1 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:05,800 Speaker 1: Kilda. 2 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 2: I'm Chelsea Daniels and this is the Front Page, a 3 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 2: daily podcast presented by the New Zealand Herald. Is New 4 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 2: Zealand's largest city, dying. Auckland is home to roughly a 5 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:25,759 Speaker 2: third of the country's population and is predicted to grow 6 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 2: even bigger in the coming years. The city of Sales 7 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:33,879 Speaker 2: is by far the largest contributor to New Zealand's economic output, 8 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 2: generating about forty percent of GDP. But walk down many 9 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 2: of the inner city streets and you'll see vacant lots 10 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:45,560 Speaker 2: with a lot of potential. Today on the front page 11 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:48,839 Speaker 2: ends at Herald, Property editor An Gibson is with us 12 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:52,600 Speaker 2: to discuss what can be done to get developers moving 13 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 2: on empty spaces, some that have been desolate for decades. 14 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 2: First off, there are several high profile vacant sites in Auckland. 15 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:08,760 Speaker 2: Can you walk me through? I guess how many there are, 16 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,399 Speaker 2: and maybe a couple of those ones that interest you 17 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:11,960 Speaker 2: the most. 18 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 1: Well, good question for me. I've become so anewent to 19 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,040 Speaker 1: vacant sites that I don't even see them as vacant anymore. 20 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: They're just part of the streetscape. But I think the 21 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 1: one that is most concerning is nearly a half heck 22 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:28,839 Speaker 1: to it, and it's the old food Alley and Yates site. 23 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 1: So this is in between Albert Street, Wolf Street and 24 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:36,960 Speaker 1: kind of the start of Fanchial Street, and it's right 25 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:41,040 Speaker 1: opposite the billion dollar commercial way. Can you believe prime 26 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 1: real estate? You would have thought it's owned by the 27 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 1: comm Family of Singapore. Now they got Ward demolition in 28 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two and twenty three to knock down what 29 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: they called the Pigeon Palace, which some people in Auckland 30 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 1: would have called the food Alley the Yates building. Now 31 00:01:57,880 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: can you believe it's not even a car park? 32 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 3: Right? 33 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 2: So what is that? They've just got fences up. 34 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 1: We've got fences up with barboir on top. 35 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 2: And do they need to do anything with that site? 36 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:09,640 Speaker 1: Well, that's a block from the waterfront. The Common family 37 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 1: who owned the Hilton Hotel down on Princess Wholf, they 38 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 1: don't feel any impetus to do anything there. Although Peter Ball, 39 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 1: who works with the Comms, talked about being optimistic about 40 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 1: projects on that site to me last year, but he 41 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:29,919 Speaker 1: also talked about it as being a post COVID challenge. Now, 42 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 1: the second one that I think is well known is 43 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 1: the old Auckland Star site in between Shortland Street and 44 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 1: Fort Street that has been vacant for I think thirty 45 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: six years. And the third one, very high profile, is 46 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 1: what's known in the property sector, although I don't know 47 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 1: if other people call it, this is the Royal International 48 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 1: Hotel site. Now, this is below Albert Street, just right 49 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 1: beneath the new train station there, and it had a 50 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 1: re bungee jump on it for years. But as I 51 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 1: say in the story, even the reverse bungee jump people left. 52 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 1: That is a car park, so it does have some use. 53 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: Right beside the attrum Mannlia, just at the back of 54 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:14,800 Speaker 1: where Smith and Coe's used to be. So these are 55 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,960 Speaker 1: all really central city important sites. And these are big sites. 56 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 1: And those two last ones that I've referred to have 57 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: been vacant plots of land for nearly forty years. Nobody 58 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 1: talks about them. Nobody asks the questions why is that 59 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: like that? These are like gaps in the teeth of 60 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: perfect mouth, you know what I mean. You can say 61 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: Auckland's not perfect. It's an evolving city. And some people say, 62 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 1: don't worry about the empty sites. But I look at 63 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 1: those and I think, what a lost opportunity. 