The New Zealand Urban Design Protocol was published in March 2005 by the Ministry for the Environment to recognise the importance of urban design to the development of successful towns and cities. The protocol is a voluntary commitment by central and local government, property developers and investors, design professionals, educational institutes and other groups to undertake specific urban design initiatives.
The protocol identifies six essential attributes that successful towns and cities share;
Competitive places that thrive economically and facilitate creativity and innovationLiveable places that provide a choice of housing, work and lifestyle optionsEnvironmentally responsible places that manage all aspects of the environment sustainablyInclusive places that offer opportunities for all citizensDistinctive places that have a strong identity and sense of placeWell-governed places that have a shared vision and sense of direction.The protocol is centred on “The Seven Cs”, which are considered the essential design qualities that create urban design;
ContextCharacterChoiceConnectionsCreativityCustodianshipCollaborationThe New Zealand Urban Design Protocol was prepared with input from the following professionals;
Penny Pirrit, Manager Environmental Planning, Auckland City CouncilRobert Tongue, City Architect, Dunedin City CouncilPatrick Fontein, Principal, Kensington Properties; President, Auckland Branch of the Property Council of New ZealandJohn Sinclair, Consultant, ArchitectusChris McDonald, Senior Lecturer, Victoria University School of ArchitectureErnst Zollner, Lecturer, University of Auckland Department of Planning; Chief Advisor, Strategic and Economic Development, Wellington City CouncilDoug Leighton, Principal, Boffa MiskellKaren Goodall, Executive Director, City for AucklandDavid Fox, Managing Director, Fox and AssociatesSimon Whiteley, Policy and Strategy Manager, Land Transport New ZealandJohn Tocker, Principal, David Jerram ArchitectsAlison Dalziel, Advisor, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet; Chair of the Sustainable Cities Senior Officials GroupLindsay Gow, Deputy Chief Executive and Chair of the Urban Design Advisory GroupLuke Troy, Senior AdvisorYvonne Weeber, Senior AdvisorFrances Lane Brooker, Seniro AdvisorErica Sefton, Senior Advisor