First Principles

The Tamaki Transformation Programme (TTP) is expected to last 20 years. Although no specific budget information has been released, I will assume that via rates and taxes, local and central government will spend/invest up to $1.9 billion in the area. The private sector will likely invest up to the same amount.

Now is a good time to establish the first principles of the project. The principles are goals of the project and will also describe how the project will be done.

The principles below are a work in progress but they summarise for me some of the main issues that I think we should be focussing on. Let me know your thoughts on them. The numbers of the principles are to assist in feedback and aren’t an indication of importance.

1.       Carbon neutrality

Government has an expectation that NZ businesses and industries will work towards being carbon neutral. There is a real financial consequence of not achieving this. I think it’s fair to expect that the TTP will also aim to be carbon neutral and will be assessed against this criterion.

This will mean that building materials should be reused or existing buildings refurbished rather than being demolished. Active transport should be encouraged and green building technologies used where possible.

2.       Garden Suburb

The idea of creating a ‘garden suburb’ is more a vision than a first principle. It’s based on the original development name of the suburb of Tamaki: ‘Tamaki Heights Garden Suburb’. The suburb of Tamaki was developed in the 1920s as a garden-based oasis within a short train ride of the city. I think that this vision is still relevant today.

Encouraging the planting of fruit trees and vege gardens will also contribute towards the health of residents. Given the large plots and volcanic soil, 25% self-sufficiency in fruit and vegetables should be an easily achievable target.

3.       Biculturalism / Multiculturalism

For me, ‘biculturalism’ is a bit of a misnomer as it doesn’t mean there are only two cultures in NZ, it just recognises that one of the cultures in NZ has been here for a long time and has a special relationship with the land and sea. The ‘other’ culture used to only be European, but now includes dozens of cultures, especially from the Pacific and Asia.

Applied to Tamaki, this principle means that Maori have a special relationship with the place and this should be respected. Also, there are lots of other cultures that live in Tamaki, and all of their input in the TTP will be required to make sure that it goes well.

4.       Active transport

From Taniwha St to Hobson Dr, the area is very flat. There is also a generous network of parks and reserves through which walking and cycling tracks could be developed. I would like to see a hierarchy of modes of transport in the area:

i.                     Walking and cycling

ii.                   Public transport

iii.                  Driving

A lot of work will be required to create pathways through the parks and reserves as these have been largely abandoned by successive councils. Restarting the Tamaki Train Station will also enable walkers and cyclists who live too far away from Panmure and GI to leave their cars at home.

5.       The 20,000 existing residents will be made no worse-off

This sounds like a modest principle, but it is probably the most difficult to achieve and definitely the most important. Transforming Tamaki would be easy if the existing residents were not part of the equation. Capital works could be commissioned, Housing New Zealand could continue to sell down its portfolio and zoning changes would result in higher-density suburbs. However, rents and property values would rise and the existing residents would slowly be squeezed out to the West and South.

If this happens, they will be worse off. If existing renters of state houses are relocated into tenements, they will be worse off. If decades-old community networks are broken, they will be worse off.

I don’t know what the recipe is to both transform the area and also ensure that the people of the area remain and are able to enjoy the benefits. But if this doesn’t happen then the TTP will be a failure. And if residents sniff out that their well-being is not in the forefront of the planners’ minds then they will fight them every step of the way.

That’s enough principles for today. The sun is going down behind Mt. Wellington and my rabbit needs to be put back in her hutch.

I’d like to include Education and the Economy in the principles above, but I will write a separate post on them because of their importance.

Let me know your thoughts on these principles. Remember, it’s our rates and taxes that will fund this programme. They don’t call them public servants for nothing. Sometimes they just need to be reminded who they’re working for.