64 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 2: It seemed like there was a time when you'd look 65 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 2: at the Auckland skyline and you'd see, you know, dozens 66 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 2: of cranes and things like that, and now you kind 67 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 2: of drive into the sea, you don't see many at all. 68 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 2: Do you do you feel the same? 69 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: I couldn't believe it. Driving over the Harbor Bridge, thinking 70 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 1: about making this with you today, I looked specifically now. 71 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 1: The one crane I did see is the China Construction 72 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: crane on the side of Seascape, the huge new apartment 73 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 1: building downtown which Icon has taken over from China Construction 74 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:20,919 Speaker 1: finishing that there's a crane there. But you're right, the 75 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 1: cranes have vanished, and you know, this is really a 76 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 1: sign of the recession. This is the downturn. This is 77 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 1: the developers not having the confidence to go ahead and build. 78 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: There are a few other cranes on the skyline, like 79 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:38,160 Speaker 1: Pompellia on Pontsmby they've got a tail crane CMP Constructions 80 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 1: working there, but generally, no, there are no cranes on 81 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: the sky line anymore. 82 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 4: I also hear people say, well, hold on, Barron is 83 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:48,599 Speaker 4: are going to come in here. They're going to buy 84 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 4: up New Zealand and they're going to leave and it's 85 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 4: going to be ghost town galore. Look, there's there's always solutions, 86 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 4: you know, you know, you could do and have a 87 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 4: vacancy tax and a home was vacant from more than 88 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 4: six months a year charge commercial council rates in Willington 89 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 4: at three point seven times high the residential rates, and 90 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:10,719 Speaker 4: Orphan that's two point five times higher than residential rates. 91 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, right, So plenty of ways it's going to catch 92 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 2: where you could get some more deuce out of the 93 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 2: lemon potentially there. What are some of the main reasons 94 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 2: why these developers are sitting on these vacant sites, whether 95 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 2: it be years or like you said, decades. 96 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: Well, I think the main reason is the foreign I mean, 97 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:32,840 Speaker 1: I'm not against foreign investment, but they don't have any 98 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: buy into Auckland. They live in Singapore and they live 99 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 1: in China. Now have they land banked those sites? I 100 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:44,839 Speaker 1: don't really know. It's impossible too, very hard, bit of 101 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:47,919 Speaker 1: a spectrum to engage with them unless they have a 102 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 1: local consultant. Very hard to know what they're thinking, is, 103 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: what their reasoning is and what can be done about it? 104 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:59,599 Speaker 1: And I talked to Shane Brearley from Simplicity Living Last 105 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 1: Night US and he said, Anne, text them, text them 106 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: up to ten percent per annum per year of the 107 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: value of their site. Give them a couple of years 108 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:11,480 Speaker 1: advance warning you're going to do it, and then you 109 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:12,280 Speaker 1: see some action. 110 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:15,039 Speaker 2: I remember when I lived in Christchurch actually, and we 111 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:17,839 Speaker 2: spoke about this this morning, a the Dirty thirty. So 112 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 2: the council basically decided to publicly shame at least thirty 113 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 2: either derelict or abandoned lots in the central city in 114 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 2: christ Church. This would have been maybe ten years ago, 115 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 2: maybe twenty seventeen, say ish. I think they may have 116 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 2: incentivized a couple of them and then raised rates, or 117 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:42,279 Speaker 2: that they threatened to raise rates as well. But they 118 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:48,600 Speaker 2: did other things like helping developers navigate consent processes for example, 119 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 2: or offer those incentives, or even the public shame part 120 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,480 Speaker 2: of it got a couple of them moving. So there 121 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 2: are different ways to try and get developers to actually 122 00:06:58,920 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 2: do some work. 123 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 1: Okay, well that's a really good point. You know, I've 124 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 1: talked about a punishment a deterrent for them leaving the 125 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 1: sites vacant, but that's a good point. You make about 126 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 1: the encouragement, so the carrot rather than the stick. And 127 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 1: what Shane Burnley also told me about last night is 128 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 1: when he was working for a big Australian developer here 129 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: and they were developing the Key West apartments on Albert Street. 