Community outcomes 2008 progress report
Overview |
Leadership |
Social well-being |
Economic well-being |
Environmental well-being |
Cultural well-being |
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Environmental well-being
Auckland is well cared for
Where do we want to be?
Our city continues to grow, and this growth is planned and
managed in a sustainable manner. We make sure that the needs of both current and
future generations are met, and that the city benefits.
All of us care for and protect our city. Māori are
recognised as kaitiaki (guardians), and their role in caring for and managing
iwi, hapu and whanau resources is supported.
All areas of the city have the infrastructure and services
that our communities need.
How will we know this?
Aucklanders do things in a sustainable way.
What we measure and why
- The
amount of energy we use
- The
amount of rubbish we recycle or throw out
- Residents' views on how well Aucklanders look after the natural environment
The amount of waste we produce currently reflects growth
in our economy and population, consumption patterns and inefficient resource
use. Waste generation places enormous pressure on our environment. There is
competition for land space as well as contamination of soils, surface and ground
water, and waterways and air. Waste also contributes to our greenhouse gas
emissions.
A reduction in energy consumption and waste generation would signal a more sustainable trend.
Key trends
- The number of kilos of residential waste per person is falling and recycling
is increasing.
- We increasingly see ourselves as looking after our natural environment
(6.2 on a 10 point scale).
Kaitiaki: guardians of Auckland city's future
Kaitiakitanga (guardianship) is a fundamental
expression of Māori culture.
The iwi representatives of the Tangata Whenua
Consultative Committee, responsible for resource management related matters,
together with Auckland City Council, have been working together in caring
for the city's natural environment. This cooperation has resulted in the
increased use of native plants and locally sourced material in Auckland
city's streetscape. There have also been collaborative efforts in the area
of waste management, for example, the incorporation of environmentally
friendly solutions as part of the Waiheke Refuse Station, and in the
Auckland Doman Stormwater project.
The native planting restoration project on
Takaparawha (Bastion Point) is the result of a Whenua Rangatira joint
management agreement between Ngati Whatua o Orakei and the council. This restoration
project will benefit the city's environment in a variety of ways, by
increasing native biodiversity and the supply of fauna in the CBD, and
by providing a resource base for Māori customary practices. |
Auckland is beautiful and clean
Where do we want to be?
We value our city's natural environment and unique features
- its volcanic cones, rivers and waterways, the sea and beaches, the many and
varied open spaces, its islands, and the Waitemata and Manukau harbours. We
have easy access to these places and make sure that our city remains clean,
healthy and safe. We protect the environment and, as a result, birds, fish and
wildlife flourish here.
How will we know this?
Auckland's natural environment and beauty is protected and
enhanced.
What we measure and why
- The
amount of protected conservation land
- The
quality of the air
- The
quality of the beach water
- Residents' views on Auckland having a beautiful natural environment
The things that make Auckland such an attractive place to
live - the sea and beaches, waterways, volcanic cones, islands, Manukau and
Waitemata harbours, and its many open spaces - are under strain from population
and urban growth. To keep Auckland clean and green, we need to ensure that our
land, air and beach water quality are valued and protected.
Key trends
- Air quality appears to be improving with fewer days exceeding air quality
standards, possibly due to improvements in vehicle emission systems.
- Beach water quality on the whole is within Ministry for the Environment
guidelines. In 2007 and 2008, however, these were exceeded seven times
following heavy rainfall.
- We give Auckland an increasingly high rating as a city which is clean and
has good air, land and water quality.
Auckland has a distinct identity
Where do we want to be?
Our city has a distinctive identity, reflecting its
international status, Māori and Pacific heritage, and the many people who have
settled and made their lives here.
Buildings, town centres and roads are safe, attractive and
of good quality. They maintain the feel of our communities and fit well with the
surrounding natural environment. We preserve and protect Auckland city's
historic buildings and architecture.
How will we know this?
Auckland's distinctive identity is protected and enhanced.
