Every Body Active by Design

Te Auaunga Oakley Creek restoration

Te Auaunga Oakley Creek shows how restoring a stream can create a healthier place for both people and nature. What was once a heavily altered waterway is now a network of paths, open spaces and natural areas that support walking, cycling and time outdoors.

Te Auaunga Oakley Creek is one of Auckland’s largest urban stream restoration projects. The project combined flood protection, stream restoration, improved public spaces, cultural narratives and walking and cycling connections to create a healthier place for people and nature. Parts of the stream had been changed over time, reducing its environmental health, increasing flood risk and limiting access. The project restored sections of the stream closer to their natural state, improved habitats for native plants and wildlife, and helped protect nearby communities from flooding.

The project also created paths, bridges and open spaces that make it easier for people to walk, wheel, cycle and spend time outdoors. These connections link homes, schools, parks, play, recreation, and sport spaces, community gardens and everyday destinations, making movement a natural part of daily life. The path is also the current route for the weekly Owairaka parkrun.

Te Auaunga shows how waterways can be designed for people as well as nature. Access to the restored stream, native planting and new public spaces gives people more opportunities to be active, relax outdoors and connect with the natural environment.

One of the project’s biggest strengths is the way it brings multiple benefits together. Rather than treating flood protection, stream restoration and public access as separate projects, they were delivered as one connected investment. The project was shaped through collaboration with mana whenua and local communities, helping restore the health and identity of the awa while creating a place that reflects local values and aspirations.

Active design approaches

• Connected, accessible movement networks

• Active frontages, visibility and welcoming edges

• Places to pause, gather and connect

• Nature-rich and climate-resilient environments

• Access to the water's edge

• Local essence, cultural narratives and sense of place

• Stewardship, learning and community care

Te Ara Tupua

Te Ara Tupua has opened up the harbour edge between Wellington and Lower Hutt, creating a spectacular new route for walking, cycling and everyday journeys.

Te Ara Tupua, opened in 2026, has created a new walking and cycling connection between Wellington and Lower Hutt along the harbour edge. Designed to help protect this important transport route from the impacts of climate change, the project also fills a long-standing gap in the region’s walking and cycling network. Developed by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi in partnership with mana whenua, local authorities and the community, it shows how major infrastructure projects achieve more through considered and collaborative planning and design.

Running alongside the Hutt Valley railway corridor, Te Ara Tupua links neighbourhoods, railway stations, workplaces, schools and recreational destinations. The route makes it easier to walk, cycle or combine active travel with public transport, helping people build movement into everyday life.

The project also reflects the cultural narrative of the area. Through partnership with mana whenua, relevant stories, artwork, planting and viewshafts are showcased throughout the route. This strengthens connections between people, whenua and moana while creating a distinctive sense of place.

What makes Te Ara Tupua stand out is the way climate resilience, public access to the waterfront, cultural identity, and walking and cycling connections have been brought together in one project. Rather than treating them as separate challenges, the project combined them to create a route that serves many purposes. The result is a place that supports everyday movement, community wellbeing and cultural connection while helping communities respond to a changing climate.

Active design approaches

• Connected, accessible movement networks

• Places to pause, gather and connect

• Nature-rich and climate-resilient environments

• Access to the water's edge

• Local essence, cultural narratives and sense of place

Hobsonville Point

Development at Hobsonville Point shows how everyday destinations close to home and safe connected routes can make walking, wheeling and cycling the easy choice.

At Hobsonville Point, schools, parks, shops and public transport are all within easy reach, making movement a natural part of daily life. A community developed on a former air force base in northwest Auckland, it combines apartments, terraced housing and standalone homes within a compact, connected community designed to achieve a  more affordable lifestyle.

The neighbourhood was planned around the idea that many of the places people use every day should be close to home. Residents can walk, wheel or cycle to schools, parks, playgrounds, shops, public transport and community facilities using a network of connected streets, paths and open spaces alongside traffic calming measures. Access to the coastal edge and nearby parks also provides opportunities to play, explore and spend time in nature.

Whether travelling to school, visiting local shops, catching public transport or connecting with neighbours, being active becomes part of normal daily routines. In 2018, 67% of children living in Hobsonville Point walked, biked, or scootered to school, considerably higher than the 2017/18 national rate of 44.9% (NZ Health Survey, Hobsonville Point Sustainability Report 2017/2016).

What makes Hobsonville Point work is that everything was planned together. Housing, transport, parks, public spaces and community facilities were designed as one connected neighbourhood, making destinations easy to reach and enjoyable to use. Schools, shops, and some public spaces were delivered early in the development ensuring local amenities were available to residents from the outset.

