Who decided Auckland’s volcanic viewshafts?
A couple of months ago, I went to the Auckland Library Heritage Collections in the City Centre, to read the original reports that led to the creation of Auckland’s volcanic viewshafts. For those unfamiliar with the phrase, these are slices of our urban environment where development is prohibited beyond a certain height (or at all), in order to protect certain views of the city’s dozens of iconic maunga.…
51 Comments Want good housing policy? Speak up on revised PC120
It’s time for another round of consultation on Auckland’s housing policy.
After intervention by central government, an amended version of Plan Change 120 (aka PC120) is now up for public feedback. It’s open until 5pm on Thursday 24 September 2026, so hop to it!…
Revised PC120 Passed by Auckland Council
After a five-hour long meeting yesterday, Auckland Council passed amendments to Plan Change 120, enabling greater intensity of housing in designated locations. (Below is the video of the whole meeting – at the end of this post clips breaking it into five parts, for your viewing at leisure.)…
Our PC120 feedback to central Local Boards
Currently, Local Boards in Auckland are being asked to consider two different options when it comes to PC120. In our view, Option B is ideal as it focuses upzoning around existing infrastructure and strong transport links, within the central isthmus. (By contrast, Option A does only the bare legal minimum.)…
Speak up now for more homes in the right places
On Tuesday 9th June, Auckland Council’s Policy, Planning and Development Committee voted on housing policy options to send to local boards and iwi authorities for consultation and engagement.
Narrowly, the vote saw two out of four options proceed: Option A and Option B.…
What’s next for Auckland’s housing plan?
UPDATE 7pm Tuesday 9 June: The committee voted to send Scenarios A and B through to local boards and iwi authorities for feedback. On Tuesday, Auckland Council’s committee for Policy, Planning and Development will make a big call about the shape of the city’s housing plan.…
More intensification in Auckland? Yes Please
The following is an op-ed I wrote which ran in the Sunday Star Times and The Post on March 8th 2026. Yesterday, Auckland Council agreed on principles to guide a review of PC120 after the government amended the plan. Everyone agrees we need more housing in Auckland, and that it’s best located near transport options, and places people work, study and shop.…
Help Auckland Transport get it right on Green Lane West
NOTE: on Friday 27 February we received an update on this project from Auckland Transport – you can scroll to the bottom of the post to read it.
Picture this.
You’re a Council, keen for more housing in a compact, liveable city.…
The promise of PC120: saying yes to more homes
This piece originally ran as an op-ed in the NZ Herald on Friday. To find out more about the Coalition for More Homes and get involved in YIMBY action, check out the website. Last year, 200 people packed out a town hall in Mt Eden to protest apartment buildings being constructed near train stations – and therefore their house.…
2025 – A Year in Review
Here we are at the end of 2025, so it’s time for quick wrap-up of the most important things that happened this year for urbanism and transport in our city.
A huge thank you to everyone who has visited the blog, shared our work, and supported us in our mission to make a greater Tāmaki Makaurau.…
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