Ak2 : the Coming of Age of a New Auckland

AK2 : THE COMING OF AGE A NEW AUCKLAND PREVIOUSLY UNAVAILABLE AK2 : THE COMING OF AGE OF A NEW AUCKLAND

AK2: The Coming of Age of a New Auckland

Published June 2014 by:

Previously Unavailable www.previously.co [email protected]

Researched, written, curated & edited by:

James Hurman, Principal, Previously Unavailable

Acknowledgements:

My huge thanks to all 52 of the people who generously gave their time to be part of this study.

To Paul Dykzeul of Bauer Media who gave me access to Bauer’s panel of readers to complete the survey on Auckland pride and to Tanya Walshe, also of Bauer Media, who organised and debriefed the survey.

To Jane Sweeney of Anthem who connected me with many of the people in this study and extremely kindly provided me with the desk upon which this document has been created.

To the people at ATEED, Cooper & Company and Cheshire Architects who provided the photos.

And to Dick Frizzell who donated his time and artistic eforts to draw his brilliant caricature of a New Aucklander.

You’re all awesome. Thank you.

Photo Credits: p.14 – Basketballers at Wynyard – Derrick Coetzee p.14 – Britomart signpost – Russell Street p.19 - Auckland from above - Robert Linsdell p.20 – Lantern Festival food stall – Russell Street p.20 – Art Exhibition – Big Blue Ocean p.40 – Auckland Museum – Adam Selwood p.40 – Diner Sign – Abaconda Management Group p.52 – Lorde – Constanza CH SOMETHING’S UP IN AUCKLAND

“We had this chance that came up in Hawkes Bay – this land, two acres, right on the beach. We built a house on it. We had a lot of fun there for nine years, and then I was coming back and forward a lot, and I thought, fuck, they’re having so much fun up here. I was saying to Jude, everything that people like me and Bob Harvey and Hamish Keith used to fght for, like eating on the footpath, and the waterfront, and all these things we never thought we’d see in our lifetime, they actually started to happen. I was walking down Ponsonby Road and everyone was beaming away and I thought, Christ, I’d better come back. So 18 months ago we sold the big house on the beach to the Whittaker’s chocolate people and we found this fabulous factory space and we moved everything back. And when we moved back, I started to notice how happy everyone in Auckland seemed to be with Auckland. I’m talking about courier drivers and young electricians, the young Maori guys that installed the heat pump, they were raving away, you’d think Auckland was the centre of the universe. My son Otis with his wife and that taco truck, they all think why would you live anywhere else? And nobody ever talked like that once. We just always fantasised about being somewhere else. In my lifetime, and I’m 71 this year, to see it all completely roll around, and for people to start talking about Auckland as a place you’d actually want to be, it took me a while to get my head around it. So when you rang with this project, I thought that’s pretty timely actually.”

Dick Frizzell, April 2014

FOREWORD

In late 2013, I got talking to Al Brown about Auckland. Enthusiastically, he told me how great he was feeling about our city. He’s in the majority of Aucklanders who aren’t from here. I’m in the minority who are. Neither of us has seen our city feel as good about itself, yet we both had trouble pinning down exactly what it was about this changing city that we were feeling so good about. I left wanting to fgure it out. I gave myself the project of talking to 50 leading Aucklanders. A selection of the business, political, creative, and thought leaders of our city. I wanted to know what they thought we were becoming. To create a shared understanding of our ‘New Auckland’. While I had those conversations, the people at Bauer Media kindly gave me access to their panel of Auckland readers and allowed me to ask them how their feelings toward Auckland compared to a decade ago. 21% of those 973 people said they felt less proud of Auckland. 32% said they felt as proud. And 47%, by far the largest group, said they felt more proud of our city. This suggests that our coming of age is something that’s being experi- enced by people of all walks of life, right across our city. I believe that, before our eyes, Auckland is becoming one of the world’s great cities. I hope that these conversations give us some insight into what’s going so well, so that we might continue successfully on this amazing journey.

James Hurman, Principal, Previously Unavailable, June 2014

21% LESS How do you feel about PROUD Auckland compared to 47% MORE ten years ago? PROUD 32% Online survey of 973 Aucklanders, March 2014 AS PROUD

9 50 LEADING AUCKLANDERS

JACINDA ARDERN JILL CALDWELL Politician; Labour list Social Researcher; director In the interests of truly creating a ‘shared MP, Auckland Central Windshif Ltd defnition’ of New Auckland, AK2 has been written, as much as possible, in the words of the 50 leading Aucklanders who generously donated their time and insight to this project.

Business leaders, political leaders, community leaders, thought and opinion leaders and oth- erwise interesting people were selected on the basis that they had a strong connection with Auckland and Auckland’s people, and could contribute an insightful and articulate view of AL BROWN MAI CHEN Chef; owner Depot, Lawyer; founding our changing city. Best Ugly, Federal Deli partner Chen Palmer

Each participant was posed the same fve questions:

1. What do you think Aucklanders are becoming prouder of and why?

2. Do you see a theme or style that characterises the things that have popped up and become embraced by Aucklanders over the past few years? JAQUIE BROWN SAM CHAPMAN Media Personality Co-owner, Te Golden Dawn 3. Auckland appears to be going through a kind of coming of age – what is it becoming? How would you defne ‘Old Auckland’ and how would you defne ‘New Auckland’?

4. If you were asked to paint a stereotype caricature of an ‘Aucklander’ in 2014, what would you say?

5. What are your 5 favourite things about Auck- land right now? LEN BROWN JANE Mayor of Auckland CHERRINGTON The ensuing report has been curated and Psychologist; director String stitched together from the answers and in- Teory and Good Books sights transcribed from those interviews.

SANDY BURGHAM NAT CHESHIRE Leadership Coach Architect; director Cheshire Architects

10 PETER COOPER SHAMUBEEL MIKHAIL SIR BOB HARVEY Investor; founder & executive EAQUB GHERMAN Chairman, Waterfront Auckland chairman, Cooper & Company Principal Economist, NZ Creative Director, Karen Walker (developer of Britomart) Institute of Economic Research

MURRAY CRANE SIMON MIMI GILMOUR VINCENT Founder, Crane Brothers FARRELL-GREEN Restaurateur, co-founder Mexico HEERINGA Writer; editor, eatherenow.co.nz, and Burger Burger Publisher, Idealog and Auckland correspondent, Monocle director, Tangible Media

RHANA ROB FENWICK JACKIE GRANT & LANCE HERBST DEVENPORT Environmentalist; professional SCOTT BROWN Architect; director Director, Auckland Art Gallery director and businessman Restaurateurs; owners Hip Group Herbst Architects

JAMIE DUFF DICK FRIZZELL ARTHUR GRIMES MARK JENNINGS Co-founder, CEO, Stolen Rum Artist Economist Director of News, Mediaworks

PAUL DYKZEUL ROB FYFE ANDY HAMILTON REBECCA KAMM CEO, Bauer Media CEO, Icebreaker CEO, Te Icehouse Writer; editor Sunday Magazine

11 KEVIN KENRICK SIR RALPH NORRIS GEOFF ROSS JOHN TAMIHERE CEO, TVNZ Director, Fonterra, Fletcher Building CEO, Moa Beer Media Personality & Politician

MARCUS LUSH BRETT O’RILEY BIC RUNGA PIPPA WETZELL Broadcaster CEO, ATEED Musician Media Personality

GORDON JASON PARIS IAN SHIRLEY KATHRYN WILSON MCLAUCHLAN COO, Telecom Retail Pro Vice-Chancellor, Fashion designer Journalist, Author AUT University

SIMON MOUTTER HAZEL PHILLIPS PAUL SPOONLEY SIMON WILSON CEO, Telecom New Zealand Journalist, Author Pro Vice-Chancellor, Editor Metro magazine Massey University

MATT NOONAN BEN POWLES & JANE SWEENEY JOAN WITHERS Executive Producer, Curious Film LOUISE POWLES Managing Director, Anthem Chairwoman, Mighty River Power GM, Fishpond & North Shore Mum

12 Gavin Hurley Suit (2013). Paper Collage. Courtesy of the artist and Melanie Roger Gallery A SHORT DISCLAIMER

AK2 is meant in no way to be an all-encom- passing report on the condition of Auckland.

Like any city, Auckland has its problems. Many of those interviewed have tempered their excitement about our city with con- cerns ranging from our rising cost of living, to income disparity, to the economic dangers of infating house prices, to issues of poverty and how we should care for less fortunate Aucklanders, to our trafc and public trans- port issues.

This report in no way intends to ignore or marginalise these issues.

AK2’s reason for being is to contribute an answer to one question: “We are becoming prouder of our city. Why?” By defnition this is a question about what’s going right as op- posed to what isn’t, and therefore the con- tent of this report is largely positive.

However - the implication is certainly not that our work is done and our city is perfect.

The message is that we have come a long way in recent years, and that we might glean learnings from those successes to apply to the work ahead of us, continuing to build one of the world’s great cities.

14 H O W T H I S R E P O R T IS STRUCTURED

1. Executive Summary 13 The zeitgeist and identity of New Auckland

2. Introduction : A Coming of Age 17 Observations on newfound optimism and confdence in our city

3. Sources of Pride 21 Why we’re prouder and what we’re prouder of

4. Catalysts 33 The events that led us to a tipping point

5. The Spirit & Style of New Auckland 41 A shared defnition of our way

6. A Caricature of the New Aucklander 55 Dick Frizzell draws the almost impossible

7. Looking Forward 59 The optimism of an unfnished city

“There’s a heart starting to form in Auckland. An aesthetic and philosophy that Auckland’s embraced.” Rob Fyfe

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The zeitgeist and identity of New Auckland

NEW AUCKLAND’S ZEITGEIST

In 2014, our city is characterised by a zeitgeist of newfound optimism and confdence in the coming of age of a New Auckland.

Emerging from an adolescence of parochi- alism, self-consciousness, superfciality and mediocrity, Auckland has united as one city, and a new generation of Aucklanders is shaping a new defnition of ‘Aucklandness’.

At once more ambitious and more at ease, this New Auckland identity is a source of hope and pride.

NEW AUCKLAND’S IDENTITY

Our identity is characterised in six key ways:

1. We are emphatically multi-cultural 4. We have an ‘open-collar’ approach to work

We are proud of our unique Pacifc/Asian/European Auckland has moved on from the ‘white-collar’ frame- make-up and welcoming of our city being a destina- work of putting on a tie and pursuing corporate tion for people of all nationalities. We enjoy taking ascendency with a single minded focus on fnancial part in a melting pot of cultures and anticipate fur- wealth. We value entrepreneurialism, look for purpose ther benefts as those cultures continue to integrate. and fulflment in our work and conduct business with an informal professionalism.

2. We are a ‘doing’ people 5. We have ‘indie’ sensibilities Auckland’s roots are not academic or political. At work, we value entrepreneurialism, ‘giving it We gravitate away from the superfcial, the multi- a go’, ‘getting stuck in’ and ‘getting it done’. At national, the plastic and the faux. New Auckland seeks play, we crave new experiences and our remarkable out and responds to things that have a sense of inde- environment, and emerging food and events cultures, pendence, integrity and authentic story. provide continuous ways to feed our insatiable appetite for these experiences. 6. We face out to the world

3. Our style is one of ‘informal excellence’ No longer comparing ourselves to other New Zealand cities, we have an outlook and ambition that is wholly At our best, our easy-going, informal way comes to- international. We are becoming a global city and feel gether with a passion for world-class quality. This is every right to aspire toward global level success. characterised by restaurants like Depot and precincts like Britomart but manifests in many other ways.