This approach helps ensure the opportunity to walk, wheel and participate in outdoor activity are built into the community from the start. The community drives a lot of space activation, with a strong weekly farmer’s market and active community pages for events, groups, and new ideas, creating vibrancy in this relatively new neighbourhood.

Active design approaches

• Connected, accessible movement networks

• Mixed-use environments

• People-centred streets and public spaces

• Flexible places for play, recreation, sport and community activity

• Nature-rich and climate-resilient environments

• Schools as community hubs

Wigram Skies

Wigram Skies shows how culture, identity and great design can help create neighbourhoods people feel connected to.

Wigram Skies is a planned community developed by Ngāi Tahu Property on the former RNZAF Wigram Air Force Base in Christchurch. The neighbourhood combines a mix of housing, schools, parks, public spaces, walking and cycling connections, stormwater landscapes and a town centre within a connected neighbourhood.

From the outset, the development was designed to make everyday destinations easy to reach on foot, by bike or by wheelchair. The Landing town centre provides shops, cafés, health services and community facilities within easy reach of surrounding neighbourhoods. This helps reduce reliance on cars while making it easier for people to be active as part of daily life. Parks, reserves, schools and connected path.ays further encourage walking, wheeling and cycling.

One of the things that makes Wigram Skies stand out is its strong sense of identity. Kāi Tahu values, local stories and the site’s aviation heritage are reflected through landscape design, planting, street names, artwork, public spaces and storytelling. Rather than being added later, these elements helped shape the character of the neighbourhood from the beginning. Creating a vibrant community has been at the heart of the marketing package for this development.

The result is a place where people can be active, connect with others and feel a sense of belonging. Public spaces support recreation, play, social interaction and community gatherings while a strong sense of identity encourages people to value, care for and spend time in the neighbourhood. The project shows how housing, transport, open space and community facilities can work together to support healthy, active and connected lifestyles.

Active design approaches

• Connected, accessible movement networks

• Mixed-use environments

• People-centred streets and public spaces

• Flexible places for play, recreation, sport and community activity

• Nature-rich and climate-resilient environments

• Schools as community hubs

Central city living

Development and urban planning in central Christchurch shows how living closer to jobs, services and public spaces can make everyday movement easier.

Central city living in Christchurch shows how higher-density housing can make walking and getting around easier every day. As part of the city’s post-earthquake regeneration, new apartments and townhouses have brought more people into the city centre, creating opportunities to live closer to jobs, services, public transport and public spaces.

The development provides an alternative to car-dependent suburban living. Residents can easily reach shops, parks, services and community facilities close to home. Having everyday destinations nearby reduces the need for long trips and helps make walking a natural part of daily life.

What makes central Christchurch work is the combination of homes, parks, public spaces and local services. New housing has been delivered alongside investment in parks, community facilities, public transport and public spaces, creating a neighbourhood where people can live, work and connect close to home while still having access to green space and nature. The developments also offer a range of housing options, supporting different household sizes, ages and lifestyles while contributing to a vibrant city centre community.

Following the Canterbury earthquakes, there was a deliberate effort to bring more people back into the city centre. Creating new housing in the heart of the city has helped strengthen local businesses, public life and activity throughout the day. Access to quality public spaces, street trees, nearby parks and well-designed homes has helped create a neighbourhood where people enjoy spending time both indoors and outdoors.

Active design approaches

• Mixed-use environments

• Connected, accessible movement networks

• People-centred streets and public spaces

• Places to pause, gather and connect

• Nature-rich and climate-resilient environments

George Street upgrade

The upgrade of George Street shows how existing main streets can be redesigned to prioritise people.

George Street has been transformed from a busy retail street into a place where people can also walk, play, meet and spend time. The redevelopment prioritised pedestrians, accessibility and public life while maintaining access for businesses and vehicles. The result shows how active design can breathe new life into existing town centres.

The project introduced street trees, rain gardens, generous seating, improved lighting, public art and flexible spaces for outdoor dining and community events. A standout feature is New Zealand’s first integrated in-street play space, where opportunities for play are woven directly into the street rather than being confined to a traditional playground.

George Street shows that people are more likely to walk, stop and spend time in places that are enjoyable as well as practical. Comfortable places to sit, attractive landscaping, public art and playful features create opportunities for spontaneous activity, social interaction and everyday enjoyment. Traffic has been slowed and redirected the parking has been moved creating lots of safe crossing points for pedestrians to move between both sides of the street.

