Community outcomes 2008 progress report
Overview |
Leadership |
Social well-being |
Economic well-being |
Environmental well-being |
Cultural well-being |
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Economic well-being
Aucklanders have
real transport choices
Where do we want to be?
Our city has a choice of efficient and affordable transport
for people and goods. We can cycle, walk, take public transport or drive a car.
Public transport is clean, safe and reliable. It is easy
for us to find and use, offering a good alternative to cars.
All of our city's transport is well planned and managed.
Different types of transport connect, making it straightforward to get around
the city and beyond.
How will we know this?
It is increasingly easy to get around Auckland.
What we measure and why
- The
percentage of people using different types of transport
- The
level of congestion
- Residents' views on efficient and integrated transport
- Residents' views on the affordability, convenience, safety and accessibility of
public transport
An increase in the
percentage of people using different types of transport suggests travel by means
other than private motor vehicle is becoming a more attractive choice.
Congestion and pressure on existing road networks causes delays in traffic time,
which in turn affects our quality of life and has a negative impact on economic
development goals. The less congestion there is, the more efficient the overall
transport network.
An efficient and
integrated transport system, with affordable, convenient and safe public
transport and alternative modes such as cycling and walking, can make it easier
for people to get around in a variety of different ways.
Key trends
- The use of public transport in the region
is increasing with more than 32,000 people using buses, trains or ferries to
enter the central Auckland areas during morning rush hour traffic.
- The level of congestion on Auckland city's
roads appears to have decreased slightly.
- We rate our city as slightly below average
when it comes to having an efficient or integrated transport system.
- Although we consider public transport to
be safe, over half of us do not consider it to be either convenient or
affordable.
Case study: Buses are
making a difference
Cars on our major arterial roads in peak traffic
carry, on average, 1.3 people. A bus can carry the same number of people as
40 cars, using approximately one-seventh of the total fuel consumed and
taking 6 per cent of the road space.
The Auckland Regional Transport Authority and Auckland City Council are committed to addressing traffic congestion on Auckland city roads and improving the quality of transport infrastructure. The New Zealand Transport Agency contributes to an integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable land transport system. Together, they are working to support improvements to the transport network, including the expansion of bus lanes. This makes catching the bus a more attractive and reliable option to encourage us to leave our cars at home.
There are a number of initiatives underway that
work to give buses priority over other traffic on main roads. Bus lanes,
for example, play an essential role in reducing Auckland's traffic congestion
by helping buses get where they need to go faster and more efficiently. Bus
lanes separate buses from other traffic, enabling them to bypass traffic
congestion, reducing conflict between buses, bikes and general traffic. Bus
lanes also mean buses have shorter journey times and can keep to their
timetables.
With Auckland city's new
bus
lane initiatives and
other bus priority measures, such as:
- clearways
- bus bypasses
- and bus
priority signals at traffic lights
it is now often quicker to take a bus
than to sit in traffic in our cars.
There is no easy solution to the traffic challenges
Auckland city faces. However priority bus lanes aim to minimise traffic
delays for buses by giving them ways to get through congestion or get a head
start on other vehicles.
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Aucklanders have
the right work skills
Where do we want to be?
Our city has a highly trained and well-educated workforce.
We have the skills that employers need and equal access to employment,
education and business opportunities. We get the training we need and we make
full use of the skills of new people who move here.
Our economic well-being continues to improve, giving us
security and helping us enjoy the lifestyles our city offers.
How will we know this?
Employment and economic opportunities are enhanced.
What we measure and why
- Personal income
- Household income
- The percentage of the population living in areas characterised by deprivation
- The percentage of employment opportunities (labor force participation rate, unemployment rate)
- How
well the city's economy is growing
- The level of difficulty of finding labour
- See also Aucklanders have opportunities to learn
A skilled,
productive workforce contributes to a strong economy. The stronger the economy,
the higher average income levels are. Income contributes to our capacity to
participate in and enjoy the opportunities and lifestyles our city offers.
Levels of socio-economic deprivation may reflect the degree to which parts of
the population are unable to participate in economic opportunities.
Further economic growth will increase employment opportunities in Auckland city. This in turn will attract skilled labour into the area, which will help the development of local businesses.
