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Auckland Conversations and events

Auckland Conversations is a speaker event that presents both international and national keynote speakers. All speakers are leaders in their areas of expertise and can inspire, influence and inform the public and council officers.

Each speaker will present on topics that relate to the vision and issues facing Auckland to become the world’s most liveable city, and endorse the planning, economic, environmental and policy strategies as set out in the Auckland Plan, City Centre Master Plan and Economic Development Strategy.

This programme is an initiative of the Chief Planning Office, Auckland Council.

Event topic scope:

• design - urban design, architecture, place making and city/town/waterfront planning
• economic development drivers and influencers - innovation, transport, tourism, socio-economic issues
• heritage - natural, cultural and built heritage
• environment - eco-city sustainability initiatives and issues.

Past events

Robert Gibbs - Gibbs Planning Group (GPG)

What Main Streets Can Learn from the Malls

GPG's retail planning excellence lies in advising public and private sector clients on the psychology of commerce - the practical science of analysing and adjusting all elements known to affect a shopper's mood in the marketplace.

GPG is renowned for applying fundamental retail and merchandising principles for reviving retail in moribund downtowns and for instilling robust commerce in new town centres.

View the presentation

Professor Rob Adams and Greg Clark

The issues facing Auckland as we work to become the world's most liveable city, Tuesday 28 February.

Melbourne has been voted the world's most liveable city three times, and much of the credit for this lies with Professor Rob Adams, a major force in urban design in Australia and worldwide.

Hailing from Zimbabwe, Adams has been instrumental in the successful revitalisation of his adopted hometown of Melbourne.

Greg Clark is a thought leader and event leader on development and investment strategies. He works with city, regional, and national governments and with universities, corporations, and financial institutions.

View the presentation

Sir Peter Gluckman

Innovation Through Science, 5 December 2011

A healthy and smart nation needs knowledge to pervade every aspect of its activities, and no society can meet its citizens' objectives without greater economic prosperity.

Professor Sir Gluckman is Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister, an international advocate for science and innovation, one of New Zealand's best known scientists and the founding Director of the Liggins Institute.

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Dr Rodney Tolley - Striding Out in Auckland

Proudly presented by Auckland Transport, Thursday 1 Dec 2011

The walking movement around the world is undergoing profound and positive shifts. After a century in which walking became the forgotten mode, the twelve international walking conferences since 2000 bear testimony to new policies on walking, professional networks, strategic partnerships, and advocacy movements and supportive national structures in country after country.

Rodney walked us through these profound shifts and explained why the profile of walking is now being raised by those dealing with other issues besides transport – such as crime, personal and community health, and economic vitality. He also discussed how active transport has come to be seen as absolutely key to the future policy on the global threats of obesity, climate change and peak oil.

View the presentation

Paul Taylor

The Biochar Revolution, 29 November 2011

In its simplest terms, Biochar is charcoal produced for mixing into soil. As a soil additive, it offers a number of benefits: it can increase the capacity of soil to hold nutrients, enhance crop production, mitigate climate change, reduce nutrient leaching and capture and store carbon for the long-term.

Dr Paul Taylor researches in the UK and the US and is the author of 'The Biochar Revolution' a handbook for farmers and home gardeners.

View the presentation

Dusty Gedge on Building a Greener Auckland

Auckland Conversations and Living Roofs proudly presented Dusty Gedge, wildlife consultant, specialising in green roofs – Tuesday 22 November 2011.

Dusty explained why incorporating living roofs is a critical element to achieving environmentally sustainable design in New Zealand, giving overseas examples and explain the range of living roof benefits such as: biodiversity – reduced building energy requirements – stormwater attenuation – increased net rentable area and helping mitigate the effects of climate change.

This seminar provided developers, landscape architects, architects, urban & landscape designers, planners and home owners with the opportunity to gather information and ideas, answer queries, learn techniques, and network with professionals experienced in living roofs in New Zealand.

View the presentation

Jan Gehl

Making the World’s Most Liveable City, 17 November 2011

Architect and urban designer Jan Gehl's philosophy of creating cities that are enjoyable and exciting to live in has been successfully applied to Copenhagen, Melbourne, Sydney, Amman, New York and lately, Auckland.

Jan is also Professor of Urban Design at the School of Architecture in Copenhagen.

View the presentation

Dr Alex Kalache on Global Age-friendly Cities

Understanding our changing demographics - the ageing population.

Understanding our changing demographics, specifically global age-friendly cities.

Dr Alexandre Kalache pioneered "active ageing" at the World Health Organization as head of ageing and life course. Currently he is senior adviser to President Obama on global ageing and a member of the advisory board of the World Demographic and Ageing Forum. He is also adviser to governments in the Americas, Europe and Australasia.

View Dr Kalache's lecture

Jan Gehl on creating a city for people

A Danish urban design guru's world famous work is helping make Auckland the world's most liveable city.

Architect and urban designer Jan Gehl's philosophy of creating cities that are enjoyable and exciting to live in has been successfully applied to Copenhagen, Melbourne, Sydney, Amman and New York.