The redevelopment was shaped through collaboration with Aukaha, a mana whenua-owned consultancy, helping weave Kāi Tahu values, local stories and the identity of Ōtepoti throughout the streetscape. Cultural stories are reflected through artwork, planting, paving and storytelling elements, creating a place that feels distinctly Ōtepoti and connected to its history.

Active design approaches

• People-centred streets and public spaces

• Active frontages, visibility and welcoming edges

• Places to pause, gather and connect

• Flexible places for play, recreation, sport and community activity

• Nature-rich and climate-resilient environments

• Local essence, cultural narratives and sense of place

Flaxmere Park

Flaxmere Park shows how a well-designed local park can support movement, play and community life for people of all ages.

In Flaxmere, a local park has become a place where people walk, play, exercise, gather and connect. Through ongoing investment, community involvement and long-term care, it has grown into one of New Zealand’s leading examples of an active community park.

The park brings together a wide range of facilities, including sports fields, walking and cycling paths, a playground, skate park, splash pad, outdoor fitness equipment, disc golf, kī-o-rahi facilities, event spaces and informal open areas. These features create opportunities for sport, recreation, play, fitness and community events within a single, accessible setting.

What makes Flaxmere Park special is the variety of ways people can use it. From tamariki and rangatahi to older adults, the park offers reasons for people of all ages to visit throughout the day and week. This diversity helped it earn national recognition, including Recreation Aotearoa’s Active Park of the Year Award in 2020 and 2023 and Green Flag Award status.

The park’s success has also been shaped by strong community involvement. Ongoing engagement with residents has helped ensure facilities reflect community needs, aspirations and culture. Features such as the kī-o-rahi field, parkrun, fitness facilities and gathering spaces support both physical activity and social connection, helping create a place that is welcoming, inclusive and well used.

Long-term care has been equally important. High standards of maintenance, safety and accessibility help ensure the park remains attractive and well used, showing the important role ongoing stewardship plays in creating successful public spaces.

Active design approaches

• Connected, accessible movement networks

• Places to pause, gather and connect

• Flexible places for play, recreation, sport and community activity

• Nature-rich and climate-resilient environments

• Stewardship, learning and community care

• Local essence, cultural narratives and sense of place

Christchurch Central City

Christchurch Central’s development shows how connected public spaces, civic destinations and walkable streets can make a city centre easier and more enjoyable to move around.

Christchurch’s central city has been reshaped into a place where people can easily walk between public spaces, shops, cultural attractions and community destinations. Investment in walkable streets, public spaces, civic destinations, green infrastructure and safe cycle routes has created a connected network of places that support everyday activity and make it simple to get around actively.

The Council’s Life in Christchurch Annual Survey Results show that cycle use around the whole of the city has increased by more than 40% since 2018. In 2026, Christchurch was named the most bicycle-friendly city in Asia and Oceania and 38th globally in an international Copenhagenize ranking index.

Rather than revolving around a single destination, the city centre offers many reasons to explore. Places such as Tūranga, Cathedral Square, the Avon Ōtākaro River Corridor, Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre and surrounding public spaces are linked by comfortable pedestrian-centred routes, active streets and welcoming public spaces. This makes it easy to move between retail, cultural, civic and recreational destinations throughout the day.

Pedestrian-priority streets, public transport connections, street trees, seating, lighting and active building frontages create an environment that encourages people to walk, spend time outdoors and engage with the city. The Avon Ōtākaro River Corridor provides opportunities to connect with nature in the heart of the city, while public spaces support events, community activity and everyday social connection. The redevelopment also reflects the cultural identity of Ōtautahi, with Ngāi Tūāhuriri helping to embed local narratives and a stronger sense of place throughout the rebuild.

One of the reasons central Christchurch has been successful is its long-term vision. Following the Canterbury earthquakes, investment in public spaces, civic destinations and key infrastructure was coordinated to create a city centre where streets, buildings and public spaces work together. The result is a city centre that supports movement, connection and community life while making it easy to walk between civic, cultural, recreational and everyday destinations.

Active design approaches

• Connected, accessible movement networks

• People-centred streets and public spaces

• Active frontages, visibility and welcoming edges

• Places to pause, gather and connect

• Nature-rich and climate-resilient environments

• Local essence, cultural narratives and sense of place

Downtown Auckland

Downtown Auckland shows how good public transport and great public spaces can make walking the easiest way to get around.

In Downtown Auckland, walking is often the easiest way to get from one place to another. The redevelopment has brought together public transport, homes, workplaces, retail, hospitality and high-quality public spaces to create a city centre where walking feels like the natural choice.