“I arrived in the spring. It was a revelation to me.” Mai Chen

INTRODUCTION: A COMING OF AGE

Observations on newfound optimism and confdence in our city

21 “There’s a real sense of THERE’S A BUZZ AND AN OPTIMISM resurgence and IN THE AIR IN OUR CITY life and energy and creativity.” “I have being saying to people that I feel like Auckland has Rob Fyfe found its mojo.38 All the ducks are in a row.12 Everywhere you look it feels good. You can just see it in the people. There’s a sea change or something. People are becoming very proud of this city. And feel that they are part of something special.2 S U D D E N LY I T ’ S O K AY There’s a really great energy in the city right now.47 You go into the city and it just feels alive. There are people everywhere. And TO COME FROM it just feels ‘wow’.25 I think people feel prouder now because they feel that buzz going on. Now there’s the Vector Arena and AUCKLAND the Viaduct and Wynyard and Britomart and there’s festivals that happen now that didn’t used to happen and these are the things you expect in a vibrant major city.24 You’ve got the horsepower of this exciting business community, “People now have no hesitation mention- big businesses all in one place, which creates a sort of energy ing they’re from Auckland. If you went and sophistication that powers it up a notch.35 back ten years, they were hiding that a bit, We’ve turned around and embraced the idea that we can be or bringing it up in a self conscious way.30 enthusiasts for ourselves, for what we do, and that feels good. People used to identify more closely with There’s been that whole perception change. It’s cool to be part their suburb than with the city. It was of the growth of an Auckland we love. You see it in restaurants, an apologetic identifcation. You’d refer in architecture, in urban planning, public spaces. You see it in to yourself as a ‘dawklander’ if you were theatre and other cultural forms. You see it also in a really strong coming to another town. Aucklanders now sense of the various ethnic diversities – Chinese, Indian, Pasifka seem to want to identify with Auckland and of course Maori. There’s a real sense that things can change rather than being apologist.7 and that the change is exciting.49 ” I always used to write my address as ‘North Shore City’ and now I’m amazed that I’m happy to write Auckland.41 I’ve never ad- mitted to people before that I’ve had con- nections with Auckland because it was just ON THIS PAGE: 2 Al Brown, 7 Sam Chapman, 12 Murray Crane, 24 Arthur Grimes, 25 Andy Hamilton, 30 Mark Jennings, 35 Simon Moutter, 38 Brett O’Riley, 41 Ben so deadly dull. Now I feel perfectly happy 24 Powles, 42 Bic Runga, 47 Pippa Wetzell, 49 Simon Wilson. to say I live in both cities. I read something that Paul Casserly wrote in the Herald about how he loved the motorway and that actually gave me a real sense of ‘oh yeah, it’s okay to like Auckland now, let’s just accept the motorway’.42 ”

22 WE’VE FOUND OUR CONFIDENCE

“The last 5 years in particular has been a real grow- a confdence about it.28 We’re just getting on with ing up phase for Auckland. It feels far more excit- our own thing. And that’s given us a belief I think, ing that it has felt at any time in its history. It feels we’re not so self-conscious as we once were.26 much more grown up, much more confdent.16 Success brings confdence. The Rugby World Cup Auckland has woken up, and started to feel more was a landmark event. It proved that we could show- comfortable and recognised that actually we have a case Auckland to the world.38 I used to feel when I cool place here, and people are starting to feel okay went to international newsrooms, slightly inferior to say it’s a great place.25 or overawed, and like I was lucky to be there a bit.30 Old Auckland was nervous, lacking ambition, per- The generation above me wasn’t as confdent as the haps a bit clichéd.28 Cool really only came from in- generation below me. You know, the new kids are ternational stuf. We thought we were doing it when really confdent. Because we don’t have that cultur- there were little glimpses of Auckland that looked al cringe we used to have, internationally speaking. like another city. When we had chrome and glass You went to London to feel like you were gong to the and stuf like that.26 Whereas the new Auckland has ‘actual world’.42 Auckland’s this little sibling who’s always tried to keep up and has tried to emulate what the big siblings are doing and then suddenly has gone ‘aw stuf it, I’m actually fne by myself’. Auckland suddenly feels comfortable in its own skin and is comfortable doing it’s own thing. I think to great success.47 There’s a shift to ‘actually we can do this’.35 We can compete on just about every count. Environment, harbour, weather, food, entertainment, wine. And we’ve just had the Nines, and pulled that of really well. There’s a feeling that we could pull of anything. You name it, we’d be able to do it.30 ”

BUT WE FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SAY WHY “Auckland is kind of growing into itself, it’s at ease “There’s a good energy here at the moment, a good buzz, there seems to be excitement about some- with itself, you know, it’s thing. And I don’t know quite what that is.12 There has to be a narrative about what it means to be accepted imperfections as Auckland. Melbourne has it’s own identity, Sydney does too. It feels like we don’t have a well-articulat- part of what Auckland is. ed story of what it means to be Auckland.16 ” There’s some ugly buildings here. Fine. We’re cool with that. Just don’t do ON THIS PAGE: 12 Murray Crane, 16 Shamubeel Eaqub, 21 Mikhail Gherman, 25 Andy Hamilton, 26 Geoff Ross, any more.” 28 Vincent Heeringa, 30 Mark Jennings, 35 Simon Moutter, 38 Brett O’Riley, 42 Bic Runga, 47 Pippa Wetzell Mikhail Gherman

“All of a sudden, people aren’t just talking about a better place. They’re discovering one every day they walk out their door.” Nat Cheshire

SOURCES OF PRIDE

Why we’re prouder and what we’re prouder of

25 ONE OF THE MOST TANGIBLE REASONS WE’RE FEELING PROUDER IS THE EXPLOSION OF THINGS TO DO IN OUR CITY

“There’s always something happening.47 Trans- formations like Britomart have completely re- confgured our conceptions of what this city is, and - more importantly – what it might yet be. The speed of that change is astonishing: all of a sudden, people are not just talking about a better place, they’re discovering one every day they walk out their door.10 “What the fuck? This isn’t The city has reached a critical mass so it can sus- tain those activities because we’ve got the num- Auckland. How did this hap- bers. And a lot of those events are very inclusive, so as someone with a young family I feel I could pen to my town so fast? attend, and also would happily take my grand- mother to.47 Think about what this city Cool things like markets, events around town that are creating reasons to visit those areas. was four years ago: no Wyn- We’ve got places I’d happily recommend to anyone from anywhere in New Zealand or the rest yard Quarter, no Britomart, of the world. Previously it was Kelly Tarltons and the Sky Tower. Now it’s like ‘how long have you got?’41 If you go to Sydney and Melbourne you no Imperial Lane, no City can’t even choose where to go to dinner, there are too many to choose from, and it’s like that now Works Depot, no Auckland in Auckland.22 The development of Auckland’s downtown has Art Gallery, no Q Theatre, no been the most radical change. The diference in Auckland is that there’s actually something to go Fort Lane, no shared-space and do in the central city.24 If you live anywhere within a $10 cab ride from the city you feel like Elliot Street thing. So many you’re in the middle of everything.48 The thing about a good city is you can wander things that defne the city around it and fnd good stuf – and you can do this in Auckland now. You don’t need to know now just didn’t exist. So what’s going on - you can just go out and be sure that there’ll be good stuf on.41 what did exist?” Art and sport are more balanced. It used to be just team sport. The internet has made information so Nat Cheshire readily available, you can easily join a community of people with common interests. We’ve got a growing sense of diversity around the makeup of population and this is driving a greater range of options for all.32 All the cultural stuf used to ON THIS PAGE: 10 Nat Cheshire, 22 Mimi Gilmour, 24 Arthur Grimes, 32 Kevin happen in Wellington, and now it’s split between Kenrick, 41 Ben Powles, 47 Pippa Wetzell, 48 Kathryn Wilson the two.24 ”

26 THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WATERFRONT HAS REKINDLED OUR LOVE OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PLAYGROUND

“A uckland’s never been in a better position. I emigrated here in 1998 and came to work on the Princes Wharf project which was a turning point in how Auckland saw itself. It was the frst time that they moved from that 1960’s model of city, harbour, never to be connected. And worldwide that was happening. I came from Cape Town where we’d just been through 6 or 7 years of exactly the same thing happening where the waterfront was reattached to the city which is a huge, invigorating thing for a port city.29 Theres no doubt our marine environment shapes a bunch of things about who we are and what we are.46 If you live in Auckland, lived here you think it rains a lot or gets a bit windy, but really it’s you’re part of the sea.34 nothing compared to many major cities where you just can’t spend It is a beautiful environment.37 We have time outside. So we can aford to have spaces that are open.47 clean air, we have more room, more green I had a meeting with some Chinese business people a couple of space, more waterfront,35 a love of the Hau- weeks ago, it was their frst time in NZ, and they commented when raki Gulf and our harbours and our hav- they got of the plane it almost felt like they were ‘eating the air’.37 ing one of the best maritime playgrounds I think there’s a bit of a smugness about living here. As long as you of any city in the world. With that I think can travel and get overseas, why would you want to live anywhere comes a real appreciation of the natural en- else really? Like, we just have so much more, it’s just a bounty here vironment that a lot of other cities aren’t really.12 ” able to enjoy to the extent that we can.18 In Auckland, you work to live – looking at your watch thinking any minute now I could be swimming in the Gulf or cycling the “20 years ago Nicola Leggat Waitakeres. The water is one of our greatest assets. 15 came back from an interview minutes in a boat to catch good snapper in a major city? That’s pretty cool isn’t it. with the chairman of the Ports The gulf integrating the city is a really good opportunity for the new Auckland.28 Now, of Auckland. She was really Wynyard and Britomart have made the connection between the CBD and the water. angry because she’d asked And I think that having that feeling of openness and celebrating our harbour which is ‘when are the public going to get such a fantastic asset – has given the city a great feeling.47 access to the water?’ And his It’s an intergenerational entitlement that you can take your kids fshing in the Gulf reply was ‘over my dead body’.” and there’ll be fsh there to eat. I think that Vincent Heeringa sets us apart from any city in the world, it’s terrifc.18 When you compare us to other international cities, we have incredible weather. We have ON THIS PAGE: 12 Murray Crane, 18 Rob Fenwick, 28 Vincent Heeringa, 29 Lance a great climate, because it’s never to hot or Herbst, 34 Gordon McLauchlan, 35 Simon Moutter, 37 Sir Ralph Norris, 46 John Tamihere, 47 Pippa Wetzell too cold to be outside. When you’ve always