Key trends
- Both median personal and median household
incomes in Auckland city have experienced real increases between 2001 and
2006 as they have increased faster than the rate of inflation for the same
period.
- In 2006, fewer Auckland city residents were living in deprivation, relative to other New Zealanders (deciles 9 and 10 on the NZ Deprivation Index) than in 2001.
- Labour force participation rates in
Auckland city increased between March 2005 and March 2008.
- Annual average unemployment is up from 2005 but remains historically low.
- Auckland city's economy, as measured by GDP, is growing and although tempered by recent global events the city is expecting to see higher growth than New Zealand as a whole in 2009.
- Auckland city businesses are finding it
less difficult to find both skilled and unskilled labour than in June 2005.
Case study: Learning
Quarter
Auckland city has one of New Zealand's largest concentrations of higher education and research activities, with two high achieving universities within the CBD. The University of Auckland ranks amongst the top 50 universities in the world.
We want to capitalise on this. AUT University, The
University of Auckland and Auckland City Council have come together in
partnership to plan a 'Learning Quarter' in Auckland's CBD. Together they
are developing a plan to guide the social, economic, cultural and physical
development of the area over the next 10 years.
The Learning Quarter is designed to become a world class
centre of excellence for education, research and development and to
stimulate the education, research and business experience in the city.
This aligns with Auckland City Council's vision to build a
productive and globally connected Auckland economy, delivering jobs, higher
incomes and an improved standard of living for Aucklanders. The goal is to
build a workforce of skilled, adaptable and educated people in Auckland
city.
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Auckland is a
great place for business
Where do we want to be?
Our city is a great place to live and do business. We enjoy
strong economic growth, and balance it with environmental and social well-being.
Our city has a world-class reputation as a business
location. We encourage innovation and entrepreneurship and are on the cutting
edge of research and science. We have the infrastructure needed for sustainable
economic development and greater productivity. As a result, people, investment
and businesses are attracted here from throughout New Zealand and the world.
How will we know this?
Auckland's place as a successful business location is
enhanced.
What we measure and why
- Growth rate in the number of businesses and employees
- How
businesses feel
- The
number of New Zealand's top companies that are based in the city.
- Residents' views on Auckland encouraging businesses.
Business growth and
confidence is a sign of a healthy local economy. An increase in the number of
people employed is a further sign of business confidence and economic growth.
Key trends
- Auckland city has experienced slower growth in the number of businesses and employees between 2005 and 2007.
- In June 2008, the percentage of Auckland city businesses that felt that the general business situation had either stayed the same or improved compared to the previous three months declined.
- Businesses generally rate Auckland city as a
good place to do business.
Auckland has a
thriving CBD and dynamic local centres
Where do we want to be?
Our city centre is prosperous and vibrant. It acts as a
flagship for the city, attracting visitors and forming a commercial hub for the
region, New Zealand and countries within the Pacific rim basin.
The economies of our local centres are dynamic and strong,
creating focal points for our communities and helping them to thrive.
How will we know this?
The prosperity and vibrancy of the city and local centres
increases.
What we measure and why
- Office vacancy rates and employment rates in the CBD.
- The number of visitors staying in the city.
- The
amount of spending by visitors to the city.
- The
number of events in the city's CBD.
- Residents' views on dynamic local centres.
Greater demand for office space in the city and a higher percentage of employees reflect a strong commercial hub. A vibrant city will help to attract visitors and tourists
to our city. Tourism in turn is an important driver of New Zealand's economic
growth and prosperity.
International visitors are, and are predicted to be, a major driver of tourism
growth and expenditure. A strong and dynamic city, with lively events, can
contribute to our enjoyment of our city, our sense of community and quality of
life.
Key trends
- Economic activity and business growth have
continued to provide a strong base for the Auckland central business
district (CBD) office market.
- The total number of nights spent by tourists in commercial accommodation in the city grey by 443,573 between 2005 and 2008.
- Overall expenditure by visitors to the Auckland region decreased by
3.3 per cent between 2004 and 2006.
- Auckland city has a lively events
programme. There were at least 306 events in the CBD and surrounding area
in 2008, including cultural festivals and free music concerts.
- Overall, we feel that Auckland city has
strong and thriving communities, with lots of opportunities for active
participation.
Published January 2009
