About us
Our Purpose
We are urban specialists who are passionate about Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland. Our society’s aims are to:
Promote and encourage the protection and enhancement of the natural and built environment and amenities of Auckland City and the Auckland Waterfront.
Ensure that Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland City and the Waitematā Waterfront is developed, utilised or maintained in a way that maximises its amenity value and aesthetic appeal to Aucklanders and visitors to Auckland.
Our Story
Urban Auckland’s origins were with the 1998 ‘Re-Think Britomart’ campaign organised to stop a large area of downtown Auckland being demolished to create an enormous 6-storey underground carpark. That campaign was successful and eventually led to Auckland Council’s ‘Re-Think” that is Britomart today.
In 2000 the society for the Protection of Auckland’s City and Waterfront Inc (SPACWI) was formed to take legal action against Auckland City Council for the non-notified resource consent of the proposed Price Waterhouse Tower on Auckland’s waterfront. The proposal allowed for no public engagement with the building at street level. With SPACWI winning the appeal, the first two levels of the tower were redesigned as a public foyer open to the harbour view with cafes and retail to the street.
Over the last 20 years the society has:
Been instrumental in ensuring that the long-term legacy of the 2021 America’s Cup challenge was the re-purposing of the ‘tank farms’ on Wynyard Wharf and stopped the planning of a new 220 metre long wharf off Halsey wharf.
Stopped the installation of two large concrete ‘Dolphins’ off the end of Queens Wharf for the berthing of extra-large cruise ships by appealing the Resource Consent granted by Auckland Council and Panuku in the Environment Court.
Successfully joined Devonport Peninsula Society in challenging Ryman’s Healthcare in the Environment Court over issues of urban design and design quality of a large development in Ngataringa Bay. Resolved in mediation with Rymans Healthcare.
Attended meetings over a two year period on the introduction of urban design skills into central government and their proposed Urban Design Protocol.
Successfully taken legal action in High Court against proposed apartment development on St James site, Queen Street. Judge ruled that aesthetics was an issue in considering consents which has become a key legal ruling.
Made yearly submissions to the Auckland City Council’s Annual Plan – focusing on future development. This included asking for more urban design skills within council and new positions have been created in response to this request.
Successfully negotiated to maximise public access to Te Wero Island in the Viaduct Basin.
Published articles in the Herald commenting on the quality of Auckland architecture.
Our Committee
Current Chair:
Patrick Reynolds
Patrick is a leading photographer of the built environment in Aotearoa and holds several urban development governance roles. He was instrumental in growing the influential blog Greater Auckland and frequently speaks about urbanism issues in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Committee members:
- Malcolm Walker (Deputy Chair)
- Dr Natalie Allen (Deputy Chair)
- Ben van Bruggen (Secretary)
- Nicky Stuart (Treasurer)
- Christina Sills van Bohemen (Past Chair)
- Julie Stout (Past Chair)
- Pip Cheshire
- Dr Elizabeth Aitken-Rose
- Graeme Scott
- Raphaela Rose