27 QUALITY OF OUR FOOD CULTURE HAS BECOME A KEY REFERENCE POINT IN AUCKLAND’S COMING OF AGE

“One of the things that’s defned Auckland is food.15 The feedback I get from everybody we deal with is ‘wow! Where did this quality come from?’38 We’ve seen an explosion in terms of quality.7 Now when people come back to Auckland having been “Our restaurants overseas they’re like ‘holy moly, you guys have got so many options on cool places to eat and drink’.48 are the mirror We’ve been very successful in luring some great chefs into this town. We’ve always had the quality of produce. We’ve got great that allows us to food, but for the frst time great food presented in a really great way in a multitude of outlets, formal and informal.38 It’s not just the food but the ambience these people have brought to these see ourselves.” places too – the spaces they’re using, the environments they’re 30 Sam Chapman creating, are a lot more interesting than they used to be. Peoples interest in food has changed, with Masterchef and that sort of thing, and that’s helped the food industry. We’ve taken a lot more interest in what we’re eating and drinking.23 It’s moved from being the functional role of feeding yourself to being an experience to be enjoyed. Alcohol consumption has moved from quantity to quality and Auckland now has a growing wealth of really credible eating and drinking options.32 Our restaurants are the mirror that allows us to see ourselves – those gathering places change how you view a neighbourhood and your place in it.7 The precincts that work the best tend to have food and great variety.38 Britomart and Wynyard, an inte- gral part of that is the food. When I was a kid or even in my 20s and 30s, going out to a restaurant was a special occasion and we now do that all the time and I think people at all income levels go out generally, it might be to the Lone Star in Pukekohe, but people are going out. Our food, our hospitality certainly is equal to the best in the world.50 Auckland has a new sense of itself around entertainment and hospitality.46 I used to go to Sydney to go to China- town. Why would I go to Sydney now? I don’t need to go there for the weather and I don’t need it for their Chinatown, I can get anything I want to eat here in this city.8 The growth of fresh food markets. The one I was most im- pressed with was the Panmure market. It’s this really authentic experience in a netball court.5 I think Auckland is the cofee-making capital of the world, we have the greatest cafes making the greatest cofee.4 Peo- ON THIS PAGE: 4 Len Brown, 5 Sandy Burgham, ple are going out and hanging out and having conversations 7 Sam Chapman, 8 Mai Chen, 9 Jane Cherrington, 9 15 Paul Dykzeul, 23 Jackie Grant & Scott Brown, in public spaces. How close you are to a good café is as defn- 30 Mark Jennings, 32 Kevin Kenrick, 38 Brett O’Riley, ing a thing about Auckland as anything isn’t it?49 As Ian Ath- 46 John Tamihere, 48 Kathryn Wilson, 49 Simon Wilson, 50 Joan Withers feld said, “cofee has done more for cities than architecture’s ever done”.7 ”

28 “You know the frst thing I did From NZ Herald ‘Bite’ supplement, 10 December 2012 when I moved up here was write a piece to the paper to apologise for my 48 years of sledging, and how I simply love the city. And it took about 2 weeks to work that out.”

Al Brown

29 AN IMMENSE SOURCE OF PRIDE IS OUR MULTICULTURAL DIVERSITY, OUR UNIQUE PACIFIC/ASIAN/EUROPEAN MIX, AND OUR WELCOMING OF PEOPLE OF ALL NATIONALITIES WHO ARE CHOOSING TO SHARE OUR CITY

“The diversity I really love.50 We’re becoming proud works at Tiwai Point as a crane director – walking of our ability to embrace diversity and the ethnicity into Queen Street to them is like walking into Shang- changes.39 Not so much proud in an outward way – hai, and just going ‘this is pretty cool’. The sights the ‘look you’re diferent’ - more ‘look you’re the same’. sounds the smells, the pace is awesome.39 We’re all Aucklanders. I’m a very proud Aucklander, The fact that when a politician recently talked about I’m born and bred, but these people even more so be- how many ethnic restaurants there were down Do- cause they made the decision to uproot their families minion Road, people got angry about it. The fact that and be here. And I think we should take a great deal of we’ve got to a point now we’re defending our diverse pride in that,47 the multicultural magnet that we’ve be- Auckland community I think is a fantastic thing and to come.38 There’s an aesthetic and philosophy that Auck- me shows enormous progress.1 land’s embraced, that it’s a welcoming city, it’s able to Think back to the RWC and we all became Tongans for celebrate a melting pot of cultures.20 a week or so there. That was a fantastic representation of a New Auckland thing.49 I just think it’s really cool to walk along the street and see so many people of dif- “We’re becoming proud- ferent nationalities enjoying Auckland for what it is.38 er of being multicultur-

al, we’re becoming more THE STATISTICS ARE UNDER- inclusive. Not so much PINNED BY OUR PROGRESSIVE prouder in an outward IMMIGRATION AND CITIZEN- SHIP APPROACH way – ‘look you’re diferent’, more ‘look you’re “I read somewhere that Auckland has more nation- the same’.” alities than any other city in the world.37 51% of the people who live here were not born here, including Pippa Wetzell me.38 The 2013 census shows 40% of Auckland were born overseas. And if you used the European model that immigrants are those who are born in another There’s no one else who has the Asian, Polynesian, Eu- country, plus their children, then we’re talking 56% ropean mix quite like we do.28 That’s a really powerful of Aucklanders. Pakeha are going to be what is called a nexus. You think of Paris in the 30s and the Asian, minority majority. Still the largest group but less than Indo-Chinese infuence coming in against the African the rest combined. infuence and all their colonial infuences hitting that There are only 3 countries in the world that have the nightclub Parisian culture and it really becoming a same system as us in terms of immigration selection – wellspring of creativity.6 It’s becoming a melting pot, we give points in terms of skills or business, so 60% of and when you look at other cities that have been ben- efciaries of being melting pots – the New Yorks, the Londons - those cities have a vibrancy about them because of the diversity.37 ON THIS PAGE: 1 Jacinda Ardern, 6 Jill Caldwell, 20 Rob Fyfe, 28 And how my family’s thinking has changed. My mum Vincent Heeringa, 37 Sir Ralph Norris, 38 Brett O’Riley, 39 Jason in Invercargill who’s a meat inspector, her partner who Paris, 47 Pippa Wetzell, 49 Simon Wilson, 50 Joan Withers

our arrivals come in either skilled migrant categories or THIS WASN’T ALWAYS THE business migrant categories. That’s very unusual and it means that the people coming in have a higher level CASE – THIS IS SEEN AS VERY of qualifcation than the resident New Zealanders. If MUCH A ‘NEW AUCKLAND’ you go to the US which is also an immigrant receiving country about 2/3 of immigrants would arrive this year CHARACTERISTIC under family reunifcation, where it’s only 30% for NZ. NZ is relaxed around citizenship. That began in the 1960s it’s not new. We don’t expect residents to become citizens. The UK has very clear expectations about becoming British. But we’ve never had that ex- “The thing I fnd interesting pectation. And the Aussies have gone hard-core on this. You have to do a test, who was Don Bradman, about Lorde – I was in the all that sort of stuf. The expectation is that you will become an Australian citizen. And of course the Aus- queue at PAK’nSAVE looking tralians are very gung-ho around nationalism. We’re at Woman’s Day and I saw not, so being a permanent resident has all the same benefts of being a citizen in NZ. You can’t be a mem- that she had a Chinese boy- ber of parliament, you can’t be a member of the secret service, but there aren’t many other things you can’t friend and I thought, I bet do. We’re the only country that gives immigrants the right to vote.44 ” this will be a surprise for people, there is no way we would SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATION have seen that 15 years ago.” IS SOMETHING THAT’S Sandy Burgham SEEN AS FAIRLY UNIQUE TO AUCKLAND “Racially, and it’s not often talked about, but the big- otry in those days was unbelievable.50 Even just one generation ago we were resistant to change a lot more than we are now.39 It’s taken us 15-20 years to get the “I don’t see the sorts of racial issues you see in oth- hang of this.4 er countries where the integration hasn’t happened Recently, Diversity is being framed in much more pos- as successfully.50 There’s a large degree of harmony. itive terms.43 We’ve done some work for the Asia NZ If you walk through Paris you see really strong desig- foundation about attitudes towards Asian immigrants nated areas where it’s north African, it’s Vietnamese, and what’s interesting is post 2000 the attitudes go and you could well be in another country, and people positive.44 I watch my kids. Their friends have wide even look at you like ‘what are you doing here?’ But we ethnic diversity. Wide. And they haven’t known don’t have that in Auckland.30 ” anything else, it is the norm for them to live in a really

“If you look at attitudes toward diversity, Auckland stands out as a place that’s much more accepting.” Shamubeel Eaqub cosmopolitan city. They don’t even notice it.30 This generation are colour-blind, they’re completely dif- ferent.5 My daughter’s best friend’s skin is dark and ON THIS PAGE: 4 Len Brown, 30 Mark Jennings, 39 Jason Paris, 43 Ian Shirley, 44 Paul Spoonley, 50 Joan Withers there’s no question that she’s part Sri Lankan. But we don’t see her in any way other than being a Kiwi. I

32 don’t think ‘wow, Issy’s got ethnically diverse friends’. Asian CEOs coming to me saying ‘I’ve been invited to I used to think that. But not any more. It used to be yet another seminar on doing business in China and very progressive but now it’s totally ridiculous to think they’re all Pakeha speakers, they don’t have a single we’d have thought like that.30 Asian speaker. A very prominent Chinese CEO in New Zealand asked me to hold a seminar in my boardroom and get Chinese to speak. I set up New Zealand Asian Leaders instead.8 BUT THERE IS WORK YET TO The pot’s still bubbling which is really exciting. It’s moving in that right direction but it’s defnitely not DO TO MOVE FROM there yet.17 WELCOMING DIVERSITY TO TRULY INTEGRATING “It’s interesting for me because I’m not married to an Asian, so when I’m discrim- “We’re still in the stage where nothing’s merged yet. We’ve got Pasifka, Diwali, Lantern Festival, but we inated against he doesn’t haven’t mixed it all up to create unique expression, it’s still in pockets really.5 know what’s going on. But I We like to rub along, but it isn’t so integrated. I went to the one-day cricket game with India at Eden Park. know it in my gut when I’m The crowd was 70% Indian. And Indians know how to party. It was a really exciting day. It came down to a being discriminated against tie, so it doesn’t get more exciting. It was absolutely fantastic, watching some of the world’s best cricket- and I know when other peo- ers going at it. The game changed and changed and changed. So exciting. The Indians in the stands party- ple are being discriminated ing away and having a great time. Because it’s one-day against, it’s not nice.” cricket they play music between each over. The guys in charge of that played one Indian pop song late in the Mai Chen game, that’s all. It hadn’t occurred to them that most of that audience had a music that is actually party music that they could have been playing. Nobody was getting upset, so we all like being together, but actually nobody’s changed the way we do anything because of it.49 The young Asian Pacifc thing is what we need to celebrate to take us to the next level. How can we take this through the whole city, whole culture?7 We always talk about this great multicultural city, but that’s certainly not refected in my workplace. We talk about it but the reality’s not that.33 I’ve had many Asian people in my boardroom saying ‘I’m in the pipeline and I can’t get above middle management, people see me as a good technician and a hard worker but they won’t promote me as a leader’. Asian senior business people who say ‘I’ve got a great CV but I can’t get on a serious board.’ I’ve had

ON THIS PAGE: 5 Sandy Burgham, 7 Sam Chapman, 8 Mai Chen, 17 Simon Farrell-Green, 30 Mark Jennings, 33 Marcus Lush, 49 Simon Wilson