Two years ago, Jan's firm, GEHL Architects, completed a study of Auckland's city centre showing how and where the city was best and least used by its people. It formed the basis for Auckland's new city centre masterplan, a bold initiative to transform the city centre in the coming 20 years. In this lecture, Jan gives his impressions on the city's masterplan.

View Jan Gelh's lecture

Dr Richard Simmons

Sustainable Urban Design

As former CEO of the UK's Commission for Architecture in the Built Environment, Dr Simmons was the UK's leading adviser on architecture, urban design and public space. He advocates for sustainability to be at the heart of all urban design, especially in economically uncertain times. Using the London 2012 Olympic Park and other examples, Dr Simmons aims to prove that sustainable design is vital for communities, and thus for the developers, politicians and professionals who serve them.

A DVD of Dr Simmons presentation is available on request.

Please email aucklandconversations@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz for a copy of the DVD.

Hans Schreier, United Nations 'Science in Action' Award Winner

Greening the City by Innovative Water Management

• Water is integral to the health and wealth of Auckland
• As Auckland faces rapid urban expansion, anticipated increasing climate variability and rising energy costs, ensuring a high quality water supply is an important regional goal
• Increasing water demand and complex urban water pollution problems are emerging as major constraints.

Hans Schreier is a professor at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. He will present on innovative global approaches to reducing water use, improving source water protection, and minimising pollution in our expanding urban environment.

Auckland Conversations with Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas

Auckland - Creating the world's most liveable city, 7 April 2011

As one of London's key influencers among business and local and central government, Dame Judith will draw on all her experience on 'getting things done' and offer thoughts on how Auckland can achieve the aim of becoming the world's most liveable city.

A DVD of Dame Jonas' presentation is available on request.

Please email aucklandconversations@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz for a copy of the DVD.

Shared Space: A lunchtime learning with Will Thresher

Presented by Will Thresher, Director of Thresher Associates, 18 August 2010
With panel members Henry Crothers from Architectus and John Potter from Principal Boffer Miskell.

Will Thresher of Thresher Associates will cover the concepts and principles behind shared space schemes. The presentation will assist those seeking definitions and illustrations, as well as those interested in better understanding the breadth of possibilities offered by the shared space approach.

Whether at planning, design, delivery or asset level there are emerging issues in this field. Extensively introduced in European urban centres of varied sizes the presentation includes some innovative and less well known examples from Swiss and German cities providing background for local situations.

Download presentation notes (5mb PDF)

Living Roofs and Walls: A lunchtime learning with Zoë Zimmerman and Graham Cleary

Zoe Zimmerman of Living Roofs and Graham Cleary of Natural Habitats, 20 July 2010

Development in our city needs to contribute to the long-term environmental quality of our country, whilst maximizing economic and social benefits. As professionals we need to deliver better quality places which are sustainable and help us adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change. Zoë Zimmerman and Graham Cleary presented on living roofs and wall benefits; considerations; perceived barriers; NZ and UK examples; why green roofs are being promoted and required overseas; and briefly explain the multifunctional benefits (economic, social and environmental) they provide.

Together Zoë and Graham explain how overseas local authorities are encouraging and supporting the installation of living roofs and walls and overcoming the perceived barriers to getting these built.

Download Zoë Zimmerman's presentation notes (13mb PDF)
Download Graham Cleary's presentation notes (8mb PDF)

A Mayoral Conversation with Jan Gehl of GEHL Architects, Copenhagen

Auckland - Rebuilding towards a great city for people, 5 July 2010

In 2008, Jan Gehl, the world's leading expert in urban design, was commissioned by the Urban Design group at Auckland City Council to undertake the first ever Public Life Survey to assess the condition of public life in the Auckland city centre.

This research involved cross council and interagency sponsorship and was completed by a team of passionate cross regional volunteers.

Jan presented the findings of this research held in May of this year, highlighting the current condition of the public realm in Auckland, the bold steps taken to begin the transformation of the city and the further interventions that will assist in the completion of this paradigm shift.

Download presentation notes (15mb PDF)

A Mayoral Conversation with Geoff Lawler: Striving for a bold, inspirational and sustainable city

Geoff is one of five directors reporting to the Chief Executive of the City of Melbourne, 15 June 2010

Geoff Lawler explains the Council's approach to planning for the city's sustainable growth and the steps that it is taking to retrofit the existing built environment to reduce the city's ecological footprint through a program called 1200 Buildings.

Download presentation notes (6mb PDF)

A Mayoral Conversation with Dr Jason Gilliland: Healthy by Design: Planning for Children's Well-Being

Director of the Urban Development Program and Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Western Ontario, 27 April 2010

This presentation explores some of the ways in which the planning and design of cities can positively or negatively impact children's health. Existing evidence is reviewed, and issues requiring further attention are identified and will conclude with an overview of "healthy communities" initiatives in Canada, and some recommendations for how planners and policymakers can advance the agenda for creating child-friendly cities.

Download presentation notes (426kb PDF)

A Mayoral Conversation with Larry Beasley: Civic Passion: the key equity in the economy of future cities

Retired Director of Planning for the City of Vancouver currently at the University of British Columbia, 16 March 2010

Larry Beasley made the case that building through deliberate design, the city to which people can become truly attached at a visceral level, is the key to future economic success.

Download presentation notes (91kb PDF)

Updated March 2012