holistic and integrated vision that has seen us champion regional business clusters, for winemaking, boat building, tourism and film making.

Our business clusters are leading our economic revival. They are a core plank of our sustainable agenda. And I guess when you're talking to Californians about clusters, you're talking to the experts!

Your state is home to two of the world's most famous - Silicon Valley and Hollywood. Well, we have learnt from you. This isn't Hollywood, it's Waitakere. I guess you recognise him, it's Hercules.

Our wild West Coast and Waitakere Ranges are recognised around the world as the backdrop to films like Jane Campion's epic Piano, and the hugely successful Hercules and Xena TV series. Those stunning locations have led to major investment in studio facilities in our urban centres. Last month the makers of New Zealand's biggest television show moved into their new, purpose-built studio complex a block away from City Hall. It's a multi-million dollar facility that will employ over 120 people.

Here's another example. Waitakere has always been associated boats and boatbuilding. We are a coastal city. In recent years we've built a reputation as a boat building centre of excellence. Two months ago a major marine business moved their boat building operation to Waitakere. That relocation will mean an extra 200 jobs.

With the city's other yacht manufactures, they've created a 'marine business park', and together they export millions of dollars worth of luxury yachts to international royalty and film stars every year. The workforce, the suppliers and the networks that these high end, value-added manufacturers need to compete in the global market place are all on hand. By working together our boat builders have enhanced their competitiveness and added value to their businesses.

Regional clusters are in many ways the home of the New Economy. They provide an environment where networks of firms share resources, a marketing edge and sometimes even a common workforce to increase their global advantage. At the same time those firms compete vigorously for market share and customers in other areas.

So what else will the New Economy need to succeed in the new century? The New Economy values a community design that's more innovative and smarter than the failed patterns of the past. It craves a healthy natural environment and a distinctive quality of life that attracts the right kind of skilled workers.

It seeks out vital centres that can offer lively amenities and opportunities for people to interact in a safe and attractive environment. The New Economy values choices for living and working that reflect changing demographics and the diversity of career and life paths. It abhors bureaucracy and red tape. To be effective in the New Economy, businesses need speed, adaptability and flexibility.

The New Economy thrives on partnerships, participation and community involvement. Providing an environment that is attractive to the New Economy has been central to the revitalisation of our city and town centres. Attracting business has been at the heart of our planning.

That planning has involved comprehensive strategies and financial systems, which link with our core philosophy. It is not simply a case of allocating money for a new road and then cutting a ribbon at the opening. It involves an extensive knowledge of local ecological systems (and threats to them), combined with international research on urban land use, design, densities and form.

Smart design solutions have slowed down traffic and minimised the divisive impact of the car on the town centre. Outdoor cafes have spring up where before engine noise and the stench of exhaust fumes left sidewalks a barren concrete wasteland.

Our neglected historic heritage has been nurtured and celebrated, and given new life to add colour and vibrancy to the city. This historic hotel had been left to rot for 100 years, unkempt and uncared for, until a council-led initiative in partnership with local businesses saw it moved and painstakingly restored. Now it's a major function centre, with a restaurant and café, set in a riverside park in the heart of town. It's the place to meet with friends, to enjoy a glass of wine or listen to jazz on a Sunday afternoon. And it's a business that's thriving.

It's injected life and vibrancy into one of our rejuvenating town centres, and added an extra dimension to the quality of our urban experience. But perhaps the most important element in securing quality of life is a healthy natural environment. As part of our urban revitalisation vision, the city has adopted a Green Network programme, which aims to reverse the destruction of our natural heritage.

The programme encourages action to look after the city's valuable natural assets, and in the years to come it'll allow our streams, parks, patches of bush and forest to link up. Fingers of green weaving down from the Ranges, through our rural and urban areas and out to the coast.

Already we're seeing the results. This isn't some secluded national park wilderness. It's an urban stream that has been protected and allowed to rejuvenate. We are also working towards developing and promoting innovative technology, like stormwater run off being turned into natural wetlands in urban areas.

Next to a new development, an old dump and stormwater out-fall has been transformed into a regenerating wetland, naturally treating the stormwater from surrounding streets and creating a sanctuary for local residents and wildlife.

Linked with the Green Network programme, it's not only an investment in valuable city infrastructure, but in our parks and open spaces. It's increasing leisure opportunities for residents. Encouraging attractive medium density housing in our urban centres is crucial to our goal of developing a compact city. But it has also given residents more choice in the kind of homes they want to live in.

In the past, suburban developments swallowed up great swathes of land, destroying natural eco systems and robbing us of vibrant, vital neighbourhoods. And if you didn't like it, too bad. We were left with acres and acres of asphalt, dislocated communities with no heart, and people without access to essential services or jobs.

Now we have a new vision, one that gives people the opportunity to live near our urban hubs, close to transport networks, cafes, movies, and jobs. New apartments and medium density houses like these are bringing people back into the urban centre to experience the excitement of city living. And let me tell you, we love them. And that's not surprising, because the community has had a hand in designing them.

One of our major redevelopment projects began with an innovative exercise in community design. We called it a "charette", a four-day workshop that involved businesses, residents and community organisations. It's just one of the many innovative planning methods that we have harnessed to involve the whole community in the design of their city. So in that neighbourhood the local people have actually developed their own plans for the revitalisation of the Town Centre. They own the outcomes.

And it's been great for business, too. One major developer told me he now goes out of his way to put his projects inside Waitakere's city limits. He said it was because our approach to creating a sustainable city allowed him to build developments that reflected people's changing lifestyles. But he said it was also because of the city's non-bureaucratic town planning service, and our inclusive approach to planning.

So cutting red tape and time it takes to get a project underway are important drivers for business. Our goal of involving the community at every step of the planning process actually helps this to happen. At the start of a project we'll bring all the stakeholders together face to face around the table.

It means if there's any issues to be worked through, they get sorted out quickly. Problems are tabled and resolved before moving onto the next stage, and everyone involved in the development moves forward together. It's simply smart thinking that works for everyone. And simply, that's our goal. It's what city government should be about.

Since 1992 we have achieved so much of what we set out to do. But let me say now that you'll never be finished. Building an Eco City is a journey, not a destination. You'll never get it right, and you'll never stop building. But that's the challenge, and it's a challenge I lay before you today. Like you, we sit on the edge of the Pacific. All of us are facing a new century, just two short months away.

Political scientists say the 21st century will be a Pacific century – and we at Waitakere face towards that great ocean. I believe it will also be an urban century, a new world of opportunity for our cities. I think it is fitting that on at the dawn of a new millennium, the first part of Waitakere to see each day is the small coastal neighbourhood called Te Atatu. It's the Maori word for New Dawn.

We intend to be a city that is worthy of the next millennium – humane, peaceful and ecologically responsible. And at the core of that goal is an old Maori proverb ... he tangata, he tangata, he tangata. It is people, it is people, it is people.