33 WE LOVE THE PEOPLE-FRIENDLINESS OF OUR EMERGING CIVIC AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS

“We enjoy being part of a city that supports life as well as work.35 It’s become a much more people- friendly city.38 Things that are socially or culturally “My perfect example of the generous. Public space or just an idea that’s generous.7 kind of place I want Auck- Even with the private developments – Britomart, Wy- nyard, there’s an expectation to include public spaces land to be is my favourite that people can use and don’t have a clear commercial beneft. Bringing people there because it’s cool or fun restaurant, which is Coco’s for the kids or just a good place to hang out.41 Yeah of course it’s still commercially driven, by and large, but Cantina. So on Sunday they I think we’re more mindful of the community.1 We’re starting to see a few more young emerging got some people together entrepreneurs doing those little businesses where they’re passionate about what they’re doing and it’s and held a garage sale at not such a narrow commercial focus that it doesn’t have an aesthetic value or a broader place within the their shop, they make food community.36 The old Auckland had a kind of selfshness that was every couple of weeks for born of a lack of hope. Our new Auckland is defned instead by the sophistication of its hungers and the the prostitutes who work hope that comes with seeing those hungers being made manifest in the city around us. That’s really around the area, they lend exciting – it has revealed this little moment of power out their space to people where our demands as citizens consuming our own city are being heard and delivered on by developers who work in NGO’s who and operators alike. It’s generating a model of behav- iour that looks more benevolent rather than selfsh – need to be able to do little capitalism aligned with optimism, and looking at last like it cares.10 sessions. You know they are Wynyard Quarter caters for everyone. You could go there and spend half a day there and not spend a cent, a commercially driven en- which makes it a space for the people, rather than being about consumerism. Families are embraced in terprise, but who believe in Auckland. A lot of the spaces are designed to include families.47 What we did down at the waterfront – we being a part of what’s going invited our own people back. Said come and sit on the shore. Here we’ll put a sandpit here we want the kids on around them. ” in, bring your children to our city.4 As a young family I feel that we’re very well catered for in this city. The Jacinda Ardern kids’ playgrounds are amazing now. That one at Wyn- yard Quarter – just fantastic! I love the shared spaces they’re developing in the city. Fort St, Elliot St, the shared spaces – they promote a ON THIS PAGE: 1 Jacinda Ardern, 4 Len Brown, 7 Sam Chapman, sense of community. I feel a funny sense of warmth 10 Nat Cheshire, 35 Simon Moutter, 36 Matt Noonan, 38 Brett O’Riley, 41 Ben & Louise Powles, 47 Pippa Wetzell because I’m having to look out for everyone else and they’re looking out for me.47 ”

34 A N D W E ’ R E R E L I E V E D TO AT LAST BE HONOURING OUR HISTORY AND H E R I TA G E A S PA R T O F THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR CITY

“We’re looking at things in a diferent way.4 We’ve gone back the other way and tried to hang on to some of the old city and reinvigorate that.26 Wynyard, Britomart, it’s the renova- tion of the old buildings. To keep the silos, to hold onto some of those things and embrace them and create something out of them, I think is really nice. To maintain that history rather than thinking you have to fatten the ground and start again.4 There’s been a big shift away from that clear site thinking to incremental change. Valuing what’s there and working with what’s there rather than bulldozing it and putting up something shiny without any 17 sense of place or history or character. I think we’ve given up on the idea of trying to move forward the whole time without looking at what’s been good that’s gone before and not necessarily just changing things for the sake of changing them. This (CityWorks Depot) is a great example. Ten years ago this would have been bowled, no question. Whereas now people seem “Old Auckland was a bit ‘new’ to be a lot more prepared to take a step back and say, well, is it relevant? Can we and New Auckland is embracing make it work? It’s part of the city - whether it’s ugly or pretty or whatever it has a the old.” place, it’s part of our history.12 Looking from the water, Tyler St and Seafarers, Pippa Wetzell they’re still honouring what the building was. Obviously the council have had a massive focus on restoring all our herit- age buildings. You can’t help but be proud of Britomart or the Art Gallery or build- ON THIS PAGE: 4 Len Brown, 12 Murray Crane, 17 Simon Farrell-Green, 26 Geoff Ross, 47 Pippa Wetzell, 48 Kathryn Wilson ings on Queen St that look really proud again. They stand up again, all shiny.48 ”

35 PETER COOPER ON BRITOMART

“We started out doing a lot of research, asking what people thought this place should be. And everybody had so many views, particularly on what it should not be – don’t be a shopping mall, don’t bring in all these ofshore brands you see in every other city. So we got a good take, and we decided the best way to grow this and brand it was to enable people to put their own identity on it, rather than us being presumptive. So we just became facilitators, and the metaphor we used was that we were the managers of what is a live theatre. The frst thing you have to have to make a theatre is people. You have to become an enabler, and it’s inappropri- ate for you to impose. If you want them to choose to come here, you have to enable them to fnd you on their terms so they take ownership, not you. The live theatre thing is still pretty strong in how we think. So the performers are your tenants, so you’ve got to handpick the best actors that you can, to give yourself the best shot to have a successful stage. But then you have to simply and in as many ways as you can, enable people to feel good about being in this environment. That’s why it’s got an urban garden element to it, so we do a lot of vegetation work, we do diferent art, we encourage skateboarders to come barreling through, there’ll be acrobats out there playing around, street dancers, and that is good, we like all that stuf. People make the place, you’re the facilitator.” 36 “I have seen in my life, at 72, the creation of the beginning of a great city.” Sir Bob Harvey

CATALYSTS

The events that led us to a tipping point

37 THE PRIMARY CATALYST HAS BEEN THE COMING TOGETHER OF OUR SUPERCITY IN 2010 AND OUR BECOMING ONE AUCKLAND

“A s a young fella I loved my street and then time to be some sense of shared purpose and grew to love my broader community, Otara and common idea of what the city should be.17 South Side, and then the broader Manukau, and The Supercity has allowed a new cultural ex- so for me what was missing in Auckland was a pression of who we are, and enthused a lot of real sense of passion and a pride for being an people. And when you get enthusiasm instead Aucklander. We were passionate about being of drudgery, you have totally diferent view of from Waitakere, about Titirangi, about Taka- what’s going down.46 puna, but we were shy and nervous and quite As we get further into the city, a relationship frankly agnostic about being Aucklanders.4 with the council that believes in the same And now all that’s been abandoned, so the things as you do is just unbelievably empower- sense of being an Aucklander, and just being an ing. Trying to do the City Works Depot in the Aucklander, has got a lot more profound. We way that we did – improvised, fuid and very can share all of these wonderful landscapes and fast – would have been almost impossible with- parts of Auckland that in the past belonged to out that sense of a common goal, and the sup- somebody else. We have a sense now that we’re port that comes with it.10 part of one of the biggest cities of the South Pa- So those key shifts under the Auckland Plan cifc and potentially a great global city.18 basically meant that instead of arguing about It’s the beginning of a new era and at last we our future we’ve been agreeing about it. And have scale. It’s that spirit of partnership, and we don’t overall agree, we still argue about it, at ATEED we call it Kotahitanga, which is the but the divisiveness, and the downright deter- traditional Maori view of one-ness or unity, mination not to agree I think is something that marching together that enables us to collective- has shifted with us uniting.4 ly achieve great results.38 The council has for the frst time ever the re- sources to follow through on an ambition of that scale rather than sufering from the difusion of the many-headed hydra that it “Instead of arguing about once was.10 I don’t think you can discount the impor- our future we’ve been tance of getting the initial plan right that Peter Salmon worked on. Hugely important that agreeing about it.” huge numbers of Aucklanders wanted to par- ticipate in that Royal Commission and that Mayor Len Brown they were listened to by Salmon and his group. And the report that he wrote was largely adopt- ed. I think people felt that they were given a chance to have a go.18 There seemed for the frst

ON THIS PAGE: 4 Len Brown, 10 Nat Cheshire, 17 Simon Farrell-Green, 18 Rob Fenwick, 38 Brett O’Riley, 46 John Tamihere

38 ENOUGH OF THIS BULLSHIT! THE HISTORY OF OUR SUPERCITY, AS TOLD BY SIR BOB HARVEY

of 1968 I packaged Robbie and a vision them vote for it, they’d never vote for it. for Auckland. Then I realized that Auck- Turkeys never vote for Christmas. land was a city of other areas. It was And so when I became presi- not united and everyone hated Robbie dent of the Labour party I’d advocated because he was the mayor of Auckland for Judith Tizard as Minister for Auck- which was quite small and quite power- land to try and pull the power from Wel- ful. They all combined to fuck him over lington. They ran everything and also and to stop him doing anything. In the loathed Auckland and divided us by say- 1960s I realised there was something big ing the mayors of Auckland were always happening in the beautiful city of ours – fghting, they’ll never do anything unit- rivalry. All of the boroughs had mayors ed. Helen Clark and I talked of a Royal and councils that were petty, feuding, Commission because it had to be done angry participants in their own little from the top. You Will Do This. And You small patch. Newmarket had a mayor Will Like It. I didn’t think they’d like it. and councilors. One Tree Hill. The build- But I thought it might work. So as much ings are still there. Mt Eden. North shore as I mourned the loss of my own city, had three. The west had New Lynn, Glen Waitakere, and I did grieve for it great- Eden, Henderson. Each hating each oth- ly, I thought, because I loved Roman er. Each trying to cut up the pie. And politics and ancient Greece, I realised each opposing everyone else’s plans. that cities survive on great leadership So the history of the Auckland and a vision and a belief in what they region is the leadership of Robbie, one can be and who they can be. And Auck- of the great visionary mayors. Robbie landers never believed in who they could is the father of everything we’ve got. But be. They had this regional pride. And I no one would allow that. They jammed it. thought, it’s got to be bigger than that. In 1989, Michael Bassett said It’s got to be noble. enough of this bullshit and took away So when I left, I was asked to do all the little boroughs and their mayors the waterfront. So I moved my life to the and set up the four cities. Clearly, he waterfront and got the waterfront ready didn’t go far enough, because the cities for the Rugby World Cup. And I knew then took over the borough feudings. that would be the one thing that could North Shore hated Waitakere and said possibly unite Auckland. I think that was all the burglars in North Shore came the transformation point. The Rugby from Waitakere. The south was too big. World Cup made us feel terrifc. It also It had areas of extreme poverty and culturally got us lined up. And although marginalisation. The west was damned there’d been a number of attempts, that “I had a really lucky privileged life with not having enough industrial areas was the one thing that glued us togeth- with Auckland, a city I grew up in. I for the rates and never had a heart or a er. And I’ve never been more excited by was born in Ponsonby, at the Home of base and they were damned as bogans anything that I’ve been part of. I feel Compassion, an abandoned child. You and hoons. And Auckland City sat in the inspired that I now have seen from my know, the gully was like Brooklyn in middle and rotted. There was no heart early life working with Robbie, the Rob- those days. My grandfather was a com- of the city. Queen St lost its fair and bie vision in a way. And I feel like when munist and he’d been part of the riots in Friday nights as people fed to the sub- I go to the Town Hall, that I somehow Queen St, so I had at a very early age urbs and built malls and in those malls connect with Robbie. this sense of Auckland and its passion, that would become their community. Auckland has that chance of be- and all that thing that went with passion But their was no community there, it ing a superb, splendid city in the South and the working class and what a city was just fucking shopping and bars and Pacifc. It is better by far than Mel- was about, and so these were the early bad behavior. And so when I became bourne and Sydney, although they’re fres in my life. the mayor in 1992 I realized that this pretty glamourous cities, although you When I started my business, could not continue. wouldn’t want to break a leg there, you an advertising agency, I wanted to do So I’m credited with mention- know. I think that Auckland, with it’s something for Auckland. I knew Sir ing in 1993 the word ‘Supercity’; the idea three harbours, it’s isthmus of great Dove-Myer Robinson, ‘Robbie’ as he was that one day we had to be one. Because beauty, it’s clean possibilities, peo- known, who was the Mayor of Auckland. after all, it was a million people. It’s not ple here feel that this city is deliver- I met him at a function and I told him like Hong Kong or New York. A million ing for them a quality of life probably that I was in advertising. He asked me people in four cities? That didn’t make second to none. I have seen in my life, if I’d work on his election campaign and sense. But I always doubted that unless at 72, the creation of the beginning of I leapt at the chance. In the campaign something happened that would make a great city.”

