New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities

New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities
TypeResearch institute
HeadquartersUniversity of Otago, Wellington
Director
Philippa Howden-Chapman
Websitesustainablecities.org.nz

The New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities states that it is an inter-disciplinary research centre "dedicated to providing the research base for innovative solutions to the economic, social, environmental and cultural development" of New Zealand urban centres. It states "87% of New Zealanders live in cities. The health and well-being of a significant proportion of (New Zealand) population is reliant on developing environments that take into account the connections between transport, design, energy, health and governance and other issues."[1]

Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman of the University of Otago is the director[2] and states:

"The centre builds on a strong existing network of expertise. It is a partnership, led by the University of Otago, of six universities - Otago, Canterbury, Victoria, Massey, Waikato and Auckland - two Crown Research Institutes, Landcare and NIWA and BRANZ. It is positioned to work with regional councils, territorial local authorities and national agencies, with national frameworks that can accelerate urban sustainability."[3]

Professor Howden-Chapman has been quoted as expressing concern in 2012 at the clear absence of a central government agency in New Zealand that sees urban development and sustainable cities as a priority part of its brief.[4]

The centre has been instrumental in researching the application of indigenous knowledge to sustainable urban design.[5]

  1. ^ "New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities". New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  2. ^ "Contact page for New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities". New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  3. ^ "New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities". University of Otago. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  4. ^ "Call for second super ministry 'worth investigating'". Globle Alliance Limited. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  5. ^ Thompson-Fawcett, Michelle (2010). "Tāone Tupu Ora: Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Urban Design," Steele Roberts Publishing Limited, 119