Preserving a green space network for a regional Auckland

As the largest urban region of New Zealand, Auckland is well known for its unique lifestyle with a clean, green environment. However, rapid urban growth and horizontal urban sprawl is threatening the very lifestyle that the world and Aucklanders value so much. This paper discusses the development of a green space network along State Highway One, the growth corridor of the Auckland region. The authors established two sets of criteria, environmental and social, to drive the development of the network. Three case studies were developed to test the proposition, ranging in scale from the regional to the local. Research findings suggested that preserving and enhancing a green network in the greater Auckland Region could not only offer a new regional park system, but also provide more land for sustainable urban growth and enhance the quality of life for future citizens