AUCKLAND'S NEW PLAN - THE NEED FOR BALANCE

There's no doubt - the argument for a better urban environment, not totally dominated by traffic planning  is winning!  What's happening in Shortland/Fort Sts, Darby St and Aotea Square is great.  But then so too is the new Northern Motorway to Puhoi.
Reading the lastest Discussion Document on a City Centre Masterplan, you could be forgiven for thinking people in cars have no place in it!  But to treat the private car as a 'pariah' is to fly in the face of history and Auckland's culture.
I suggest city spaces (roads etc) need to be graded into:

• Spaces like Aotea Square - pedestrians only except for service and civic needs.
• Shared space - like Darby St etc - a managed equality.
• Pedestrian predominant road - like Queen St.
• Vehicle predominant road - like Symonds St.
• A motorway - vehicles only except for emergencies and service.

Then urban design, landscape, architectural and traffic engineering skills can be applied in the right balance.
The goal of better urban space is indisputably right - what's needed is the balance that comes from wisdom rather than wholesale embracing popular trends.

Christchurch re- building - the dangers in the system

Current Building Consent requirements will almost certainly be a challenge in rebuilding Christchurch.   While earthquake damage may not be a durability failure, the compromising of structural, fire safety or plumbing/draiange issues will generate the requirement for a Building Consent. In the current bureauracratic climate, the demands for detailed information, Producer Statements etc combined with the shortage of skilled staff in Territorial Authorities will inevitably lead to costly delays. 
Beware the potential parasites who will feed off this - promoting their (add on) services by raising the fears of non-compliant, leaky buildings.   To avoid this of course, will require their services - and, with 'leaky homes' hysteria still prevalent, Councils could embrace them as an additional line of checking security.   To hell with the cost to the poor building owner!
The answer is to use the skills that exist and will be required anyway.  Make sure the architects and engineers are properly registered, and require them to confirm the design is Code Compliant.  Make sure competent builders do the work and it is comprehensively supervised.
The challenge to Councils should be seen as an opportunityto make the best of what we have - not create cost blow-outs and barriers.