Interesting Conversations

Auckland Council has been running a series of conversations between the community and nationals and international experts, investigating ideas, inspiration and action for world-class cities.

They cover a range of topics incorporating Design, Economy, Environment, Community, and Transport.

Auckland Council has kindly given permission for us to share some of these conversations via our website. While some content is specific to a city of that size there are still lots of innovative ideas and interesting conversations that we think are worth sharing.

Please use the links below for past presentations and join the conversation.

If you want to take part in the conversations as they are streamed live, you can sign up directly with Auckland Council at conversations.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz


Transport Planning As Freedom Planning
What if we planned public transport with a goal of personal freedom? Join us at Auckland Conversations as we explore this idea with Jarrett Walker, one of the original designers of Auckland's new bus network.

Happy City
Drawing on brain science, psychology, and rich personal stories, Charles Montgomery explains how cities influence how we feel, behave, and treat other people in ways most of us never realize

Stepping Our Climate Game Climate Solutions Cities Action
Climate change science is no longer up for serious debate, and the Paris Agreement has given us a way forward for global climate policy. But now what? How do we get real, lasting wins?

Vision Zero - Safe Streets for Auckland
World renowned road safety strategist Matts-Åke Belin advises the Mayor of New York, the UN and the US government on Vision Zero. Vision Zero is an approach to road safety that can be summarised in one sentence: no loss of life on the roads is acceptable.

#Liveable = Home
Shamubeel Eaqub takes a top-down approach to tackling the thorny issues of densification, liveability, affordability and legislative frameworks. 

#Liveable = Transformation
Henriette Vamberg will reflect on her unique perspective on liveable cities gained from the work of Gehl Architects in cities around the world, including Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. 

Future Proofing New Zealand Economy
Responding to climate change doesn’t require choosing between profit and fairness or between economic gain and doing the right thing. However we do need to evolve our economy and it’s up to each of us as individuals, as cities and government, as organisations and businesses, to take action.

Liveable Affordable
Responding to climate change doesn’t require choosing between profit and fairness or between economic gain and doing the right thing. However we do need to evolve our economy and it’s up to each of us as individuals, as cities and government, as organisations and businesses, to take action. 

Stepping Our Climate Game Climate Solutions Cities Action
Climate change science is no longer up for serious debate, and the Paris Agreement has given us a way forward for global climate policy. But now what? How do we get real, lasting wins?

Designing People Mind
Nearly 20 years ago two architects, one in the US and one in the UK, who’d both acquired functional limitations due to polio, developed an idea about people at the center of the design process.

The 8 80 City: Creating Vibrant And Healthy Communities
How can we create vibrant and healthy cities for everyone, regardless of age or social status? What is the role of streets - the largest public space in any city? How can parks improve the quality of life that attracts and retains people to their communities? 

Changing Streets Change World
Over 1.2 million people die on global roads each year from traffic injuries. With three-quarters of the global population expected to be living in cities by 2050, cities must rethink, reimagine and redesign the most valuable real-estate space of streets to function more efficiently for the needs of more people.

From Roads Vehicles Streets People
Jeffrey Tumlin draws on his extensive experience in cities in North America and around the world with examples where communities have worked together to get the balance between movement and place right, delivering complete streets as parts of complete communities and drawing lessons for New Zealand along the way. 

Building Bridges Not Walls
London bombings survivor and advocate for peace Dr Gill Hicks shares her inspiring story at this free Auckland Conversations event.

Shaping Resilient And Collaborative Communities
Through training, designing and building alongside leaders and community members, The Pomegranate Centre aims to make neighbourhoods more liveable, sustainable and socially engaged. This work is based on the core values of strong communities and collective creativity. Milenko shares his experiences from hundreds of communities across the USA and abroad. 

Vancouver Cycle Chic
Chris and Melissa address what safe and accessible space for cycling means in practical terms for experiencing the city and participating in public life.

Landscape Driver Development Strategy
Professor Kathryn Moore argues how the UK's largest infrastructure project for generations is a unique opportunity to create an enduring legacy.

Streets People - Learning New York
Transportation Alternatives is a non-profit organisation in New York City which seeks to change New York City's transportation priorities to encourage and increase non-polluting, safer and calmer neighborhood streets, and city-friendly travel that decreases private car use.

Economic And Environmental Sustainability
Graham has been responsible for delivering many positive outcomes and ongoing projects for Brisbane including: Easing traffic congestion with major infrastructure projects across the city – including the TransApex network of cross city tunnels and bridges along with the Road Action Program which has fast-tracked 15 years of urgent road works into just four years.

Keep Kauri Standing
New Zealand and Australian experts come together to discuss the importance of kauri and the impact and management of kauri dieback disease.