Creating a model for what our city might look like under the new plans is not impossible, and the technology already exists. One example is the CityEngine software developed by Esri, which possesses the capability to take rules like those laid out in the Unitary Plan and then model how the city could look like in 10, 20 or 30 years time. These tools use modern procedural generation techniques, similar to what is used in mass-market games like No Man’s Sky, to create three-dimensional models of the city that users can then tinker with to find the most desirable outcomes.



Being able to see the possible futures for our city means that we can start to work from the target, and plan now for the future that we want. Rail, roads, pipes, parks, and shopping centres can all be planned alongside our housing developments so that we end up with the infrastructure we need, when we need them, and without having to go back and demolish previous work because we didn’t think far enough ahead. These plans can also be shared amongst the public so that individuals and communities can see what planners are proposing, giving them a better idea of what their community could look like in the future. This visibility also means that the community can explore and test alternative models themselves, to see what ideas suit them best.

Information, how we use it, and how we communicate it to others will be the key to our success as a city. I for one want to live in an Auckland where homes are truly affordable and fit to live in, where our modern architecture and our historical buildings help to create an enduring character for our city, and where our parks grant us all the sense of space and natural wonder that our country has to offer. I am glad we are advancing the Unitary Plan, but as the saying goes, “the war is not over yet” and there is still a lot of planning yet to do.