130 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: There were a two pronged incentive attack you told me 131 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: under the Mayor Les Mills. Now what they got as 132 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 1: developers was basically a rebate on rates, so rates were 133 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 1: suspended for a period of time, plus development contributions were suspended, 134 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 1: So this was an act of financial incentive and encouragement 135 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 1: for developers to build. I mean there are a lot 136 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: you could say that having the Auckland Unitary Plan having 137 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 1: no height limit in the CBG obviously having to honor 138 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: view shafts as my colleague Simon Wilson has been writing 139 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 1: about recently, but having height limit is an incentive. But 140 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 1: you know, at the moment developers just can't sell apartment 141 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: buildings off the plans. So apartments were a big part 142 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 1: of the redevelopment and the regeneration of the Auckland CBD, 143 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: and those have stopped, and even the ones that are developed, 144 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 1: like I've been talking to John Love at the Caab, 145 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 1: the former Civic Administration building, and he's still got twenty, 146 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 1: he tells me, out of one hundred and fourteen to sell. Now, 147 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 1: that project was finished some time ago, and that's a 148 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 1: very beautiful building. John Love has done an extraordinary job there. 149 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 1: Those apartments are very attractive and he's still got twenty 150 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 1: to sell. 151 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 2: Why are developers choosing the outer suburbs. I suppose you're 152 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:50,720 Speaker 2: ponts bees your new markets to develop apartment living. 153 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 1: That's where people want to live. That's a really sad thing. 154 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: When I talked to the developer Shane Braley yesterday, he said, 155 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 1: an I don't want to come into the CBD. So 156 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 1: where are they going? They're building a North Kit and 157 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:07,319 Speaker 1: they're building a line level building on former Cala Order 158 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:11,839 Speaker 1: land over there. They're building in Remuera, They're building in Allieslie, 159 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 1: They're building and mornings are they building all over not 160 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 1: in the CBD. Now, Precinct Properties is another example. They're 161 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 1: building in Carlton Gore Road in Newmarket. They've got a 162 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:29,559 Speaker 1: really big site of all places. Our premiere office developer. 163 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: They're building in Dominion Road in Mount Eden. Now, when 164 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:35,960 Speaker 1: that starts happening, I begin to think there's been some 165 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:38,560 Speaker 1: big shift happen here. People are not building in the 166 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 1: CBD anymore. Why, it's just where people want to live. 167 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: They know they can pre sell in those suburbs. 168 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 2: When you look at somewhere like Queen Street, right, and 169 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 2: we've been speaking about revitalizing Queen Street for some time, 170 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 2: years in fact, but in terms of businesses on Queen Street, 171 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 2: businesses need people. But people don't go to Queen Street 172 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:12,679 Speaker 2: because there's no businesses. Well, there are some, but it 173 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 2: has the vibrant sea has been lost. I think that's 174 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 2: fair to say, Hey. 175 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 1: Well, it's terrible to think of Smith and Corey's shutting. 176 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:23,680 Speaker 1: I mean that was such an anchor for the midtown, 177 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:27,400 Speaker 1: A really large development site across the road on Queen Street, 178 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 1: the Saint James Sweets where there was a four hundred 179 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 1: million dollar apartment project planned Chinese and now selling that site, 180 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 1: Good luck to them. This is a really bad market 181 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:40,320 Speaker 1: to be quitting a site like that. And now that 182 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:43,720 Speaker 1: was to be right beside the Saint James Theater. Saint 183 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:47,439 Speaker 1: James Theater sitting there partly wrecked. Where's that going? 184 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:47,680 Speaker 2: You know? 185 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 1: I mean, so many holes in our CBD, so many opportunities, 186 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: but such a lack of movement to a large extent, 187 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 1: it's really covid and it's also the economic downturn at 188 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 1: the moment. So things may change. 