World-class Auckland

Are you a good neighbour?

Auckland’s urban sprawl has created a need for people to travel further to get to work and to school. The increase in travel time is limiting our ability to interact with those in our neighbourhoods.

In this year’s Sovereign Wellbeing Index, 22.3 per cent of Aucklanders reported feeling close to neighbours.

New Zealand fell last in 30 countries ranked in terms of social connectedness, with only 36 per cent of us feeling appreciated by those we are close to. Denmark led, with 83 per cent of its citizens feeling appreciated by those they are close to.

Neighbourly, an online portal for people to connect with their neighbours, found 78.6 per cent had at least one neighbour they could borrow a cup of sugar from, but 70 per cent were not aware of neighbourhood gatherings. The Good Neighbour survey 2014 showed 41 per cent of Kiwis felt they were a great neighbour, against 92 per cent of Americans.

Sarah Moore, head of communications for Neighbourly, said the research suggested most people wanted closer connections, but were limited by shyness, busyness, having recently moved to the neighbourhood, high fences, long working hours and longer travelling times. “They are just not seeing them around, some are shy, some have language barriers and for some it’s the distance.”

Waiheke Island resident Bill Carrig said although people on the island were fairly well connected, he did notice the impact the car-centred lifestyle had on inner-city residents. “It’s like ships passing in the night.” AUT University’s Human Potential Centre research leader, Professor Grant Schofield, said that within New Zealand, Auckland was clearly the worst in terms of social connectedness and social wellbeing, with only a quarter of its residents feeling “awesome”, according to the Sovereign Wellbeing Index.

Those who reported higher levels of social connectivity were more likely to feel “awesome”.

He said the city’s car-oriented design was isolating residents and limiting their ability to live locally.

“It’s almost like we don’t have that neighbourly living as part of our social culture any more,” he said. “The idea of local living is something that’s completely escaped us.”

He suggested, despite the negative perception of high-density areas, there were valuable lessons to be learned from such areas that were the norm in many European countries.

Because most of them were established pre-cars, the spaces were better designed for local living and community engagement. “It’s everyday activities on foot where people can get out in their neighbourhood.”

Conversely Auckland was built for cars with a focus on dormitory-like suburbs that prioritised housing over an all-in-one community hub.

But there had been a growing recognition that future development needed community at its heart.

The development at Hobsonville Pt, with its mix of apartments, townhouses and homes, plus schools, cafes and plans for an entertainment precinct along the waterfront, was one example of what a future Auckland neighbourhood could look like.

For already established suburbs, the newly opened Otahuhu centre shows how a community’s heart can be rebuilt. It has a recreational centre that can be used by businesses, schools and the wider community.

Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board chair Lemauga Lydia Sosene said it was a community solution for health and wellbeing.

Head of the urban planning programme at Auckland University Lee Beattie said it was vital city planners continued to look beyond building houses, to facilities and community spaces. “You have got to be building community,” he said. “You need to ensure other services are in place,

outdoor spaces, retail spaces and sources of employment.

“How can you put someone out there if there is no opportunity ... how can they feel connected?”

Penny Pirrit, Auckland Council general manager for plans and places, said it was important to consider what people need. “We need houses in neighbourhoods that work, not just housing for housing’s sake.

“You need to do it in a way that people actually feel they are part of a neighbourhood.”

Members of the senior and disabled communities acknowledged there were good intentions but at times accessibility to information and events was limited.

“For seniors, the local community is increasingly more important,” said Margaret Devlin, chair of the Seniors Advisory Panel. “Something our panel is quite keen on is that communication reaches our sector, at every level, so at least people know what’s going on — then you need to get them there and back safely.”

Disability Advisory Panel chair Clive Lansink said if he knew what was going on in the community he could choose whether to attend.

“Billboards and flyers obviously don’t reach blind people,” he said. “At least give us the choice of deciding whether to go along or not.”

In a Happiness Research Institute report, Happy Danes, social relations and social cohesiveness were cited as factors that led to Denmark frequently earning itself the title of the happiest country — something the report said stemmed largely from its citizens’ tendency to live locally, enabling a greater work-life balance.

AUT University professor of tourism Simon Milne said Auckland could also become more liveable if the city was made more welcoming and accessible.

He said Montreal was a good example to aspire to. The Canadian city, which frequently ranked highly as one of the most liveable cities, has extensive walking and bike paths that wind through many of the city’s natural, historic and entertainment hot-spots.

“Montreal is a comparable city that’s climatically different, but one that has embraced this idea of how to make a city liveable by [making it more attractive] and thus making it more liveable for the local residents.”

But while Auckland is still a way off from achieving what Montreal has, there is much to be celebrated around the city — its natural wild beaches, expansive regional parks, rolling volcanic mounds and natural harbours.

Globally, our green spaces stack up well, with 326sq m per person of green space compared with the United Nations’ recommendation of 8sq m per person. Auckland Council’s park, sports and recreation general manager, Mark Bowater, said 88 per cent of Aucklanders were living within a 10-minute walk of a local neighbourhood park.

Mr Bowater said the issue with these green spaces was not about how many we had, but rather how well they were used.

“It’s better to invest in what we have, rather than continuing to buy more green spaces.”

One local research institute has taken on this challenge of increasing the profile of some of Auckland’s lesser-known and less-frequented spots.

The New Zealand Tourism Research Institute at AUT has been working with local boards to develop maps guiding people to a range of historical, natural and recreational facilities in their local areas.

Associate director Dr Carolyn Deuchar said a city’s liveability depended on how well we were connected to the place and the sense of belonging we had.

“Liveability is how connected we are to our place and how much we actually appeal to others as a place to come to live.”