Additional background papers to Building competitive cities
These additional background papers, which are referred to in the discussion document and technical working paper, provide further information to inform submissions.
Auckland Regional Growth Forum. (2007). The Auckland Region in the 21st Century: an evaluation of the Auckland Regional Growth Strategy 1999 (PDF). Auckland Regional Council.
This report is an evaluation of the implementation of the Auckland Regional Growth Strategy (RGS). It recommends a range of actions and concludes that while the region has made a good start, there is an urgent need for a more concerted and sophisticated approach to implementation of the RGS.
Boffa Miskell. 2009. Case Studies of Intensive Urban Residential Development Projects (PDF). Unpublished report prepared for the Department of Building and Housing. Wellington.
This report researches ten significant intensive urban development case studies to identify the factors which promote or hinder intensive urban developments amongst developers in the Auckland region. The report concludes with a summary of issues commonly identified and outlines draft recommendations to address these hindrances.
Boffa Miskell and Hill Young Cooper. 2004. Improving Processes For Making Plans and Policy Statements under the Resource Management Act (PDF, 450 KB). Prepared for the Ministry for the Environment. Wellington
This report sets out information and advice on the time, cost, content development and robustness of processes related to the submissions, hearings and appeals processes involved in making plans and policy statements prepared under the First Schedule of the Resource Management Act. The report also identifies and assesses the feasibility of options to amend the RMA where improvements could be made to existing First Schedule processes, while maintaining or improving the quality of plans and policy statements.
Brown and Pemberton Planning Group Ltd. 2008. Analysis of time frames for the development of policy statements and plans under the Resource Management Act (PDF, 239 KB). Prepared for the Ministry for the Environment. Wellington.
This report updates previous research on the time frames for developing policy statements and plans. Specifically it sets out better understanding of the time taken to develop RMA plans, broken up into the various key stages of plan development (ie, from public notification stage, pre-hearing stage, hearing stage, council decision stage and post decision/appeals stage). One significant finding from the report was the disproportionate length of time it takes to complete the final stage of plan preparation following the release of council decisions.
Department of Building and Housing. (2009). Report and Recommendations of the Urban Taskforce (PDF). Wellington.
This report was prepared by the Building and Construction Sector Urban Taskforce (comprised of
industry, central and local government leaders) which was formed by the Minister for Building and Construction to make some practical proposals to address issues associated with urban development. The report identifies barriers and impediments to successful urban development and outlines options for delivering better higher density urban development.
GHD. 2010. Phase II Reform of the RMA Notices of Requirements and Outline Plans – Analysis (PDF, 563 KB). Prepared for the Ministry for the Environment, Wellington.
This report analyses information on recent Notices of Requirement (NoR) for designations and Outline Plan applications relating to existing designations, specifically discussing the nature of information required for NoR and lapse periods for designations. The findings of this research are anticipated to assist the second phase of the resource management reform programme by compiling data around the use of NoR and the Outline Plan process.
GHD. 2006. Research into the use of designations (PDF, 226 KB). Prepared for the Ministry for the Environment, Wellington.
This report discusses the use of the designations process under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) in order to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the process and to determine what the real or perceived issues might be.
Gow L. 2000. Curbing the Sprawl: Urban Growth Management in the United States – Lessons for New Zealand (PDF). Ministry for the Environment. Wellington.
This report accounts the issues and trends in urban growth and management in the United States and the relevance of these findings to New Zealand. Of particular relevance to the second phase of the resource management reform programme this report discusses the need for effective development and implementation of regional strategies.
Grimes (2007) Impacts of Land Supply and Planning Infrastructure on New Zealand House Prices (PDF), Motu Economic & Public Policy Research Trust, Wellington.
This paper summarises and synthesises results from several studies dealing with the impacts of land availability, housing supply and associated planning infrastructure on New Zealand house prices. Of particular relevance to the Auckland governance reforms is evidence which indicates that restrictions on land supply around Auckland – partially a result of that city’s planning infrastructure – are instrumental in raising land costs for Auckland.
Harrison Grierson. 2008, Development of Standard Definitions for Common District Plan Terms (PDF, 143 KB). Prepared for the Ministry for the Environment. Wellington.
This report sets out the results of a project to develop standard definitions for some commonly used district plan terms. The consultants were provided with a list of 460 terms that came from a number of district plans, Australia and model definitions previously used under the Town and Country Planning Act and condensed these to a list of 43 terms.
Harrison Grierson.2008. Schedule One Process – Plan Changes: Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation (PDF, 155 KB). Prepared for the Ministry for the Environment. Wellington
The report presents the results of a pilot study, which gathered qualitative and quantitative informational from a sample of local authorities in the Bay of Plenty, to test the validity of claims often heard in the media and in other anecdotal comments that the plan change process is bureaucratic, lengthy, costly and the process could be streamlined. The report found that the Schedule 1 process is essentially sound, however there are matters and areas that may require some refinement.
Hill G. 2008. The Effectiveness of the Auckland Metropolitan Urban Limit – Ring-fencing Urban Development (PDF). Paper presented at the Environmental Defence Society Conference, 11–12 June 2008.
This paper discusses the Auckland region’s Metropolitan Urban Limits (MULs), its history, use and attempts to discuss its effectiveness. An assessment of its effectiveness is done in the context of its purpose over time, changing attitudes towards notions of sprawl, urban consolidation, intensification and environmental protection.
