Category: Cities Skylines

National Standardised Zones top off busy week in the Aotearoa Planning Sphere

Aotearoa is diving headfirst into the National Standardised Zones (NSZs), ripping apart over 1,000 zoning categories to embrace a mere 17-20, mirroring Japan’s and Victoria’s models. This radical overhaul promises uniformity across cities, but is it truly beneficial? While gamers cherish the consistency of zones like those in Cities Skylines, the real question looms: Will this homogenization in planning stifle diversity and creativity in urban design?

Enhancing Communities through Mixed-Use Urban Planning

Minister Christopher Bishop champions mixed-use development, citing global examples and touting its benefits for urban areas. He stresses its potential to enhance accessibility to amenities, promote social interaction, and improve transit efficiency. Bishop argues that mixed use can lead to better outcomes in traffic, pollution, productivity, and community cohesion. He also advocates for embracing low-density mixed use through terraced housing. This model integrates commercial or office spaces on the lower floors and residential units above.