It is always interesting comparing one place to another so that’s why I was really interested when I saw the image below. It has been created by Spotila on the Skyscrapercity Forums and shows the size of Auckland compared to Hamilton, Tauranga, Napier/Hastings and Sydney. Apart from the sheer physical size of Sydney what interested me was just how big those other NZ cities are. Each of them have populations of around the 100k-130k mark yet physically they are similar or perhaps even bigger than say West Auckland with a population of around 200k.
He has also mapped out a lot of other cities from around the world to more clearly show their urban area and you can find some of his amazing images here, it is worth looking at the size of some of the US cities which are truly massive.
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it would be interesting to add Christchurch to this image, I suspect its density could be quite low
Awesome visualisations!
You can clearly see why Auckland, in contrast to the myth, is actually very well suited to being a transit city in its geography. As of course it was until 1955. It’s made up of fairly isolated chunks that can be easily served by a core spine of a rapid frequent service meet by connecting branches out to the edges. Shame we haven’t had this pattern recently, but fantastic that we’re getting it soon!
Tauranga would seem to be better suited to a high density mode of passenger transport than Hamilton looking at the map. There are also lineal/ribbon developments occurring both northwest, and southeast of Tauranga CBD/Mt Maunganui. It really does have some close parallels to Auckland with an intricate coastline constraining and naturally intensifying development, and exacerbating road congestion, both present and future.
Hence Tauranga still suffering from congestion even though an absolutely stupidly huge amount of money has been spent on its roading network in the past 10-15 years.
On Tuesday I cycled to Tauranga for a job interview (as one does!), and spent a day exploring by bicycle to see what’s changed in the last 15 years or so.
So, so disappointed with the way the city has developed. Vast, wide tarmac everywhere. Pedestrians as rare as hens’ teeth, although a few senior citizens on bicycles. Ugly concrete flyovers. Car-dependency that will impoverish future generations already baked into the cake – although not irremediable if some enlightened local government was to intervene.
Relaxing urban boundaries will only further entrench the erosion of quality of life.
Yes – the new flyovers have no/minimal provision for pedestrians and cycling which is pretty amazing these days. It is starting to look a bit like a mini LA! The council also have a policy of allowing commercial premises in houses within residential areas outside the CBD, so the possibility of creating a viable central transport hub is not really there either.
Indeed. Tauranga has some of the worst transport and urban planning in the country. This does not bode well for what will soon be the fourth largest city. The city council are looking at an urban limits expansion, so the intensification planned under the SmartGrowth programme will probably never happen. There is pressure for this expansion from a certain large property developer (and ex MP)! As there is minimal future provision for public transport/cycle ways etc, the congestion issue will get much worse. Ironic that this has happened as a lot of the new residents are ex Aucklanders who left to escape the traffic and expensive housing sprawl for example!
Yes I have long thought that Tauranga is effectively just copying many of Aucklands mistakes which is really sad (they aren’t the only ones doing it though).
Wonder if the grey power vote and the reduced mobility of that demographic has lent itself to the sheer dominance of cars-first development on display there.
Did they have urban land area per capita somewhere ? Would be interesting to know as the New Zealand cities look really spread out for their population size in comparison.
Where is Pukekohe?
I guess they decided Pukekohe, and Hellensville, were separate towns and not part of metropolitan Auckand.
Where is Waiheke?
I think the urban bit of the ‘Heke are there floating off to the right?
It’s there where is should be, just north of Maraetai.
Hey guys – first, thanks to Matt for using my image :). Secondly – this was just a test image that I threw together as a concept, that’s the main reason why Helensville/Pukekoe are not on the Auckland map.
I’m in the process of fine tuning my maps and ideas etc, so there will be a lot more to come in the future.
Cheers
Spotila