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A research project under the National Science Challenge, investigating the factors contributing to neighbourhood liveability in the master-planned community of Hobsonville, Auckland.
The Challenge
The National Science Challenge (NSC) aimed to understand what makes neighbourhoods liveable, particularly in rapidly developing urban areas like Hobsonville. Hobsonville, a large-scale master-planned community, presents a unique case study to examine how urban design, infrastructure, social dynamics, and environmental factors influence residents' quality of life and sense of community. The challenge was to conduct rigorous research that could identify key liveability indicators, assess the effectiveness of planning and design decisions in Hobsonville, and provide evidence-based insights applicable to other urban developments in New Zealand. This required a multi-disciplinary approach to gather and analyse data from various sources, including residents' perspectives.
The Solution
The Urban Advisory contributed to this NSC research project by providing expertise in urban development, community engagement, and spatial analysis. TUA's role involved helping to frame the research questions, design methodologies for data collection (including surveys and interviews with Hobsonville residents), and analyse the spatial characteristics of the neighbourhood that impact liveability. The findings from this research can inform future urban planning and design, potentially leading to the creation of more liveable neighbourhoods, towns, and cities across New Zealand.
The Journey
TUA's experience in community engagement was crucial in developing effective methods for gathering authentic resident perspectives, providing rich qualitative data that complemented quantitative analysis and offered deeper insights into what liveability means to those who live in Hobsonville. TUA's capability in spatial analysis and mapping, also helped to visually represent the relationships between the physical environment, infrastructure, and social patterns within Hobsonville; making the research findings more accessible and impactful for both academics and practitioners in the field of urban development.
