A City of Neighbourhoods

Jeremy Hansen is Director of Communications and Community at Cooper and Company, the people behind Auckland's highly successful Britomart precinct. Jeremy's contribution to Auckland and Aotearoa, however, is even broader - he has co-written and edited several important books on architecture and urban design, is a frequent contributor to national print and online media, and hosts the popular podcast 76 Small Rooms. Britomart is one of Auckland's greatest examples of placemaking - turning an under-loved precinct into sought after commercial space and popular public realm. So, Jeremy has a key role in a company that has curated and delivered an optimal mix of premium commercial spaces, conserved heritage and an attractive public realm - infused with visual elements that place Britomart in the cultural context of Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa. We were thrilled to get Jeremy's perspective on placemaking.

(0:00) Introduction
(1:30) An Interest in Architecture
(3:11) How Cooper and Company is Not a Regular Property Developer
(4:15) The Britomart Precinct
(5:50) The History of the Precinct
(9:26) How Public Transport Transformed the Area
(13:20) How Public Goods Give Better Returns over the Long Term
(18:12) The Value of Public Art in the Precinct
(21:31) The Changing Attitude towards Public Art
(23:17) The Influence of Workplaces on Social Wellbeing
(28:12) The Effects of Local Government Policies on People-based Experiences
(30:37) The Scale of Transformation in the City Centre
(31:56) Challenges in the City Centre
(34:11) Placemaking as an Ongoing Service
(41:51) Farewell

Jeremy Hansen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeroski/
Britomart website: https://britomart.org/community/

Graham Tipene has a deep connection to Tāmaki Makaurau, living at Ōrākei, the place where he and his tupuna were born. Graham is a much sought after artist in the disciplines of tā moko tattooing and in installation artworks that gives life to the history and culture of Auckland within it’s modern infrastructure. This podcast episode discusses the thinking behind some of our city’s most recent and exciting public artworks and how they speak to Auckland’s growing confidence as the preeminent city of Polynesia.

(0:00) Introduction
(2:10) Graham's Ambition for His Work
(3:46) The Importance of Visible Māori Design Thinking in Tāmaki Makurau
(6:22) The Experience of Living in Tāmaki Makaurau for Young Māori
(8:11) The Process of Incorporating Art into Public Places
(9:36) What Goes into Making Art
(10:29) How Does this Place Personally Affect Graham's Art
(11:44) How Waka Moana was Conceived
(12:58) The Role of Art in Māori Culture
(14:22) The Responsibility Artist Have for the Next Generation
(16:23) The Role of Art within Engineering
(18:52) The Engineering and Material of Waka Moana
(19:37) Responsibility of Tā Moko and Tattoos
(22:59) Farewell
(23:57)

Graham Tipene on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tewhekemokodesignstudio
Waka Moana: https://www.audo.co.nz/wakamoana

Simon takes us on an exciting exploration of how the diverse elements of the city centre are woven into a unified and purposeful programme of works.

(0:00) Introduction
(0:54) The Role of the AUDO in the City Centre
(1:29) Simon's Role in the AUDO
(2:37) The Diverse Groups are Included in Shaping City Centre Decisions
(4:42) How the City Centre Advisory Panel Works
(6:01) The Longevity of a Diverse City Centre Advisory Panel
(7:11) The Culmination of Change in the City Centre
(10:01) How Businesses Feel about Public Spaces
(13:11) How the Voluntary City Centre Targeted Rate Funds this Work
(14:14) Ratepayers Continue to Endorse Regeneration in the City Centre
(16:17) The Dramatic Changes to the City Centre
(17:12) How the Community Feels About Ongoing Regeneration
(19:40) The Lessons We've Learned About Investment in the City Centre
(21:17) The Future and Growth of the City Centre
(24:06) How Auckland Council Delivers what the Community Wants
(26:33) How to Keep the Human Centric Nature in City Planning
(28:06) Farewell

(0:00) Introduction
(0:30) What's Unique about Auckland City Centre
(2:12) How the City Centre Brings People Together
(3:08) How the City Centre Compares Internationally
(4:08) How Agglomeration Helps
(7:33) What Auckland Needs to Do to Keep Talent
(9:16) How the City Centre Adapts to a Changing Society
(12:19) The Priorities for Businesses and Residents in the City Centre
(12:19) How Productivity is Misunderstood
(14:24) How Productivity Depends on Geography Culture and Institutions
(16:59) How Leaders Help More than Managers
(19:43) How Politics is Getting in the Way
(22:02) Who We Trust Right Now
(23:09) The Role of Trust in Local Democracy
(25:15) How We Find Common Ground
(29:40) How Political Interference Disrupts Society
(33:45) How Independent Public Service Helps Society
(35:58) How Aucklanders Have More Values in Common
(41:06) How Local Government is Constrained by Rates
(48:00) What We Need in the City Centre
(50:20) What Voluntary City Centre Targeted Rates Reveals about Democracy
(52:30) Farewell

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