Insights

Hero to zero: Why Auckland’s no longer the world’s most liveable city
Cities

Hero to zero: Why Auckland’s no longer the world’s most liveable city

It's a massive fall from grace for Auckland, a real hero-to-zero moment.
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Harnessing Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s potential
Cities

Harnessing Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s potential

At the Auckland’s Future Now 2022 event, Pam Ford, Dr Anna Bardsley, Paul Majurey, Mark Thomas and Izzy Fenwick discuss...
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What should Auckland’s next mayor do?
Cities

What should Auckland’s next mayor do?

In the past six years, Aucklanders’ trust in council and satisfaction with its performance has never been higher than 27...
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New Zealand’s being left behind
Trade

New Zealand’s being left behind

While most New Zealand businesses are enjoying more relaxed red or orange trading conditions, the news is not so good...
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We won’t get a ‘freedom day’ from climate crisis without technology
Climate Technology

We won’t get a ‘freedom day’ from climate crisis without technology

The Economist's 2021 finding that Auckland is the most liveable city in the world certainly surprised many of the people...
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Is Auckland really the most liveable city?
Cities

Is Auckland really the most liveable city?

The Economist's 2021 finding that Auckland is the most liveable city in the world certainly surprised many of the people...
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Three Waters waka can chart course out of rough waters
Cities

Three Waters waka can chart course out of rough waters

The New Zealand government's Three Water's reform is in some trouble. Yet almost everyone agrees changes are needed to improve...
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Finishing Auckland and fixing New Zealand
Cities

Finishing Auckland and fixing New Zealand

A big bang approach may yet be possible in reforming local councils nationwide – including the so-called super city of...
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Getting smarter about house building
Housing Technology

Getting smarter about house building

The Government has made three significant housing announcements in the last six months: its 2020 election housing policy programme, January's...
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Climate action speaks louder than words
Cities Climate Transport

Climate action speaks louder than words

Mark Thomas attended a Climate Change Commission consultation session on its big recommendations for New Zealand.
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Situation Vacant: Super hero needed
Cities Local government

Situation Vacant: Super hero needed

Just after the recent New Zealand election, the Newsroom published my article below drawing attention to the lack of focus...
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A history making referendum
Voting

A history making referendum

The New Zealand Herald has published my article this morning on the history New Zealanders may make at this year’s...
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Its budget reveals what a city values
Cities

Its budget reveals what a city values

(The New Zealand Herald published my article about how a city can balance responding to Covid-19 challenges with innovative thinking,...
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The SGD’s can drive the Covid-19 recovery
Climate

The SGD’s can drive the Covid-19 recovery

Because the nations of the world don’t just have the pandemic crisis to deal with. All countries already had other...
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Curing climate congestion
Climate Transport

Curing climate congestion

Cities are both a great hope for greater progress on dealing with climate change and also a major contributor to...
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Cities can fix low voter turnout but not by themselves
Cities Local government Voting

Cities can fix low voter turnout but not by themselves

Auckland has a few crises it is dealing with at the moment: housing, transport, climate. Following the recent local government...
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What a time to be an urban crisis. But which one to deal with first?
Cities Technology

What a time to be an urban crisis. But which one to deal with first?

The Newsroom recently published my article on the “flood” of climate crisis calls breaking out in cities.
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Great cities and great ports can co-exist
Cities

Great cities and great ports can co-exist

Plenty of cities around the word grapple with how to balance the impact of business and liveability within their urban...
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The space-race? So last century. Today’s technology race is in your own town
Cities Technology

The space-race? So last century. Today’s technology race is in your own town

As some countries continue the race to explore outer space, or to ‘wall-up’ the inner spaces they already number have,...
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Is your city doing enough?
Cities Technology

Is your city doing enough?

The international IT association ISACA asked me to comment on a survey they produced earlier this year on smart city...
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