39 T H E S U C C E S S O F T H E 2 0 1 1 R U G B Y W O R L D C U P W A S A C R I T I C A L felt like we were getting ready for the world stage.42 TURNING POINT When you do things like that well as a society, you do feel very proud of what you are. What happened in Auckland around the time of the world cup created a sense of ‘we can really do this’.50 ” “I knew that would be the one thing that could possibly unite Auckland. That was the transformation point. The Rugby World Cup made us feel terrifc. It also culturally got us lined up as Aucklanders. And although INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF there’d been a number of attempts, that was the one thing that glued us together. And AUCKLAND HAS ADDED TO OUR I’ve never been more excited by anything CONFIDENCE BOOST that I’ve been part of.27 I think the World Cup put Auckland on the international stage and brought Auckland a lot of kudos. It gave us the impetus that we had to do something. The council and gov- “The rest of the world’s ernment stepped up to the plate.23 We made Auckland more exciting, more people came, looking at Auckland saying those people stayed, they added a little bit more, more people came home. What we ‘I like your pants’.” have now is a concentrated culture and a Jaquie Brown great lifestyle.22 I keep thinking of Rugby World Cup because it didn’t feel like Auckland.48 A lot of people thought no one would walk to Eden “The fact that we’re picking up a lot of global awards. Success Park – and what did we have? 50,000 peo- begets success and we like the fact that we’re being well recog- ple walked to the fnal along the Fantrail.38 It nized internationally.4 Now, commonly surveys say Auckland is among the most liveable cities, increasing our belief that Auck- land genuinely a good place to live.41 The sense of success nationally – Auckland being a subset of New Zealand – we really are “It’s weird for me to saying to ourselves ‘this is fantastic’ – the Peter Jackson phenom- enon has put New Zealand on the world stage and it’s made us admit that it was a realize other people look at us saying this is amazing. And Lorde, all of that stuf. We take a great deal of pride in that. It is a great sporting event that place to live.50 It’s like when you’re a geeky teenager and you’re trying on these made me feel difer- new clothes in the mirror at home, and you’re like ‘I think it’s good? I’m not sure?’ and then the 7th form hot guy goes ‘I like ently about Auck- your pants’ and you’re like ‘oh my god! You like my pants!?’ That’s what’s going on. The rest of the world’s looking at Auck- land because I’m not land saying ‘I like your pants’.3 ” really into sports. But even I felt like it

ON THIS PAGE: 3 Jaquie Brown, 4 Len Brown, 22 Mimi Gilmour, 23 Jackie Grant & changed things.” Scott Brown, 27 Sir Bob Harvey, 38 Brett O’Riley, 41 Ben & Louise Powles, 42 Bic Runga, 48 Kathryn Wilson, 50 Joan Withers Bic Runga

40 TYLER BRULE’S VALENTINE’S QUALITY OF LIVING RANKINGS 2014 LETTER TO AUCKLAND

As published in the Financial Times, 15 February 2013 01 Vienna Austria 02 Zürich Switzerland

03 Auckland New Zealand Dear Auckland, 04 Munich Germany I realise it’s less than 96 hours since we parted company but I can’t stop thinking about 05 Vancouver Canada the wonderful weekend we spent together. While I thoroughly enjoyed our frst en- 06 Düsseldorf Germany counter in late 2011, this time was diferent and you were on better form – the sun was 07 Frankfurt Germany out, your locals were looking ft and tanned, and there was this wonderful feeling of a city still on summer holiday but also getting on with work at the same time. 08 Geneva Switzerland 09 Copenhagen Denmark As before, the food was excellent (sliders and fsh tacos at Depot were a high point), and the generosity of your residents was truly remarkable. Given all the outstanding in- 10 Bern Switzerland dustrial design and architecture going on in and around your city (your Commonwealth cousins Canada and the UK would do well to embrace your love of modern architecture), it would be great if you could come up with some better sleeping arrangements for our next meet-up. Don’t get me wrong, our nights were absolutely delightful but all that local talent could be turned into the best 50-room hotel in the South Pacifc – I’m sure you’d have little trouble flling it. I’d also get the clever crowd who run Dizengof, with its excellent cofee and superb breakfasts, to look after the menu.

Healthy looks aside, you also seemed to be in a good place mentally. I got the sense that you’re doing your own thing and not concerning yourself too much with your big QUALITY OF LIFE SURVEY 2013 neighbour to the west. I think that’s a sound strategy, and I’d be inclined to follow the example of Norway and Finland, with which you share many similarities, in continuing to forge a strong identity. 01 Copenhagen Denmark 02 Melbourne Australia We must also talk about another neighbour as well. The wonderful Waiheke Island is an absolute charmer. As I’d heard so much about it, I had high expectations but it 03 Helsinki Finland really went far beyond what I’d imagined. The logistics going over are a bit complicated 04 Tokyo Japan (there’s defnitely room for someone to start a proper water taxi service around the 05 Vienna Austria bay) but once you get there it’s hard to believe you’re still ofcially in the “city”. 06 Zürich Switzerland From the moment I stepped of the boat I was already keen to look at real estate and 07 Stockholm Sweden get a read on what properties are selling for. With its rolling hills and dry(er) climate, it reminded me a lot of Tuscany. The many vineyards dotted around the island also 08 Munich Germany had me thinking about a fuller lifestyle overall (the idea being to own a vineyard rather 09 Sydney Australia than just drinking more wine later in life). I can imagine there must be more than a bit of tension between families who’ve had 10 Auckland New Zealand little baches (beach houses) on the island for decades and all the international owners of some of the mega-homes. While one resident told me there “are some real shockers” on the island, I mostly saw low-slung, modernist compounds that blended handsomely with the environment. If I had my choice, however, I’d opt for a little bach fxer-upper.

One of the highlights was sampling the newish Oyster Inn in Oneroa. Owned by a pair of former Londoners, the operation is mostly focused on food and drink but they also have three cosy rooms tacked on the back. The best thing is that it’s right in the heart LIVEABILITY RANKING 2013 of the main village, so visitors are cut of from the rest of the island. We did a party at the Oyster Inn for Monocle subscribers on the Saturday and then spent Sunday running around looking at houses, then lying on the beach and taking it easy. The food 01 Melbourne Australia highlight was dinner from the wood-oven pizza truck at Little Oneroa beach. It was pure bliss to watch the sun go down while munching on excellent pizza and drinking a 02 Vienna Austria local Pinot Grigio. 03 Vancouver Canada 04 Toronto Canada I’m counting the days till my return (sadly nothing fxed at the moment) and I hope I’ll be able to check out more. Keep doing what you’re doing (focusing on liveability) and I 05 Adelaide Australia look forward to our next weekend together. 06 Calgary Canada Afectionately yours, 07 Sydney Australia 08 Helsinki Finland Tyler 09 Perth Australia 10 Auckland New Zealand Tyler Brûlé is editor-in-chief of Monocle magazine

41 THERE’S A seems to be the way.33 That younger generation’s view of everything is so exciting. GENERATIONAL There’s a spirit of curiosity and informality there that’s not contrived. Just experimenting. The 20-30-somethings will de- TRANSITION fne what Auckland is.5 ” HAPPENING – THE PASS- ING DOWN OF AUCKLAND WE’RE GROWING UP AS A CITY FROM THE BOOMERS TO A AND GETTING THINGS RIGHT NEW GENERATION AFTER A LONG PERIOD OF SEEMING TO GET A LOT WRONG

“That younger “I think we’ve probably got more professional in organising ‘stuf’. The Rugby World Cup was a classic example of where generation’s view of we hosted something and we did it phenomenally well and the overarching perception was ‘wow this is fantastic’. So I think everything is so we’re probably more confdent that we can pull it of and do 50 exciting.” things really well. Sandy Burgham “I worked at Metro for fve years and it seemed like every third sto- “There’s a defning group of 30-45 year old people.15 The baby boomers are gone and this next ry I did was a story on how Auck- generation is coming through and taking its stance. And they’re not afraid to take a risk. And land was fucking something up Auckland is becoming what they want it to be for and six cities around the world the next 20 years rather than how the baby boomers wanted it for the last 20.23 that had done it diferently and A new generation coming in who don’t recog- nize the same gatekeepers.33 For example the two better. And the Herald, that was young guys who own CityWorks, just getting on with it. It’s not the guys my age that are making stock in trade for them as well. things happen. It’s that 30-40 year group that I think is really making the diference socially, eco- There was probably a meme of nomically. negativity. Of ‘we’re not getting it The old established norms seem to be being reset by this younger group. There’s an entrepreneuri- right and we’re never going to get al, youthful spirit. Younger people have travelled and come back to NZ and thought ‘I reckon I it right’. And it fed upon itself. ” could do this’. I reckon I could set up a shop just selling business shirts and I reckon I could make Simon Farrell-Green a go of it. And they are. It’s only the older people that have the chip on their shoulder about Auckland. Younger people Auckland never used to do things properly but - Wynyard - 28 don’t think like that anymore.15 They have a dif- that’s a planned development that’s actually working. We’ve ferent attitude toward Auckland than my generation had. There’s a real openness amongst them and an ease with which they utilise what’s available. It strikes me that this next generation ON THIS PAGE: 5 Sandy Burgham, 15 Paul Dykzeul, 17 Simon Farrell-Green, is a lot more mature, they make good decisions. 23 Jackie Grant & Scott Brown, 28 Vincent Heeringa, 33 Marcus Lush, And whether that’s evolution I don’t know, but it 50 Joan Withers

42 got our frst truly grown up building in Auckland in particular has been a real growing up phase which is the Art Gallery.29 Can you believe how for Auckland.16 In architecture, I think there’s beautiful that was when it opened? We were all been a big shift away from clear site thinking to just blown away by the level. We’re not used to incremental change and I feel like that’s a matu- public buildings being tidied up that well.48 rity thing.17 I think we’re also maturing very well There’s a growing sense of ‘growing up’ about around cultural diversity. It’s taken us 15-20 years Auckland.28 I see a bit more maturity in the city to get the hang of this. How successful our cul- now.25 Certainly in the 80s we were quite imma- tural events are now. Pasifka – it’s half Palagi. ture in our approach really. People didn’t have a And it’s the same with things like the Lantern Fes- helicopter perspective on stuf. They were quite tival. So we are now really starting to embrace that insular.50 I left Auckland because I thought this sense of multiculturalism.4 ” town is never going to grow up.22 The last 5 years

