Taking Stock of the Urban Design Protocol and Action Plan Monitoring 2009 and Technical Report

Background

The 2009 monitoring survey took place when the Protocol had a total of 174 signatories. This stocktake was a wider survey that evaluated the overall effectiveness of the Protocol and signatories’ action plans.

Methodology

In depth interviews and group discussions occurred in May 2009 with selected signatory organisations in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton. An online survey was carried out between 12 November and 4 December 2009. Further information on the methodology can be found in “Technical Report: Taking stock of the Urban Design Protocol and Action Plan Monitoring”.

Content

The “Taking Stock of the Urban Design Protocol and Action Plan Monitoring” of 2009 concentrated on the evaluating the long term outcomes of this programme for signatories and the Ministry for the Environment. Questions related to:

  • awareness and knowledge of urban design
  • urban design networking and sharing information
  • urban design champions
  • action plans and programmes of the Protocol
  • the Ministry for the Environment’s role in the Protocol programme
  • future direction of the Protocol.

Key Insights

Changes in behaviour and/or thinking have occurred in many organisations as a result of signing up to the Protocol. Attitudes towards urban design within signatory organisations are positive with:

  • high levels of agreement regarding multi-disciplinary approaches
  • strong support from senior management
  • quality urban design being considered extremely important
  • quality urban environments being a key priority within the organisation
  • elected representatives strongly supporting urban design
  • Urban Design Champions being considered effective in their role of promoting urban design within their organisation

A set of recommendations are provided for the Ministry for the Enviroment in light of the findings.  These recommendations are forming part of the Ministry’s ongoing development of the Protocol.

Last updated: 18 November 2010