189 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 2: And is it things? Is it hard to get consents 190 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 2: and funding for things or is it just literally a 191 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 2: vibe check. 192 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 1: You're not going to apply for consent if you know 193 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 1: you can't pre sell them. So to get the funding, 194 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: you need the pre sales, to get the ten percent deposits, 195 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 1: to go to the bank and say give us the 196 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 1: top up. And if the pre sales are not there, 197 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 1: which they're not, you know, this is just a sign 198 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 1: of people are not selling their houses and moving to apartments, 199 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: people are not buying apartments, people fair job losses. This 200 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 1: is the economic downturn in Gorm reality. It's a very 201 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: good point you've just made. Look at the skyline. Where 202 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 1: did the cranes go? Where are they now in storage 203 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:45,959 Speaker 1: yards stacked up in little bits like lego sets? Is 204 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:49,440 Speaker 1: the answer. That's where they went. That's a good vestor 205 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 1: that's sad. That's really sad. It's terrible because I mean, well, 206 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 1: just so you know, you say, well, do we need 207 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:58,400 Speaker 1: the city to be changing there's a really good University 208 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:00,439 Speaker 1: of Auckland paper that I was looking at which sort 209 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 1: of encouraged more acceptance of the dynamic or even non 210 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: dynamic shape of Auckland CBD, and it sort of said, look, 211 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:09,720 Speaker 1: it's always evolving, just accept it as it is. And 212 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 1: I kind of like that more optimistic sort of to 213 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 1: say it'll be fine, It'll work out fine in the end. 214 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 1: It's just that we've gone from a period of extraordinarily 215 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:25,080 Speaker 1: intense development and a lot of developers to crol for 216 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 1: the clean out of Albert Street. But you know, I 217 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: have been down the Tibayhotato station and I have to 218 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 1: say it's very, very beautiful. So if there's going to 219 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 1: be a revitalization, maybe it's that big transport project, and 220 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 1: maybe it's the beautiful new train stations. You've got to 221 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:42,600 Speaker 1: go there to look at the art alone. 222 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 2: After COVID, it kind of went a bit downhill in 223 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 2: terms of the city center, and you know, the shops 224 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 2: not being as busy. 225 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 1: Traffic is horrendous. 226 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:56,960 Speaker 4: Auckland Transport has slowed traffic down, so it makes it 227 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 4: harder to get anywhere in the city. Too many speed bumped. 228 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 3: We need basically more events in the city and more 229 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 3: reason to come into the city because you know, parking cerebral, 230 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 3: traffic cerebral. You have to go three one way straights 231 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 3: to even get anywhere. 232 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:22,079 Speaker 2: In terms of Auckland, is it a dying city? Because 233 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,840 Speaker 2: I know that we like to compare ourselves to other 234 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 2: metropolitan centers around the world, and the prices absolutely reflect 235 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:32,679 Speaker 2: that as well, if I'm going to be honest, in 236 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 2: terms of rent, house prices, cost of food, et cetera, 237 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 2: cost of living. Rather in terms of Auckland and it 238 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 2: being the country's largest city, a third of us live 239 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:51,359 Speaker 2: in Auckland and it contributes what about forty percent GDP 240 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:54,840 Speaker 2: to the rest of the country. Does Auckland get the 241 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 2: respect it deserves? Do you think? 242 00:13:57,080 --> 00:13:59,959 Speaker 1: Well? There was that committed for Auckland report which came 243 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 1: just recently which talked about how far Auckland had fallen behind, 244 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 1: and I found that really concerning in terms of respect. 245 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 1: You know, all the relatives in the mainland hate the 246 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:13,240 Speaker 1: Auckland is right. You know, they give me stick when 247 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:16,440 Speaker 1: I go down there, and it's like a badge of 248 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 1: dishonor isn't it She's from Auckland. Billy Okay, but I 249 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 1: think that that is a big city sentiment that's reflected 250 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: in every country, whether it be London or Paris, or 251 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 1: Berlin or Sydney. It's just the way it is, right. 