Ngā Hoahoa Paewhiri  Auckland Urban Design Panel

Ngā Tino Kaupapa Mahi Ngātahi a Te Rōpū Kaitohutohu Hoahoa i te Tāone o Tāmaki Makaurau. AUDP’s Signature Collaborations

What our stakeholders say about the AUDP

Portrait of Lisa Dunshea

Lisa Dunshea, Manager Urban Design, Tāmaki Makaurau Design Ope

“Back in 2014 Auckland Council published the book ‘Inter-View: The contribution of urban design panels to Auckland’s urban story’ to celebrate the work of Auckland Design Panels from 2004 to 2014. Ten years on, this tribute celebrates the journey 2014 to 2024. 

Raising the design quality bar for Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau takes a collaborative and multi-disciplinary approach. This is enabled by our highly skilled and dedicated panel members and the partnering institutes that nominate them. It also takes Council specialists and planning teams working day to day with developers and their design teams, bringing forward projects that need a friendly critique. It’s also about making sure the panel direction, day-to-day experience, and processes are fit for purpose. This is where the panel governance board and the panel secretariat come in to make sure the panel are set up for success. 

The projects in this tribute, share the journey over the last ten years, documenting some key transformational projects such as City Rail Link, Northcote Neighbourhood and the Tāmaki Regeneration as well as the challenges brought by housing intensification. Good design is no longer a nice-to-have but fundamental to economic, social, cultural, and environmental success. Auckland Urban Design Panel plays a critical role, bringing people and projects together, to seek better outcomes.

Thank you to all Auckland Urban Design Panel members past and present, and everyone involved in making this tribute happen, and sharing your mahi so generously. Here’s to the next ten years and keep inspiring the city to do better!”
NZIA logo

The New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA)

"Design reviews are key to shaping better civic, social and economic outcomes for a city and its residents. AUDP enables this greater urban perspective by bringing architects and other experts together with developers at key stages of a project’s design development. Wider public benefits and potential can be discussed and included, so together we shape a city that is not only more liveable and resilient for residents, but also properly reflects and embeds mana whenua values - all raising Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s profile as a great city in Asia Pacific."
 
NZPI logo

New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI)

"The New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI) proudly supports the Auckland Urban Design Panel (AUDP) as a critical initiative for advancing the quality of Tāmaki Makaurau’s built environment. Since its establishment, the AUDP has demonstrated the importance of fostering collaboration across disciplines to ensure that urban development in Auckland reflects both high-quality design and robust planning principles. Planners play a vital role in this process, contributing expertise that balances the social, environmental, and economic dimensions of urban projects. The Panel's multidisciplinary approach—bringing together developers, architects, engineers, landscape architects, and planners—ensures that each project benefits from comprehensive and thoughtful evaluation. 
NZPI members have been privileged to contribute to the AUDP, championing a future-focused, sustainable, and equitable urban development framework. By facilitating early, independent advice, the Panel supports well-considered outcomes that align with the aspirations of Auckland’s communities and the strategic goals of the region. As the AUDP celebrates 20 years of impactful work, NZPI commends its commitment to driving innovation and raising the bar for urban design excellence in Tamaki Makaurau."
Property Council NZ logo

Property Council New Zealand

“Property Council New Zealand has been an early supporter of the Auckland Urban Design Panel as an important measure to help improve Tamaki Makaurau’s built environment. The Urban Design Panel’s independent and pre-application advice helps drive its mission to improve building design quality across Tamaki Makaurau. The key to its success, is having a range of property industry professionals such as; developers, designers, engineers, and planners, to ensure that a coordinated and whole-of-system approach can be taken to each project.
This holistic approach ensures that a projects feasibility, technical aspects, and good urban design can be considered together. Property Council New Zealand members have been an integral part of the Auckland Urban Design Panel over the years, using their expertise to contribute to Auckland’s past, present and future built environment which helps to create places where communities can thrive..”
NZILA logo

Tuia Pito Ora, the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects (NZILA)

"Tuia Pito Ora, The New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects (NZILA) endorses the Auckland Urban Design Panel as an important initiative aimed at enhancing the landscape of Tamaki Makaurau.  NZILA members have played a pivotal role within the Auckland Urban Design Panel since its inception, utilising their expertise to influence the present, and future landscapes of Tamaki Makaurau. 
The effectiveness of the panel lies in the collaboration of diverse industry professionals—developers, architects, landscape architects, urban designers, and planners.  This collaborative approach ensures a holistic perspective on each project, allowing for the consideration of project feasibility, technical intricacies, and design aspects."
Nga aho logo

Nga Aho

"Tēnā koutou katoa, on behalf of Ngā Aho, the national network of Māori design professionals, we extend our warmest congratulations to the Auckland Urban Design Panel (AUDP) on the occasion of its 20th anniversary.
Since its inception, the AUDP has played a pivotal role in shaping the urban landscape of Auckland, ensuring that design excellence and sustainability are at the forefront of the city's development.
Ngā Aho has been privileged to contribute to the AUDP, offering perspectives that weave Māori aspirations and mana enhancement into the fabric of our urban environment. Our collaboration is a testament to the AUDP's commitment to inclusivity and respect for the unique cultural heritage of Tāmaki Makaurau.
As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward with enthusiasm to the continuation of our partnership. The next 20 years present an opportunity to deepen our whakawhanaungatanga (relationship building), grounded in aroha (sincerity), tika (doing what is right), and pono (integrity). It is through these values that we will collectively contribute to a future where the urban design of Auckland reflects the rich diversity of its people and the natural beauty of its landscapes.
Ngā Aho is committed to continuing our engagement with the AUDP, ensuring that Māori perspectives and values are interwoven into the growth and transformation of Auckland.
Together, we can achieve a city that not only excels in urban design but also embodies the principles of sustainability, cultural respect and social equity. Here's to the next 20 years of collaboration, innovation and te haerenga whakamua (into the future)."