Centred around Britomart Transport Centre, the project extends across Te Komititanga, Commercial Bay, Quay Street, Lower Queen Street and the surrounding waterfront. Together, these places create a highly connected city centre where everyday destinations and attractions are all within an easy walk.

Rather than treating transport as a stand-alone infrastructure project, Downtown Auckland combines investment in rail, ferry, bus and cycling networks with improvements to public spaces and the streets that connect them. Wide footpaths, frequent crossings, street trees, seating, active shopfronts and welcoming public spaces encourage people to walk between destinations and spend more time outdoors.

What makes the area work so well is the way public transport, public spaces and nearby destinations all work together. Public transport helps people reach the city centre, while the surrounding environment makes walking the easiest way to complete everyday journeys. As a result, many trips can be made on foot between workplaces, shops, restaurants, public spaces and the waterfront. This reduces reliance on cars while supporting a more active city.

The project shows how transport hubs can become important civic places. Spaces such as Te Komititanga provide places for people to meet, gather and take part in city life, contributing to social connection, economic activity and a more vibrant city centre.

Active design approaches

• Connected, accessible movement networks

• People-centred streets and public spaces

• Active frontages, visibility and welcoming edges

• Places to pause, gather and connect

• Active travel support and end-of-trip facilities

• Nature-rich and climate-resilient environments

Te Ara Mua – Future Streets, Māngere

The Future Street project in Māngere shows how existing neighbourhoods can be transformed to support safer, healthier and more active everyday journeys.

Te Ara Mua – Future Streets is an internationally recognised neighbourhood improvement project in Māngere that demonstrates how active design can be integrated into established communities. Developed through a partnership between Auckland Transport, Auckland Council, the University of Auckland, Counties Manukau Health, local schools, mana whenua and the community, the project explored how streets and public spaces could better support health, safety and everyday movement.

A range of improvements were introduced, including safer pedestrian crossings, slower traffic speeds, improved walking and cycling connections, street planting, upgraded public spaces, neighbourhood gathering areas and opportunities for informal play. Rather than only focusing on transport, the project considered health, community wellbeing, cultural identity and environmental quality together.

What makes Te Ara Mua stand out is the way local communities and mana whenua helped shape the project. Extensive engagement ensured changes responded to local aspirations, cultural values and lived experience. Streets were reimagined as shared public places that support walking, cycling, play, social interaction and community life, not simply movement corridors for vehicles.

The project demonstrates that meaningful change does not always require major redevelopment. A coordinated series of smaller improvements can make neighbourhoods safer, more attractive and easier to move around while strengthening social connection and local identity. Evaluation of the project also found improvements in walking and cycling behaviour and reductions in traffic-related injury risk.

Active design approaches

• Connected, accessible movement networks

• People-centred streets and public spaces

• Places to pause, gather and connect

• Flexible places for play, recreation, sport and community activity

• Nature-rich and climate-resilient environments

• Local essence, cultural narratives and sense of place

Waterloo Business Park

Waterloo Business Park shows how workplaces can be designed to support movement, wellbeing and connection throughout the day.

Waterloo Business Park is a carefully planned business park in Christchurch that shows how active design can be integrated into business and industrial areas. Developed on the former Islington Freezing Works site, the project was designed to support worker wellbeing and everyday movement while continuing to meet the needs of businesses and freight movement.

Rather than focusing solely on vehicles and industrial activity, the development incorporates tree-lined streets, rain gardens, generous footpaths, walking and cycling paths, public open spaces and places to stop and gather. These features create an environment that is desirable for workers and visitors, where they can move around more easily, connect with others and spend time in nature throughout the day.

Getting around without a car is easier than in many traditional industrial areas. Walking and cycling routes connect workplaces with surrounding communities and public transport, while the street network has been designed to safely accommodate both freight and people. This shows how employment areas can support healthier and more sustainable ways of getting around, without compromising business needs.

What helps Waterloo Business Park stand out is its strong sense of identity. The design celebrates the site’s industrial heritage through landscape features, public spaces and streetscape elements inspired by the former freezing works. Amenities such as Little Waterloo Park, seating areas and recreational spaces create opportunities for informal meetings, breaks and social interaction, transforming the precinct into more than just a place of work.

Active design approaches

• Connected, accessible movement networks

• Peole-centred streets and public spaces

• Places to pause, gather and connect

• Flexible places for play, recreation, sport and community activity

• Nature-rich and climate-resilient environments

• Active travel support and end-of-trip facilities