Human Effects on Auckland

Human effects on Auckland Auckland is home to over 1.3 million people – more than a Auckland is growing fast third of New Zealand’s total population. Over 90 per cent of Aucklanders live in the urban area (see Figure 1). Population increase happens in two ways. Natural growth Human activity and a growing population have a big is the number of new births minus deaths, and migration impact on Auckland’s natural resources and ecological includes those coming to the region from elsewhere in systems. In turn, the population drives economic New Zealand and from overseas. Recent population increase in the region is fairly evenly split between steady activity, growth and consumption – what we buy, natural growth and more variable migration (see Figure 2). what we want, where we go – and these also affect Auckland provides work, business and education the environment. opportunities and strong cultural ties to those living here, so natural increase and migration are expected to continue Auckland is the fastest growing city in Australasia, with for some time. the population constantly increasing for well over a century. Population growth is the main force of environmental change in the region. 1,600,000 Fig.1 1,400,000 1,200,000 Population continues to 1,000,000 increase in Auckland, with most people living in the 800,000 urban area. 600,000 (Source: Statistics New Zealand) 400,000 200,000 POPULATION – 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 YEAR Urban area Whole region Fig.3 70,000 There is a steady natural population 60,000 increase in Auckland, with migration Fig.2 rates varying over time (1919 to 2008). 50,000 Natural Increase (Source: Statistics New Zealand) 40,000 Net Migration 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 (10,000) POPULATION GROWTH 1919 1923 1927 1931 1935 1939 1943 1947 1951 1955 1959 1963 1967 1971 1975 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2008 YEAR 6 AUCKLAND REGIONAL COUNCIL A growing economy Over 680,000 of the 1.3 million Aucklanders go to rain and a favourable climate. Auckland’s rural economy is based around agriculture including sheep and cattle work and a third of all New Zealand businesses are farming (dry stock and dairy), fruit and vegetable growing in Auckland. In 2008 the Auckland regional economy (horticulture), light manufacturing in small centres such as Kumeu and Pukekohe as well as quarries supplying gravels contributed about 35 per cent to New Zealand’s Gross and sand to the construction industry. Specialised and Domestic Product – that’s around a third of the total intensive horticulture have increased, such as vineyards, orchards, specialised plant nurseries, glasshouses and HUMAN EFFECTS value of all New Zealand’s goods and services. specialised grazing animals. New technologies and patterns of consumption are driving these trends. In 2008, 69 per cent of all international visitors to New Zealand arrived here. International trade is important Sale prices of rural land in Auckland are higher than the to the region, with a third of all export cargo by value national average. Pastoral land sells at around 2.6 times passing though here. At year end 2007, $4.4 billion, or the national average. To offset high land values, Auckland 81.5 per cent of New Zealand’s air-freighted exports rural producers strive to produce goods efficiently and sell passed through Auckland International Airport, while Ports high value products to earn good rates of return. of Auckland handled 37 per cent of all container trade for Rural land owners in Auckland subdivide and sell parcels of the country. their land to generate income. Fragmenting farms can change Ninety per cent of the land in the region is described the way land is used, creating environmental challenges. as rural, with rich volcanic soils and enjoying abundant Mining Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services Auckland region Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing New Zealand Arts and Recreation Services Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services Information Media and Fig.3 Telecommunications Other Services The industries in which Aucklanders Public Administration and Safety work, compared to the rest of New Zealand. February 2008. Financial and Insurance Services (Source: Statistics New Zealand) Transport, Postal and Warehousing Construction Administrative and Support Services Accommodation and Food Services Education and Training Health Care and Social Assistance Wholesale Trade Professional, Scientific and Technical Services Retail Trade Manufacturing 0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 Percentage of people employed STATE OF THE AUCKLAND REGION 7 Demand and supply – consumer needs Individuals, households, businesses and industry use Our homes are getting bigger (up from 140m3 to 220m3 between 1991 and 2006) and we own more cars than in the and need all manner of products and services. In the past (17 per cent of households have more than three cars). last 30 years some goods have become cheaper, so In Auckland, some factors may have helped increase more affordable. Technology allows mass production consumption in recent years. High rates of employment, readily available credit such as interest free deals, the ‘wealth of previously complex items like cell phones, effect’ where house price rises give home-owners the idea computers and cars. that they have wealth in their property, and new technology and mass production have reduced the price of many goods. New Zealanders’ spending has risen by 47 per cent over Many of the goods we use in Auckland come from elsewhere, the last decade, with most money going on household but whether made locally or brought in from elsewhere in goods, clothing, food and drink. The average Auckland New Zealand or overseas, resources are used to create, household currently spends 9 per cent more a week shift, store goods and then dispose of the waste. Resources than other New Zealanders on goods and services. including energy, water, fuel and food, are generated and replenished to fulfill our needs, but using these resources comes with an environmental cost. y Aucklander has an ecological footpri Ever nt of 1.5 2 loca 1.5 rugby l hec that’s fields tare each. s, Our ecological footprint is the area of productive In 2003/04, the ecological footprint of the Auckland region was 2 million local hectares and every Aucklander land needed to produce the resources that we consume had an ecological footprint of 1.52 local hectares. and assimilate the waste that we create. Our footprint takes into account the amount of land used It is made up of the land used for the production of meat, crops, within the region and in other regions of New Zealand and wool, milk and so on; the marine area used to produce seafood; overseas to produce the goods and services we use. Only the forest area used to produce wood, pulp and fuel wood; the about 20 per cent of the regional footprint is from land in land used for urban areas, transport networks, industry, housing the region, land from other New Zealand regions makes and so on, and the area of land required to absorb carbon up 45.5 per cent and the remaining 34.5 per cent is dioxide emissions from energy consumption. made up of land overseas. 8 AUCKLAND REGIONAL COUNCIL.

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