Abstract:
This paper examines the effectiveness of the Resource Management Act (being the statutory context within which all urban development in New Zealand takes place) in promoting high quality urban planning and urban design outcomes. Following a brief history of planning legislation, the broad purpose of the RMA is indicated and recent concerns in respect of the Act’s capacity to cope with the urban environment outlined. The way in which the RMA deals with urban development approvals is then summarized. The paper then focuses on the changing context of urban development in central Auckland, and the pressures that have led to a much greater focus on urban design issues within New Zealand’s largest metropolis. In response, a number of recent initiatives aimed at achieving high quality urban design outcomes, introduced by Auckland City Council, are outlined. A key question then becomes how effective might these measures be in securing high quality urban development? In order to address this question the paper turns in more detail to the provisions of the RMA, and identifies a number of impediments to achieving high quality urban development. Particular attention is given to the process adopted for considering the effects of development, this being the de facto technique of design assessment for all development, including that in an urban context. Recent examples of significant urban developments are discussed in respect of this assessment process, and other RMA related matters. The paper concludes by briefly comparing the New Zealand situation with aspects of urban planning and urban design processes that have been developed with notable success in Vancouver, a city with many similarities to Auckland.