AND SOCIAL MEDIA HAS ENABLED US TO SHARE OUR POSITIVITY ABOUT OUR CITY - AUCKLAND PRIDE IS A MEME RIGHT NOW

“I think it’s self-fulflling, the more people are here going ‘isn’t Auckland great’, the more things “People believing the hype that happen and it just sort of feeds itself.12 Because we have so many immigrants coming in – it’s become a meme.” and embracing and loving Auckland, that has an Sam Chapman interesting efect on Aucklanders. All of a sudden you hear people saying ‘this is an amazing city’ and 25 you think, well maybe this is an amazing city. gobbling up their oxygen.19 The rise of modern media – people believing the The internet’s got a big part to play because peo- hype – it’s become a meme. Digital, social, blog- ple fnd out about things quicker. They hear about ging – the ability to celebrate what’s going on in new things and embrace them a lot faster. Where- the city, the things that make this feel like a great as maybe ten years ago it would take people six 7 city. In terms of afrming what we think, so fre- months to fnd out about a new bar, and by the quently there are comments like ‘what a stunning time they got there it was almost too late for that day’. My cousin lives in Canterbury, she’s just bar to make any kind of impact. But now you go to moved back from Melbourne. She’s always post- a new restaurant that’s been open a week and it’s ing photos and saying ‘this is stunning’, it’s the full of people.12 ” same up here, so there’s more accessibility to the afrmation about what we have and what’s great. People go to sporting events and ‘wow this is fantastic’. So that sort of social media connectivity.50 If you feel like you’re winning, success breeds success, and Auckland feels like it’s winning.35 One dynamic project that succeeds encourages somebody else. Otis and Sarah have noticed that since they started Lucky Taco. Al Brown’s right in there behind them, you know, ‘I’ll buy your sauces’. Otis said it’s amazing, nobody feels like anybody else is

ON THIS PAGE: 4 Len Brown, 7 Sam Chapman, 12 Murray Crane, 16 Shamubeel Eaqub, 17 Simon Farrell-Green, 19 Dick Frizzell, 22 Mimi Gilmour, 25 SAndy Hamilton, 28 Vincent Heeringa, 29 Lance Herbst, 35 Simon Moutter, 48 Kathryn Wilson, 50 Joan Withers

“We have to believe that our personality is a force to be reckoned with.” Al Brown

THE SPIRIT & STYLE OF NEW AUCKLAND

A shared defnition of our way

45 WE EMBRACE OUR EASY-GOING, INFORMAL NATURE, SOMETHING THAT’S BEGINNING TO DEFINE MANY ASPECTS OF OUR CITY

“I refect a lot on the central nature of Auckland being quite laid back. We’re often personally focused, but we’re laid back in that. Our relaxed nature I think is hugely important. We don’t stress out about things overly, we are relaxed in our style and reasonably chilled out.4 Auckland’s got all the virtues of New Zealand which are rural based, in the sense that we’re still easy-going people, but we live in a city. So you’ve got one of the few combinations in the world of urban people who are not entirely urbanized in their “We had our style attitude and manner.34 and it was essential- We’re way more casual than even a lot of American cities.17 In- formal, in a way.19 Things seem to be a little less matchy matchy, ly commercializing and I quite like that.47 We’re seeing this in our restaurant life now. The most popular a bach. A bach was restaurants are quite casual. Fine dining? We just don’t do that anywhere to the extent we used to. And I think that’s refecting where most New our style.4 We had people turn up who were the cool people because we Zealanders feel at were opening a new restaurant, and we literally didn’t know who they were. They were giving us ‘don’t you know who we their best, and there’s are?’ and we were like ‘no we don’t,’ you know, ‘what is your name? Well it’ll be 40 minutes John’. 2 no pretention, and it’s full of generosity, and it’s transparent, and we embrace all the wonky things, and that’s what we love about it and that’s what we try to do at Depot.”

In general the casual, shared plate has been really big. It’s a Al Brown comfortable way, Aucklanders have really embraced it.23 We don’t need to overcook things. It’s based on good value, sim- 2 plicity and a confdence that this is wonderful. ON THIS PAGE: 2 Al Brown, 4 Len Brown, The things that haven’t gone so well are the things that are a 14 Jamie Duff, 17 Simon Farrell-Green, 19 Dick Frizzell, 23 Jackie Grant & Scott Brown, mirror of the 90’s/2000’s, like very fashy and not grounded 34 Gordon McLauchlan, 47 Pippa Wetzell stuf, and they don’t belong here now.14 ”

46 THIS INFORMALITY IS VERY MUCH A PART OF OUR WORK LIVES - WE HAVE AN ‘OPEN-COLLAR’ APPROACH TO WORK - OUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS HAS MOVED BEYOND THE WHITE COLLAR AND WE’VE SAID GOODBYE TO THE TIE

of this confdence and casualness. “There’s less of I’ve never felt comfortable wearing a tie, and now I feel confdent enough, that conformity, unless I’m going to upset a relation- to university and getting all the de- ship scenario here I’m not going to the Auckland grees wanted to go and work for the wear a tie.30 big companies earning a big salary Grammar dogma didn’t they? Whereas now the smart people want to work for themselves “We’re connect- of what is and want to do their own thing and that’s changed quite dramatically in ed back to the sea success.” the last 20 years. I think we’re all looking for more individual, reward- edge, we feel most Matt Noonan ing work or professional life now.2 Materially ambitious people aren’t comfortable there here. They’ve gone to Sydney. Here, “In New York you live to work. fulflment and wellbeing is much and you can’t be Working for the best. Auckland, you more important.6 work to live. The South Pacifc ele- You see it in clothes too. Mens there in your suit.” ment of Auckland is that warmth 49 clothes especially. Open-necked Mayor Len Brown and friendliness, humility, laid back- shirts and jeans.20 Taxi drivers wear ness, the determination to come to ties and few other people do. It’s work in jandals as long as you can Our style and our values are very now a signal of being a modern cor- much embedded in that sense of our before anyone notices. The down- porate that the men in those corpo- side is that perhaps it makes us lazy semi-temperate climate and out re- rates don’t wear a tie. So they’ve got laxed nature.4 ” and a bit uncompetitive. But it’s also a diferent kind of uniform going on. why you come and live in a place like But it’s an informal thing.49 Even 4 this – the lifestyle element. or 5 years ago I would have been sit- Creative, entrepreneurial, Auckland ON THIS PAGE: 2 Al Brown, 4 Len Brown, ting here wearing a tie. Now I don’t 6 Jill Caldwell, 15 Paul Dykzeul, 20 Rob Fyfe, isn’t arty. It’s a commercial hub. know anybody that wears a tie un- 28 Vincent Heeringa, 30 Mark Jennings, But it’s commercially creative. It’s 36 Matt Noonan, 38 Brett O’Riley, 28 less we’ve got a Chinese delegation 49 Simon Wilson becoming more entrepreneurial. coming. And I think that’s because Someone who’s a successful wine- maker is acknowledged the same as someone who is a successful lawyer.15 There’s less of that conformity, the Auckland Grammar dogma of what is success. There’s a broader view of what it is to be successful in Auckland.36 Back then the smart people going

47 “Don’t get me OUR INFORMALITY ISN’T SLOPPY. wrong, the infor- WE’RE RESPONDING PROUDLY TO mality and easy- THE PASSION FOR QUALITY THAT goingness takes a OUR CITY IS SHOWING lot of hard work, it’s not lazy and “We’ve seen an explosion in terms has gone, well I’m going to create an of quality. People more than ever environment. The deal will be with it’s something you are responding to quality. Not ‘pre- the council, you will allow me to mium’, but quality. Considered. build and develop this place and I ‘m have to work on. Thought through and done well. going to make sure that everyone in Things that have integrity.7 it, all the tenants all the shops and And it’s as hard The expectation is that you can’t the ofces and restaurants and bars just slap up some crappy ‘80s envi- create a community. So there are not to work on as it is ronment.41 Aucklanders are quite going to be any of the wrong kinds to be starched and savvy and see through stuf. Creat- of places here. It’s going to be a ing something nice around the out- place that all the retailers know that formal. ” side of something that doesn’t have they’ll be supported by the landlord a core isn’t going to work anymore. in bringing in other ‘right’ retailers.49 Al Brown People are searching for something They made a stand for something. It quite real.17 was like, we’re going open up a shop- Now you can walk through Auck- ping district that’s going to be done public are all like ‘wow’. You can’t land and see most things, at a quality this way and we’re not going to just help but feel proud when the public that’s world class.46 The quality, de- let any asshole in there who wants to come down and are like ‘wow what a sign, construction is actually really sell whatever.21 They pitched to the beautiful area, and this wasn’t even good. A mix of quirky and indie but ultimate designers, stores, bars, res- here a year ago’. actually really good as well.28 taurants and kept to that really high I’m so particular myself and in busi- There’s a developing culture of ex- standard and once they’d signed the ness I don’t cut any corners so I love cellence that needs to be supported lease it became a community. being around people like Nat Chesh- and nurtured and protected and val- And everyone down there is so ire – they didn’t compromise on any- ued.36 proud to be there. Everyone looks thing. You know, planting strawber- Britomart’s a really good expression after the gardens so well and the ries in the middle of those massive of the New Auckland. Peter Cooper staf the security’s there 24/7. The dishes and everyone went, uh strawberries aren’t going to work, but they tend to them every day and the strawberries roll over the edges and Peter Cooper fies his own landscape gardeners down from Kerikeri to make sure that everything’s watered the right way. The Hip Group – every little cherry tomato has to be the right colour. I just love that. It gives me my jollies.48 And you can compare that with Queen Street where nobody’s doing that. And the risk is that you end up with $2 shops.49

ON THIS PAGE: 7 Sam Chapman, 17 Simon Farrell-Green, 21 Mikhail Gherman, 28 Vincent Heeringa, 36 Matt Noonan, 41 Ben & Louise Powles, 46 John Tamihere, 48 Kathryn Wilson, 49 Simon Wilson

48 OUR STYLE IS ONE OF ‘INFORMAL EXCELLENCE’ - AT OUR BEST, OUR INFORMAL, “We built like crazy in this EASY-GOING WAY COMES rabbit warren of old brick and TOGETHER WITH OUR ABILITY pigeon shit and timber harder TO EXECUTE WITH than steel. We tore the thing WORLD-CLASS QUALITY apart with diggers. And made a

bar out of decadence and decay “What we’re absolutely best at is having quite high in equal measures. We set levels of quality but still being casual. It’s quite hard to articulate this but there’s something now... there’s a billion dollar hand-made glass level of sophistication, but it’s not pretentious. Auck- land’s full of places now that are really good but which mosaics among crumbling brick aren’t up themselves or pretentious.30 Yeah, a kind of stylish grunge, rough sophistication, and that’s where and flthy plaster. We made I’d say Al Brown is the master.6 It’s a serviced informality. The service in Depot is impeccable.23 With bars out of old bolt boxes and food, the aim of the food is to be exceptionally good, the kindling rippings from our to be world class, but the environment is much more informal than that. And that is the working defnition waste timber. We turned under- of a great Auckland restaurant. We love the informality and quality.49 Sydney and Mel- water rubbish dumps into bourne are good, but they do the too casual, almost student pop up thing really well, and then there’s no luxury. This was my frst bar. middle ground and they go into the ritz and glitz and multimillion dollar design and there’s no cool, urban, Simultaneously we made a clever design that sits in the middle. And that’s where restaurant out of second-hand New Zealand’s come in. We can nail something in the middle and make it afordable and cool and edgy and chairs and even worse plaster grungy but have some design elements that make it and this idea we had called ‘humble special’. It was an idea that sought to unlock the free potentials of aged, distressed and humbled objects by choreo- graphing their decay, then setting them in tensile opposition with small moments of soft refnement.”

