Urban Aotearoa: The Future for Our Cities, edited by David Batchelor and Bill McKay, offers a thought-provoking exploration of New Zealand’s urban landscapes. The book deftly blends historical analysis with contemporary urban challenges, making it particularly relevant to today’s housing and infrastructure crises. In a country facing rapid urbanisation, infrastructure bottlenecks and growing inequality, the book provides a timely reflection on what is at stake and what is possible. For anyone invested in the future of our cities, this is a must-read.

At the heart of the book is the notion that urbanism is not a fixed or predetermined state but a dynamic process shaped by both historical forces and current decisions. Ben Schrader’s chapter vividly brings to life Aotearoa’s urban history, starting with Indigenous settlements which evolved into bicultural spaces, shaped by both good and bad-faith agreements following Pākehā arrival. This historical context is crucial, not only for understanding the urban spaces we inhabit today but, also, for challenging the assumption that our cities must remain as they are. Schrader’s work frames the rest of the book, reminding readers that the urban fabric is constructed — and that, with intention, it can be reconstructed.

Housing, one of the most critical urban issues of our time, is examined by Shamubeel and Selena Eaqub, who delve into the key factors impacting housing in New Zealand. Their analysis highlights how entrenched inequalities have led to a crisis in housing affordability and availability. While their chapter provides a sobering assessment of the challenges ahead, it also suggests avenues for reform that could lead to more equitable urban spaces. As cities grow and densify, questions of who gets to live where — and under what conditions — become even more pressing. This chapter challenges readers to confront the political and social dimensions of urban planning, suggesting that solutions will require more than just policy changes — they will require a fundamental shift in the ways in which we think about urban life and community.

Visionary thinking about the future of our cities is explored in both Anthony Hōete’s and Lama Tone’s chapters. Hōete envisions a Māori city deeply integrated with the land, where urbanism aligns with Indigenous principles of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and manaakitanga (hospitality). His vision challenges the dominant models of urban development, which are often based on Western notions of progress and growth. Instead, Hōete offers a perspective in which cities are seen as living systems that must coexist harmoniously with the natural environment. His chapter provides a refreshing counterpoint to the often-extractive nature of urban development in New Zealand.

Lama Tone’s chapter on Pacific Urbanism offers another perspective, emphasising the importance of cultural continuity in shaping urban spaces. His reflection on South Auckland as an evolving laboratory for new cultures of Aotearoa Urbanism is particularly insightful. As New Zealand becomes more diverse, the future of our cities will be increasingly shaped by Pacific and other non-European communities. Tone’s chapter invites readers to consider how urban spaces can better reflect the identities and values of their inhabitants, moving beyond the homogenised urban planning models of the past.

The climate crisis looms large in the book, with Jane Higgins and Paul Dalziel tackling the urgency of rethinking urban spaces in response to environmental challenges. Their chapter focuses on the ways in which local governments can create sustainable, inclusive and vibrant cities, emphasising the need for bold action. The exploration of Nelson’s E Tū Whakatū transport strategy offers a case study of how urban planning can respond to the realities of climate change, albeit with difficulties. The concept of first-mover disadvantage, where early adopters face greater challenges, is especially relevant in the context of urban sustainability. Higgins and Dalziel make it clear that, while these initiatives face resistance, incentivising innovation could help overcome the inertia that often stymies progress.

Later chapters, such as John Tookey’s historical framing and discussion of Aotearoa New Zealand’s infrastructure, challenge readers to reconsider their assumptions about what New Zealand’s cities should offer. Tookey argues that our expectations for constant infrastructural expansion may need to be tempered by our context. This ties back to the broader theme of re-imagining urban futures; what is the future, given the past?

Morten Gjerde’s concluding reflections on top-down decision-making further emphasise the need for more inclusive, community-driven urban development. The failures of past approaches, Gjerde argues, should prompt us to rethink the way we plan and build our cities, ensuring that they serve the people who live in them, rather than the interests of a select few.

Ultimately, Urban Aotearoa challenges readers to think deeply about the future of New Zealand’s cities. As the country grapples with growing urban populations, ageing infrastructure and the impacts of climate change, this book provides a road map for envisioning more equitable, sustainable and vibrant urban spaces. It’s an essential read for anyone interested in the future of Aotearoa’s urban landscapes — and a reminder that the cities we build today will shape the lives of generations to come.