Hill Young Cooper and Enfocus. 2010. Providing National Guidance on Infrastructure through the RMA. Ministry of Economic Development and Minister for the Environment, Wellington.
This report summarises research undertaken to investigate the issues associated with the possible introduction of an amendment to the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) to better recognise infrastructure. In particular, it examines the perception that a lack of explicit recognition for infrastructure in sections 6 (matters of national importance) or 7 (other matters) has frustrated investment in infrastructure.
Hill Young Cooper Ltd. 2008. First Schedule Process – Time and Costs (PDF, 772 KB). Prepared for the Ministry for the Environment. Wellington.
This report sets out the result of some research to better understand the time and costs associated with a small sample of plan changes processed under the First Schedule of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The report aims to test the validity of criticisms raised by various parties, gain a better understanding of where the constraints and issues are and to get some ideas from those involved in developing and processing plan changes as to how the process could be improved.
Hunt, J. 2008. Urban Design Controls and City Development in a New Zealand context: Reflections on Recent Experiences in Auckland’s Urban Core (PDF, 91 KB). University of Auckland.
This paper examines the effectiveness of the RMA in promoting high quality urban planning and urban design outcomes, drawing examples from urban development in central Auckland. The paper concludes with some lessons which can be learnt from successful urban planning and design policies that have been developed in Vancouver.
Inter-agency Urban Development Unit. 2009. Key findings from the policy work stream (PDF, 290 KB). Inter-agency Urban Development Unit hosted by the Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington
This presentation identifies the benefits of good large-scale urban development’s and what the barriers are to getting these off the ground. The presentation discusses how the public and private sectors can partner together to better support these.
Kamal-Chaoui, L, Robert, A (eds) 2009. Competitive Cities and Climate Change (PDF, 2.0 MB), OECD Regional Development Working Papers N° 2, OECD publishing.
This report offers a comprehensive analysis of how cities and metropolitan regions can change the way we think about responding to climate change. Of particular relevance to the second phase of the resource management reform programme, the report discusses how local urban policies can help achieve national and global climate goals, improving environmental performance whilst also improving their competiveness as a city.
Ministry for the Environment (2010) Urban Design Panels – A National Stocktake (PDF). Ministry for the Environment, Wellington.
This report contains the findings of a nationwide survey of local authority urban design panels which sought information on how many panels there are, the processes they use, and to canvass views on their effectiveness. The research revealed that, in general, panels of external experts are having a positive effect on built outcomes, either by improving the standard of design or by being able to eliminate poorly designed proposals from further consideration.
Ministry for the Environment RMA Review Team. 2008. Report to the Technical Advisory Group (PDF). Ministry for the Environment. Wellington.
This report prepared by MfE officials provided the Minister’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG) with options to address issues with the RMA and related legislation. It set out proposed options for a first stage of legislation being to streamline and simplify RMA processes, followed by more complex issues that could be dealt with in a second review.
Ministry for the Environment 2008. Review of Urban Design Case Law (PDF). Ministry for the Environment, Wellington.
This report presents findings from a review of urban design-related decisions made by the Environment Court (the Court) before July 2008 to help professionals working with the RMA to achieve quality urban design outcomes. The findings focus on how the Court has addressed a range of urban design subject areas include: amenity, character, commerce, density, heritage, open space, movement and urban growth.
Morrison J, Sumits A. 2001. Creating a Framework for Sustainability in California: Lessons Learned from the New Zealand Experience (PDF), Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security, California.
This report examines the comprehensive environmental reforms adopted in New Zealand in the late 1980s – early 1990s as a basis for informing California stakeholders in their consideration for alternate policy models to improve the state’s environmental protection as it faces significant future population growth. Discussions of the lessons learned offer insight into what New Zealand can do moving forward into further reforms.
Royal Commission on Auckland Governance. 2009. Auckland Governance Report (PDF). Royal Commission on Auckland Governance, Auckland
This report investigates and makes recommendations on local and regional government arrangements to steer Auckland towards a secure, prosperous, and sustainable future. Recommendations include the formation of a unitary authority, to be called the Auckland Council, to assume all local government responsibilities in the Auckland region. Of particular relevance to the second phase of the resource management reform programme, the creation of a new regional spatial plan for Auckland is recommended.
SGS Economics and Planning. 2006. Catalysing Positive Urban Change in New Zealand (PDF). Prepared for the Ministry for the Environment, Wellington.
The report evaluates the need for additional mechanisms for managing urban change in New Zealand and to draw from best international practice in framing a suitable approach for NZ. The report proposed a set of legislative and institutional arrangements for the implementation of a suitable urban change mechanism in NZ, including a single piece of legislation which would ‘house’ a range of mechanisms configured to meet the differing challenges at the national, regional and local levels.
Treasury. 2010. National Infrastructure Plan (PDF). New Zealand Government. Wellington.
This Plan outlines the infrastructure challenges that we face and describes what the Government is doing to address these. In doing so identifies the Government’s priorities and recognises that: “infrastructure fundamentally supports not only our productivity and economic competitiveness, but also our social and environmental well-being”. Local government, private sector businesses and iwi are encouraged to partner with central government to address these priorities for the benefit of all New Zealanders.
Last updated: 12 October 2010