252 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 2: Well, I read in the Deloitte report. Actually they did 253 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 2: a State of the City report for Auckland which compares 254 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 2: Auckland with other global cities around the world. And it's 255 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 2: funny you bring up Paris because Paris generates this is 256 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 2: a quote from the report thirty one percent of France's 257 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 2: GDP and gets treated accordingly, which I thought was that 258 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 2: stuck out to me because do you think Auckland gets 259 00:14:57,840 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 2: treated accordingly? 260 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 1: Very interesting, very interesting comparison. I remember Grant Robertson at 261 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: one of the I think it was the Infrastructure of 262 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 1: the Auckland Project events, and he was saying how difficult 263 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 1: it is when he was Finance Minister to live in 264 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 1: a city that's been redeveloped. And we know that the 265 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 1: mayor has the War on Cones, so we know that 266 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 1: development has its price and makes it very inconvenient for people. 267 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 1: It's just that when development stops, you sort of sit 268 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: there and look at it and think, right, what's going on? 269 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 1: I'm sure that development will come back. Auckland is a 270 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: huge generator of wealth. It has so many of the 271 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 1: growing financial services and the other respects in New Zealand's 272 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 1: economy that are so important. Fon Terra's headquarters is down 273 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 1: on Vanchul Street. I mean, you know, what is it 274 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 1: an export lead recovery. So it's a really good question 275 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 1: to ask about the role that Auckland plays in terms 276 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 1: of New Zealander. The rural growth we know at the 277 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 1: moment is coming from the agriculture sector and a lot 278 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,640 Speaker 1: of people who work in services have fears about job 279 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 1: loss and unemployment. Has you know, that's been something that 280 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:12,320 Speaker 1: is a real issue now. You can only hope that 281 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 1: for Auckland's sake, that that dynamic nature of the city 282 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 1: continues and the developers will return. We need good shops, 283 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:25,680 Speaker 1: we need good offices, we need good hotels and apartment buildings. 284 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 1: We need really good infrastructure, and I would say that's 285 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 1: one aspect of Auckland that hasn't had the attention it deserved. 286 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 1: I remember someone from Auckland Transport telling me years ago 287 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: that in nineteen fifty nine people said, why do we 288 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 1: need to Harbor Bridge. There's any strawberry fields on the 289 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 1: North Shore, lack of vision right and many people are 290 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 1: critical of the City rail Link, and I think they 291 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: really don't understand the difference that City rail Link is 292 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 1: going to make to Auckland. And O hope with that 293 00:16:55,000 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 1: movement and easy movement of people around the CBD, we 294 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:04,879 Speaker 1: do see some change. There's a proposal for the Symphony Center, 295 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:11,280 Speaker 1: like multimillion dollar project of officers and apartments right above 296 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: the teawater y hodd Aituo station on the old Blislow 297 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:18,879 Speaker 1: car Park the Auckland Council car Park site. So you know, 298 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 1: let's hope that those developers are finding in the market 299 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:27,399 Speaker 1: the ambition and the drive and the determination of businesses 300 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 1: to commit and people to buy apartments. Otherwise a scheme 301 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:31,879 Speaker 1: will not go ahead. 302 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:33,960 Speaker 2: And in the meantime we should tax them if they 303 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:35,160 Speaker 2: don't do anything with their land. 304 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:38,159 Speaker 1: It's quite a controversial idea, isn't it. 305 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us. An that's set for this episode 306 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 2: of the Front Page. You can read more about today's 307 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 2: stories and extensive news coverage at enzidherld dot co dot 308 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:57,640 Speaker 2: m ZAD. The Front Page is produced by Ethan Seals 309 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:02,679 Speaker 2: and Richard Martin, who is also our editor. I'm Chelsea Daniels. 310 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 2: Subscribe to the front page on iHeartRadio or wherever you 311 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:09,920 Speaker 2: get your podcasts, and tune in tomorrow for another look 312 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 2: behind the headlines.