Nat Cheshire

ON THIS PAGE: 6 Jill Caldwell, 23 Jackie Grant & Scott Brown, 30 Mark Jennings, 49 Simon Wilson

49 New Auckland’s style is one of INFORMAL EXCELLENCE

At our best, our easy-going, informal way comes together with a passion for world-class quality.

really cool and unique.23 generous and they’d be It’s what I would call ‘high casual’. It’s easy. A little bit more laid back. Even when it’s formal it’s more perfectly cooked and they how our life here is. Even our rich people are high casual.21 wouldn’t need the jingle and Anybody can design well when money’s no object - but being able to be clever and make things feel good, the jangle. We’ve got all this look good, taste good without a huge budget and in abundance. So you can without looking too studenty is a real challenge.23 So that quality and informality is what AK has em- have three scallops like that braced. Auckland’s worked out some highly visual and obvious forms of expressing it.49 There’s a level on a perfect white plate with of confdence to that blend of informality and world- class-ness. You can be as laidback as you like. I wear all those little trimmings and bare feet to Prego. If I went out in bare feet in London they’d think I had a mental health issue!9 ” dots and smears and fog. Or you have a plate of scallops. We’d far rather sit around a “We were approached, Steve plate of scallops with every- and I, to do the VIP food for one digging their hands in. the special people coming It’s just as hard to do simple, down for the Rugby World and in fact it’s a lot harder Cup. And the company that’d to do simple because there’s done it in France, it was all so much area for it for look about the chef, and I remem- uncared for. But if you do ber them showing us slides simple and generous it’s so of the food they’d done and much more giving and makes it was totally French. Three us feel so much happier than perfectly seared scallops. And something that’s controlled I thought, you know, if we were serving scallops at the and perfect and strict.” World Cup what would our Al Brown scallops look like? And it’d just be a plate of scallops. But there’d be 12 of them. You know, it’d be

ON THIS PAGE: 2 Al Brown, 9 Jane Cherrington, 21 Mikhail Gherman, 23 Jackie Grant & Scott Brown, 49 Simon Wilson

52 WE HAVE QUITE ‘INDIE’ SENSIBILITIES IN THAT WE thenticity rather than something that’s faux.37 I look at Chancery – GRAVITATE TOWARD THINGS obviously the decision was ‘let’s do something that has a European feel WITH INTEGRITY AND AN to it’ but really did it have any con- AUTHENTIC STORY nection with us? And now – I think they had a problem with leaks. At the time it was diferent and new but I just wonder if that was the wrong ‘I feel there’s less of the old-school name of the farmer that grew the po- way to approach something like that. Auckland focus on glitzy bars and tato for the chips. How did the 21st It doesn’t appear to have had that 10 viaduct-style establishments, which Century come to this? longevity. To me it feels contrived. A were expensively decked out but felt Sympathy with the environment is little bit Truman Show-ish.47 I think 32 empty somehow. Now there’s a fo- increasingly important. This site what’s important is that it is organ- 31 cus on diference, and character. (CityWorks Depot) is probably clas- ic, it’s not contrived. The minute it The one thing that ties the best of sic in terms of the history of what becomes artifcial, it’s a turnof. It’s the city’s developments together was meant to happen here to what’s got to be natural.50 Our flters are is that they feel organic, as if they happening here now. It’s almost a on high alert most of the time. And have grown rather than been made. little microcosm of how things have- that’s a function of having so much Malls are made all at once. Cities are shifted. The old developer wanted to more interaction with all forms of media. And so as a result we’re a lot more selective about what we do engage with.17 The moment you try “By now we should be eating potato- to be manipulative, people turn of, especially younger people.50 chip-favoured pills dispensed from a As soon as you mention the word franchise or corporate or multina- gleaming machine but instead I want tional the barriers go up and people to know that this fat salt-encrusted move on.23 People seem to respond to smaller, owner operated places chip on my plate was heirloom-seeded, with more heart. An indie spirit. Humble and authentic, and that’s locally grown and hand-cut.” what we respond to.17 It’s hard to describe but feels quite independent Nat Cheshire – not shopping mall or multination- al. Indie in tone.28 A proliferation of boutique. If you travel around the grown. Britomart has fundamentally pull the whole place down and build UK, every township, they’re all the grown. It’s not just there in its soft- modern stuf all over it and now the bloody same. They all have a Pret- ware, it’s there in its hardware too. new owners are committed to this a-Manger and a Starbucks. Here, The result is a city that feel impro- building that no one saw as having they’re not all the same. There isn’t vised and reoccupied and layered any value before. Now we’re valu- the same kinds of shops, the same and complex and rich. City Works ing what’s there and working with kind of retailers. They feel and look Depot is the same and Imperial Lane what’s there rather than bulldozing and act a bit diferently.15 ” is the same and Wynyard Quarter in it and putting up something shiny parts is the same… they all feel like without any sense of place or histo- this. ry or character.17 Not just big budget As our own lives are increasingly ft-outs, but done with love, some technologized we refex, seeking real integrity to them.7 They have ON THIS PAGE: 7 Sam Chapman, 10 Nat ways of behaving in and relating to a style about them, an ambience Cheshire, 15 Paul Dykzeul, 17 Simon Far- our environment that are defned which is not plastic and it’s not all rell-Green, 23 Jackie Grant & Scott Brown, 28 Vincent Heeringa, 31 Rebecca Kamm, by authenticity and integrity. The glitzy etc, there’s been a very good 32 Kevin Kenrick, 37 Sir Ralph Norris, restaurants we want to go to are job done in refurbishing and ren- 47 Pippa Wetzell, 50 Joan Withers the restaurants where we know the ovating things to give them an au-

53 WE PLACE A HIGH VALUE ON ‘EXPERIENCES’ AND HAVE A NATURAL TENDENCY TO GET OUT AND GET AMONGST IT IN AUCKLAND. WE ARE EXTREMELY OPEN TO NEW EXPERIENCES, NEW CULTURES AND NEW WAYS OF DOING THINGS

“A ucklanders love experiential opportunities.31 “I think we’re a city of We’re experience-hungry.45 Post-materialist. Post-materialism isn’t non-materialism though. FOMO. We love to be doing It’s just much more experiential and it’s about the quality of your life.6 and active. It feels like a re- Aucklanders are looking for experiences. Some places are becoming destinations because of the ally active city to me. Every- experiences they ofer. Experiences focused on families. Sporting, cultural, food and wine, fash- one’s ‘what are you up to ion – something that enriches their lives.45 The open-mindedness of the city in embracing this weekend?’ I never hear innovation and creativity20 - we are a culture that’s very quick to take up new ideas. We are anyone saying ‘nothing re- increasingly insatiable for new ways of living.10 ” ally, do some cleaning, I’ve got this new mufn recipe I

ON THIS PAGE: 1 Jacinda Ardern, 6 Jill Caldwell, 10 Nat want to try’.” Cheshire, 20 Rob Fyfe, 31 Rebecca Kamm, 45 Jane Sweeney Jacinda Ardern

54 WE ARE A ‘DOING PEOPLE’ - NEW AUCKLAND IS NOT A GROWING DEFINED BY ITS THINKERS OR EXPERIENCE ECONOMY POLITICIANS. THE STORY OF AUCKLAND CONTINUES TO Between February 2013 and February 2014, the retail categories that grew their share of overall retail spend were all ‘experi- BELONG TO ITS DOERS ence’ categories - eating out, recreation and entertainment, and the fuel used to get there:

FEB’13 FEB’14

Cafes/Restaurants/Bars 11.0% 11.3% ➚ “We have a lot of doers. Fortune favours the bold. And no more nor less than in this place.4 All the people Fuel/Service Stations 10.6% 11.1% ➚ that have come here, come here to do something, we’re Recreation & Entertainment 4.0% 4.2% ➚ just a nation of entrepreneurial people.12 Travel & Accomodation 7.1% 7.1% ➞ My sense is of people getting of their ass and just getting on with it.15 I love what these guys Scott and Jackie Department Stores 6.8% 6.8% ➞ have done with the Hip Group. It’s so bang on. And Home & Building Supplies 5.4% 5.4% ➞ it’s not that they strategized, they just turned up and Clothing & Footwear 6.1% 5.9% ➘ did what they believed in which was ‘communities need great cofee’ or whatever it is, and let’s not get to fussy Furniture/Appliances/Electronics 6.6% 6.5% ➘ on the branding, let’s call it Takapuna Beach Café.5 Books/Stationery Stores 1.8% 1.7% ➘ Supermarkets/Food Retailers 33.4% 32.9% ➘ There has been much more Health Goods & Services 4.6% 4.5% ➘ Liquor Stores 2.5% 2.4% ➘ of people going ‘lets just get on with it, let’s just make As the economy improves, we are choosing to spend our extra discretionary income on experiences: things happen’.

Paul Dykzeul Share of the extra $369M we spent in Feb ’14 quarter compared with Feb ‘13 quarter: My daughter says she’s achieved more in the last three STUFF 26.3% years in AK than the 10 before that living in the UK and 15 EXPERIENCES Australia. 49.1% People are more willing to get out and go to events. OTHER 25 24.6% There is something about wanting to be involved. The Nines - the way the whole city got behind it - we had 20,000 members of the public mobilized to go mid- SOURCE: Datamine Retailwatch week to 16 clubs around Auckland for the visits by the NRL teams. We had 5000 people in Aotea Square for the launch, as well as 2 days of a sold out Eden Park. That’s pretty phenomenal.38 We’re re-fnding our mojo of Getting Stuf Done. We have discussions, we have debates, short, sharp, don’t relitigate, move from there and deliver. I don’t know whether it’s yet the Auckland way, but I hope it is. Because it used to be when we frst started as a city. The original founding mothers and fathers, man, they built this place with real pace. It just went of. We’re gutsy. We’re prepared to get out, give it a go, build a business, back a business, invest in a business, that sort of entrepreneurship is backed up by a real sense of gutsiness. Guys like John Logan Campbell. You read their history and what sort or courage they had. They just got up and gave it a go. Now that’s a kiwi-ism but it’s really encapsulated in Auckland. In amongst that, you’ll get a sense of what increasingly is becoming the Auckland way.4 ”

ON THIS PAGE: 4 Len Brown, 5 Sandy Burgham, 12 Murray Crane, 15 Paul Dykzeul, 25 Andy Hamilton, 38 Brett O’Riley

