UDF national chair Graeme Scott , an Auckland-based architect, says the United Nations organised World Habitat Day is an annual opportunity to reflect on the state of our cities and towns and what we want the cities of our future to look like.

“Given the transport infrastructure and policy issues being hotly debated around the country by local body candidates standing for election, the theme of urban mobility for World Habitat Day couldn’t be more relevant,” says Scott.

“As stated by Dr Joan Clos, executive director of UN-Habitat and the civic leader responsible for transforming Barcelona, urban mobility is an important part of any city design.

“Good urban mobility contributes not only to the liveability of a city, in terms of reduced congestion and pollution for instance, but also to its economic potential in terms of accessibility”.

In New Zealand the University of Auckland, in partnership with UN-Habitat, is marking World Habitat Day with a full week of events from Monday 7 October to Friday 11 October. These include a public lecture on Tuesday 8 October about a proposed Congestion Free Network for Auckland and low carbon strategies being promoted by Generation Zero.

A range of global World Habitat Day activities are being highlighted at the “I’m A City Changer” website  and the full World Habitat Day statement issued by Dr Clos of UN-Habitat can be read here  .

New Zealand’s Urban Design Forum brings together people with an interest in raising awareness of the benefits of good urban design at both national and local levels in New Zealand. For more information please visit   www.urbandesignforum.org.nz