Revealed: 2021 draft Cabinet paper shows Labour’s last minute light rail switch
Over the last year, I’ve been writing a book on the story of light rail in Auckland between 2014-2024. A lot happened – much of it public, and quite a lot not – and the history of the project goes to the heart of our struggle to build things in New Zealand.…
86 Comments By shaping Auckland, we shape ourselves
“First we shape the cities — then they shape us.”.
These words by renowned Danish architect and urban designer Jan Gehl are a simple but powerful reminder of our ability – and perhaps even duty – to shape any city, including our own home of Auckland, for the better.…
Behind the curtain of AT’s Project K switcheroo
On Tuesday this week I watched AT present to the Waitematā Local Board about the Karanga-a-Hape Station precinct integration project (otherwise known as Project K).
The same day, I received information in response to my LGOIMA request for documents about the last-minute decision to drastically change the project in March & April of this year, as well as an early return yesterday of documents regarding resolutions from the Traffic Control Committee.…
Auckland Transport doubles down on diluting Project K
Last Wednesday, Greater Auckland sent an open letter to Auckland Transport about last minute U-turns on designs for the area around Karanga-ā-hape CRL station. Our letter was co-signed by over a hundred people including many local residents and businesses, Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick, and organisations such as the City Centre Residents’ Group, Bike Auckland, Campaign for Better Transport, and more.…
Some comments for Auckland Transport on Project K and our open letter
This is a bit of a progress update for our open letter asking Auckland Transport to return to the consulted and support plans for the Karanga-a-Hape Station precinct integration project after their last-minute changes.
So far, we’ve had over 80 people and organisations sign on.…
Open Letter to Auckland Transport about Project K
This is a letter we will be sending to Auckland Transport to ask they return to the original consulted and endorsed plans on the Karanga-a-Hape Station precinct integration project, after they released significant changes to designs last week.
If you would like to be added as a signatory, please reach out to us at admin@greaterauckland.org.nz…
Getting Cross with AT’s awful last minute re-designs of Project K
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post extensively detailing the scandal of what happened with the Upper Mercury Lane part of the Karanga-a-Hape Station precinct integration project (also known by its cool title, Project K). It was a prime example of Auckland Transport’s habitual failure to follow through on well-supported and widely-consulted projects that improve the status quo.…
Most people want a people-friendly city
With many of Auckland’s political and bureaucratic leaders bowing down to vocal minorities and consistently failing to reallocate space to people in our city, recent news overseas has prompted me to point out something important.
It is extremely popular to make car-dominated cities nicer, by freeing up space for people.…
Mercury Lane, and Auckland Transport’s habitual failure
When the City Rail Link opens (circa 2026), all signs point to it immediately being a huge success. It will be transformational for Auckland, with ripple effects across the city.
Thousands of people an hour will pour in and out of the new and upgraded stations.…
Guide: Actions you can take on the speed limit increases
The government is moving into the implementation phase of its disastrous decision to reverse speed limit reductions across the country, in most cases regardless of whether communities want to do so.
In Auckland, it’s a Kafkaesque nightmare, with perverse outcomes all over the map.…
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