A new direction for state housing?
What role should state housing construction play in addressing New Zealand’s issues with housing affordability and housing quality?
Starting in the 1930s, state housing has played an important role in shaping New Zealanders’ expectations around housing. As Oliver Chan observed in a January article for The Spinoff, successive governments backed the idea that the state should guarantee decent housing for all.…
61 Comments Making Auckland better, faster
Last week I wrote about what I described as the great Auckland turnaround story. Auckland seems to be beginning an urban renaissance, backed by a raft of fundamental policy reforms and new investments in urban infrastructure such as busways, metro rail, and cycleways.…
New Zealand should plan for 10 million New Zealanders
Over the last few months I’ve been travelling all over New Zealand and parts of Australia for work. (This is part of the reason I haven’t found time to write blog posts!) I’ve been to Christchurch (twice), Wellington (twice), Hamilton (twice), Tauranga, Queenstown, and probably one or two other places.…
Sunday reading 21 May 2017
Welcome back to Sunday reading. I’m writing this on a quite nice Friday evening in Wellington, after spending two days talking to lots of people.
The best thing I’ve read this week is an article by Emma Espiner in Newsroom: “Embrace foreign students – we may need them one day“.…
Is building more homes a sinister plot against the poor?
(Before you start reading, see Betteridge’s law of headlines.)
The other day, someone pointed me towards an article on Truth-out.org with an amazing click-bait title: “YIMBYs: The ‘alt-right’ darlings of the real estate industry“.
For those who are already confused, “YIMBY”, an acronym for “yes-in-my-backyard”, is how some housing advocates describe themselves to indicate that they would like to see more homes built in their cities to make them more affordable for more people.…
Two public talks in Wellington
I’m down in Wellington on Friday to give a few talks on urban planning and transport economics. If any of our Wellington-based readers are interested, I’d encourage you to come along and hear what we have to say. And please say hi afterwards!…
The great Auckland turnaround story
Public transport patronage is falling in North America, and it’s worrying people.
As a February 2017 CityLab article shows, almost every city in the United States is experiencing falling public transport patronage. While transport experts aren’t sure exactly why it’s happening, everyone is concerned:
New York City’s subway system has posted its first dip in ridership since 2009, according to data from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.…
Sunday reading 7 May 2017
Welcome back to Sunday reading. As you read this, I will (hopefully) be waking up in the Waitakeres to get on with the final day of the Hillary Trail.
As I’m writing this in a hurry so that I can get to sleep and get up and do the walk, I’m going to just suggest a few articles without too much commentary.…
Sunday reading 23 April 2017
Welcome back to Sunday reading. I apologise for the continued hiatus in general blogging – unfortunately it’s likely to continue through at least part of May. (Deadlines and exams…)
One of the fundamental questions of the 21st century economy is why the demand for agglomeration and physical presence has strengthened even as telecommunications have become cheaper.…
Sunday reading 2 April 2017
Welcome back to Sunday reading. This week, we’re starting to get evidence of what will happen as a result of the Roads of National Significance: induced traffic and congestion stuff-ups.
Here’s Damian George (Stuff) reporting on outcomes after the opening of the first sections of the Kapiti Expressway:
The $630 million Kapiti expressway has actually doubled the amount of time it takes to commute into Wellington during the morning rush, some motorists say.…
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