What we measure and why
- Historically important places are managed and protected
- Residents' views on how attractive Auckland is
- Residents' views on Auckland having a distinctive identity
Auckland city has a rich legacy of widely appreciated
heritage features, both natural and built, that contribute to its unique
identity. The district plan has a role to secure the preservation and
maintenance of these resources for the experience and enjoyment of present and
future generations, including their intrinsic values and finite characteristics.
Heritage resources cover a wide spectrum. They range from dominant landscape
features, like the volcanic cones, through historic buildings and highly
regarded townscape inherited from former generations, to sites of high
archaeological value.
Key trends
- Auckland city currently protects a significant number of sites of
ecological, archaeological, Māori or special significance.
- Residents currently see Auckland as a moderately attractive city. The
percentage of us who take pride in the look and feel of Auckland has fallen.
- We increasingly see Auckland as a city where cultures are valued and
respected, and as a place where those cultures are represented through the
arts.
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Reflecting Māori presence through urban
design
Māori communities have indicated the presence of Māori culture as an
essential part of Aucklands character.
The tribes of Tamaki have shaped the city and its sense of place for the
last 1000 years. Māori consider themselves as part of the land rather than
the land belonging to them, and as such, the land is significant in defining
their sense of place.
The urban design framework 'Designing great places for our people'
provides an opportunity to restore Māori culture to landscape. This
recognises that Auckland city needs to evolve into a more distinctive city
that reflects its Māori presence. The framework is about celebrating our
natural point of difference and reinforcing a Māori sense of place.
There has been significant progress in terms of increasing Māori
visibility in urban design. Conversations between iwi and Auckland City
Council has resulted in some noteworthy outcomes that reflect Māori
heritage. These include Te Waka Taumata o Horotiu, the Inanga pavers on
Queen Street and Te Ahi Ka- at Queen Elizabeth II Square.
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The
Hauraki Gulf and its islands have a unique identity
Where do we want to be?
We prize the Hauraki Gulf, its islands, and its place in
the city. The gulf's environments and its residents' lifestyles differ from the
rest of the city, and this means that a different balance of growth and
protection is needed.
How will we know this?
The unique identity of the Hauraki Gulf and its islands is
preserved.
What we measure and why
- The
quality of the beach water in the Hauraki Gulf islands
- Residents' views on the unique identity of the gulf's environment
- Conservation efforts in the Hauraki Gulf
Biodiversity issues, conservation, and environmental
protection and enhancement will become increasingly important - particularly in
the Hauraki Gulf because of its unique identity and environment, and less
intensive history of development compared with the rest of Auckland city.
Key trends
- The quality of beach water has improved and recent tests have
found that the water is within Ministry for the Environment guidelines.
- Residents consider Waiheke to be a beautiful, relaxing and peaceful place,
especially compared with the rest of Auckland city. There is concern,
however, that intervention is required to avoid degradation of the social
and physical environment.
- Various conservation efforts underway in the Haurak Gulf include the ambitious restoration of Rangitoto and Motutapu islands and the movement of rare endangered species to pest-free locations.
Case study: Open spaces
Auckland city has an amazing natural landscape
with twin harbours, the Hauraki Gulf islands and volcanic cones. Our
network of open spaces gives Auckland a unique identity and cultural
heritage, and offers us and our visitors a range of recreation and lifestyle
experiences and activities.
As Auckland grows, we need to focus on how to
protect and enhance the open spaces that make Auckland so special, without
compromising enjoyment and use.
Auckland City Council is working with
organisations, stakeholders and members of the community including tangata
whenua to celebrate, protect and enhance Auckland city's open spaces.
Together we are building a network of cycleways and walkways, sustainable
transport routes and recreational experiences across the city and along the
coast.
We are also working on improving the quality of our parks,
strengthening our network of parks by protecting them and developing green
corridors through the city, and ensuring that our parks offer a wide range
of opportunities for use.
Auckland City Council is strengthening the parks network across the city and along the coast, providing Aucklanders with more connected and better quality open spaces to enjoy.
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Published January 2009