55 56 W E H A V E A N O U T L O O K AND ASPIRATION THAT’S VERY MUCH I N T E R N AT I O N A L – W E FACE OUT TO THE WORLD

“The major element in terms of why people are feeling better is that we’re now outward looking rather than inward looking.11 We went from a town to a city and now we’re going to a global city.4 Cities are competing internationally and Auckland has every right to aspire to be an international city. To aspire to have the same level of quality of life, cultural life, economic activity.28 We really can pitch ourselves against the rest of the world.50 Each time you come back from overseas you realise that Auckland is either catching up or has caught up and actually gone past some other international cities.30 You feel that now you can compare Auckland with San Francisco, Vancouver, Sydney, Melbourne, it’s a big change.24 We’re becoming much more a city of the world than a city of New Zealand.37 Now we feel more focused on what’s happening around the world.41 If I look at my kids who are 12 and 16, they have a much more international view of the world than I had when I was growing up 40 years ago. If you are a young person now and you’re contemplating a career, the idea that you can be a successful international entrepre- neur from Auckland is a reality. Because you’ve got some proof points now. You’ve got the Derek Handleys and Ian McCraes inspiring a generation.38 My business has become truly international, with people like Lorde and Kimbra and Flight of the Conchordes. All those guys winning Grammies in the last fve years. I think that’s remarkable that we are totally on the world stage.42 “We’re becoming much more The population of Auckland has become much more internationalised. When you get a migrant a city of the world than a city or an expat come from overseas, naturally they’re going to bring all those international networks of New Zealand.” and contacts. We’re past that Jafa phase. I’m not saying the Sir Ralph Norris rest of the country’s past it. But we’ve genuinely become an outwardly looking international city rather than worrying about competing with ON THIS PAGE: 4 Len Brown, 11 Peter Cooper, 24 Arthur Grimes, 28 Vincent Heeringa, 30 Mark Jennings, 37 Sir Ralph Norris, 38 Brett O’Riley, Christchurch and Wellington. And looking at 41 Ben & Louise Powles, 42 Bic Runga, 50 Joan Withers things through that lens is very diferent.38 ”

57 WE ARE A FAR CRY FROM ‘OLD AUCKLAND’, A PLACE THAT NOBODY IS MOURNING THE LOSS OF

“Old Auckland was a string of disappointments. That ghastly period in the 1980’s when they ripped down such fabulous infrastructure in the middle of the city in that ghastly boom we had just before it went bung in ‘86, you know, that was a bad scene. The wrong things seemed to be happening.19 Greys Ave, and what you’re looking at is the backs of Gauche, arrogant, fashy, trashy, materialistic, pre- all those chicken coop apartments that run up Nelson tentious, try-hard… St. Really hideous. And he said “here’s the irony for you, we, Citizens & Ratepayers, running the council, The Gloss theme song - “the gilt on the gingerbread, allowed a regime to happen where we ruined our own the icing on the cake, monuments and mirrorglass, a view”. 49 city on the make.” And that was the last time, I think, that Auckland had an identity that it really believed … can’t win well, can’t lose well, devisive, insular, or it wanted to believe. 3-hour lunches at Antoine’s lacking in courage. and that kind of thing. After the ‘87 crash, Auckland suddenly didn’t quite know who it was anymore. It The frst thing I did on TV2 was that music show sort of lost its crown and lost its way and all the bad ‘Space’ and I remember my instant reaction when I things about cowboy capitalism came back to bite it was told about it and whether or not I would audition in the ass.6 was ‘there’s absolutely no way I want that opportunity because New Zealanders will hate it and I’ll be ridi- …Remuera, old money, Paratai Drive, property de- culed’. That was my initial thought because it wasn’t velopers… celebrated, that kind of stuf wasn’t supported. If you were on TV, if you were putting your neck out, it’s The theory used to be step back, let the market work, that classic tall poppy thing that I was afraid of.3 if people are encouraged to make money, if it’s as easy as possible to make money you’ll get the thriving, bus- tling city you want. That isn’t the theory any more. Hideous buildings got put up and a ridiculous trans- port system got developed and everyone was just cyn- “I don’t miss Old ical. The theory now is that you need to manage those things much more actively.49 Auckland for a second. …disjointed and dysfunctional, full of fyfedoms that There’s not one thing didn’t talk to each other… that I miss about it.” Back when John Banks was Mayor I did a story about Mikhail Gherman urban planning and I went to see a city councillor who was on Bank’s team. He took me to his ofce, which was up the top of the council building at the bottom of But I think extremely dull places always have this amazing creative undercurrent that festers and even- tually explodes in a big way. I think that boredom pushes creativity. You know like the Beatles never could have come out of positano in Italy. It had to ON THIS PAGE: 3 Jaquie Brown, 6 Jill Caldwell, 19 Dick Frizzell, 21 Mikhail Gherman, 49 Simon Wilson come out of a drizzly city with lack of shit to do except for going to the pub.21 ”

58 “Almost impossible. We are such a makeup of a myriad now of more interesting pieces of the world’s population – part Maori, part Samoan, part Palagi, yeah, part, part, part everything, part something, part terrifc.” Sir Bob Harvey

A CARICATURE OF THE NEW AUCKLANDER

Dick Frizzell draws the almost impossible

59 THE NEW AUCKLANDER

It was the most difcult question for the participants to answer. I said to them “when I say ‘New Yorker’ or ‘Parisian’, you get a kind of stereotype caricature in your head of what people from those cities are like. If I asked you to con- jure a stereotype catricature of an Aucklander, what comes to mind?” Almost everybody struggled. Some to the extent that they held a position that there was no such thing. Others strained their faces and gave important fragments of what would eventual- ly make up an answer. And then, while I was talking with Dick Frizzell, it occured to me that there would be no better person than he to take those fragments and literally try to draw them into a caricature. I was nervous even asking. But, to my elation, he said yes. And this is what, after reading what others had said and combining those observations with his own, emerged from the great man’s pencil. One person who didn’t struggle with the answer was Rob Fenwick, who gave, quite of the cuf, a description that bore a striking resemblance to the sum total of everybody else’s fragments:

“I think it’s still evolving but I suspect what it will look like in a few years is somebody with brownish skin and an open necked shirt who’s young and very connected to their physical landscape and the fact they have three glo- rious harbours that they can play in. They’re savvy and clever and easy-going.”

Rob Fenwick New Aucklander

Dick Frizzell 2014 Pencil on paper

“We have changed what this city is and how it works but, more importantly than that, what we have changed is what people imagine this city might yet be.” Nat Cheshire

LOOKING FORWARD

The optimism of an unfnished city

63 NEW AUCKLAND IS NEWLY The city of Auckland used to be a lot more pessimistic, cyn- ical, dark and paranoid. Like we’d had too much weed. But OPTIMISTIC now, I think it’s okay, it’s cool to celebrate, to be happy, to be outwardly happy. It’s again that teenager analogy, you know, teenagers are so grumpy, like ‘aw shut up, aw doubt it’. When you get into your adult years you’re like, you know what, it’s “Right now I think more important to celebrate and be happy. That’s what Auck- land’s like now, like ‘yeah we’re going to have a parade, yeah Auckland is probably we’re going to do this shop’, that’s what it feels like to me.3 More playful. There’s so much more enthusiasm for projects one of the most that are happening here.13 If you look at what Sky City have done with their dining quarter, would they have made that investment without long term confdence about where the optimistic places that 38 visitor numbers are going? If we didn’t have that underly- ing support from a stronger level of confdence we wouldn’t I’ve been.” be beneftting from those additional accoutrements to Auck- 37 Mikhail Gherman land. Watching Sydney over the years, it’s feeling a little constrained by its own complexity and enormity at the moment. However “I love the sense of optimism and possibility there’s a great sense of optimism in Auckland about the fu- here.8 It’s the beginning of a new era and at last ture.13 we have scale. As part of that, Auckland now has I hear a lot of conversations now where people are willing to an Auckland Plan, a 30 year vision for the city, discard the history, and say, well that was then and this is dif- and while that won’t motivate everybody, I think ferent now, because theres a diferent scale, a diferent focus, a there is a sense that this is a new beginning.38 diferent confdence and a diferent aspiration.38 ”

ON THIS PAGE: 3 Jaquie Brown, 8 Mai Chen, 13 Rhana Devenport, 37 Sir Ralph Norris, 38 Brett O’Riley

64 PERHAPS THE MOST EXCITING THING ABOUT NEW AUCKLAND IS THAT IT’S UNFINISHED

“When I went through school everybody I knew left this place. And they left it not just because it was an awful place to be, but because they just couldn’t imagine it ever being anything other than awful. Now, we have collectively changed what this city is and how it works. Most importantly, we have changed what people imagine this city might yet be. What I think that’s awoken us to is just how rapidly we can efect massive change from this little place, and just how unique that is.10 It’s an awakening city. It’s not fully fedged. It’s young, you know.21 If we were trying to efect this sort of change in Manhattan or Tokyo it’d be like trying to steer an aircraft carrier. A studio like this could work like crazy its whole lifetime and barely make a dent. In a city the size of Auckland, a studio this small can change the direction of a whole city in just a few months.10 I got a real sense of that fying home from Europe a year ago – I don’t think I could add anything to Europe that hasn’t already been done. But I could to Auckland. If I really wanted to I could get myself on a committee and get busy with Silo Park or the rejuvenation of a suburb. So that sense that we’re building something here. We’re nation building. That’s a real palpable thing. I fnd among people of my age and stage, they really want to own the city.28 I’m not sure that’s what everybody’s most proud of, but I think it’s the kernel of what we should be most excited about.10 “My fve favourite It’s not one thing yet, it may never be, it’s still melding in a sense. That sense of ‘we don’t know what we are’ and things about Auck- maybe we should never know – maybe the search is what makes it interesting.17 land? Freedom and There is a sense of people wanting to do great new things, so maybe that’s a drive and a willingness to make Auckland opportunity and special and something to be proud of.14 speed and hope and hunger.” Nat Cheshire

ON THIS PAGE: 10 Nat Cheshire, 14 Jamie Duff, 17 Simon Farrell-Green, 21 Mikhail Gherman, 28 Vincent Heeringa

LAST WORD

“I used to say when I started editing Metro that it became great in the 80’s under Warwick Roger because it was a zeitgeist magazine. There was a spirit of the times you could defne in terms of the arrogance, go out and make lots of money, confdence and brashness and Metro was part of that, it expressed it and critiqued it and knew what it was. We’ve got to be a zeitgeist magazine again, what the fuck is the zeitgeist of Auckland? Now that’s easy to answer. It is that we’re building a great, liveable, exciting, vibrant city. I feel really lucky that I’m editing the city magazine. It’s totally the right time.” Simon Wilson

67 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Prior to starting Previously Unavaila- ble, James was an advertising agency leader whose career was built on advertising internationally renowned for its creativity and efectiveness. His work for the likes of TVNZ, DB Brewer- ies, Vodafone, V Energy Drink, Westpac, Yellow Pages and Levi’s has been recog- nized with 22 Cannes Lions (the Oscars of advertising) and 50 local and interna- ames Hurman is founder and principal J tional marketing efectiveness awards. of Auckland innovation consultancy In 2013 he was named the world’s #1 Previously Unavailable. advertising strategist. Previously Unavailable’s ambition is to James is the author of internationally underpin Auckland becoming a global acclaimed business book The Case for reference city for innovation and entre- Creativity, a treatise on the link between preneurialism by helping companies op- creativity and commercial success, de- erating in and from Auckland develop scribed by The Coca Cola Company as world-leading products and customer ‘beautiful words of wisdom’. experiences. James is a born and raised Aucklander and lives in Sandringham with his wife and two children.

He can be contacted by emailing [email protected] AK2 : THE COMING OF AGE OF A NEW AUCKLAND PREVIOUSLY UNAVAILABLE burgerburger.co.nz The Lane, Ponsonby Central