1 00:00:19,059 --> 00:00:19,499 Speaker 1: Kyota A. 2 00:00:19,579 --> 00:00:22,819 Speaker 2: Chelsea Daniels here, host of the Front Page. We're taking 3 00:00:22,819 --> 00:00:25,779 Speaker 2: away breakover summer, but to help build the gap, we're 4 00:00:25,819 --> 00:00:29,099 Speaker 2: re issuing some of our most significant episodes of twenty 5 00:00:29,179 --> 00:00:32,379 Speaker 2: twenty five on behalf of the Front Page team. Thanks 6 00:00:32,459 --> 00:00:34,778 Speaker 2: for listening and we look forward to being back with 7 00:00:34,859 --> 00:00:37,539 Speaker 2: you on January twelfth, twenty twenty six. 8 00:00:43,259 --> 00:00:43,699 Speaker 1: Kyota. 9 00:00:43,778 --> 00:00:47,019 Speaker 2: I'm Chelsea Daniels and this is the Front Page, a 10 00:00:47,138 --> 00:00:54,499 Speaker 2: daily podcast presented by the New Zealand Herald. Is New 11 00:00:54,579 --> 00:01:00,099 Speaker 2: Zealand's largest city, dying Auckland is home to roughly a 12 00:01:00,139 --> 00:01:03,659 Speaker 2: third of the country's population and is predicted to grow 13 00:01:03,739 --> 00:01:07,378 Speaker 2: even bigger in the coming years. The city of Sales 14 00:01:07,459 --> 00:01:11,739 Speaker 2: is by far the largest contributor to New Zealand's economic output, 15 00:01:12,098 --> 00:01:16,379 Speaker 2: generating about forty percent of GDP. But walk down many 16 00:01:16,499 --> 00:01:19,619 Speaker 2: of the inner city streets and you'll see vague lots 17 00:01:19,859 --> 00:01:23,378 Speaker 2: with a lot of potential. Today on the Front Page 18 00:01:23,579 --> 00:01:26,698 Speaker 2: ends at Herald, Property editor and Gibson is with us 19 00:01:26,779 --> 00:01:30,499 Speaker 2: to discuss what can be done to get developers moving 20 00:01:30,499 --> 00:01:34,619 Speaker 2: on empty spaces, some that have been desolate for decades. 21 00:01:38,179 --> 00:01:43,379 Speaker 2: First off, there are several high profile vacant sites in Auckland. 22 00:01:43,459 --> 00:01:46,298 Speaker 2: Can you walk me through? I guess how many there 23 00:01:46,378 --> 00:01:49,138 Speaker 2: are and maybe a couple of those ones that interest 24 00:01:49,179 --> 00:01:49,859 Speaker 2: you the most. 25 00:01:51,019 --> 00:01:54,179 Speaker 1: Well, good question for me. I've become so innuent to 26 00:01:54,258 --> 00:01:56,939 Speaker 1: vacant sites that I don't even see them as vacant anymore. 27 00:01:56,939 --> 00:01:59,459 Speaker 1: They're just part of the streetscape. But I think the 28 00:01:59,538 --> 00:02:02,739 Speaker 1: one that is most concerning is nearly a half heck 29 00:02:02,819 --> 00:02:06,698 Speaker 1: to you, and it's the old food Alley and Yates site. 30 00:02:06,739 --> 00:02:10,539 Speaker 1: So this is in between Albert Street, Wolf Street and 31 00:02:10,739 --> 00:02:14,819 Speaker 1: kind of the start of Fanchial Street, and it's right 32 00:02:14,859 --> 00:02:18,859 Speaker 1: opposite the billion dollar commercial way. Can you believe prime 33 00:02:19,059 --> 00:02:19,619 Speaker 1: real estate? 34 00:02:19,779 --> 00:02:21,019 Speaker 2: You would have thought it's. 35 00:02:20,819 --> 00:02:23,659 Speaker 1: Owned by the comm family of Singapore. Now they got 36 00:02:24,059 --> 00:02:27,979 Speaker 1: Ward demolition in twenty twenty two and twenty three to 37 00:02:28,059 --> 00:02:30,619 Speaker 1: knock down what they called the Pigeon Palace, which some 38 00:02:30,659 --> 00:02:32,698 Speaker 1: people in Auckland would have called the Food Alley the 39 00:02:32,779 --> 00:02:36,979 Speaker 1: Yates building. Now, can you believe it's not even a 40 00:02:37,019 --> 00:02:38,219 Speaker 1: car park? Right? 41 00:02:38,258 --> 00:02:40,339 Speaker 2: So what is that? They've just got fences up for you. 42 00:02:40,418 --> 00:02:42,379 Speaker 1: I've got fences up with barboir on top. 43 00:02:42,459 --> 00:02:44,538 Speaker 2: And do they need to do anything with that site? 44 00:02:44,578 --> 00:02:47,539 Speaker 1: Well, that's a block from the waterfront. The com family 45 00:02:47,978 --> 00:02:51,419 Speaker 1: who owned the Hilton Hotel down on Princess Wharf. They 46 00:02:51,459 --> 00:02:54,859 Speaker 1: don't feel any impetus to do anything there, although Peter Ball, 47 00:02:54,939 --> 00:02:58,739 Speaker 1: who works with the Comms, talked about being optimistic about 48 00:02:58,899 --> 00:03:01,979 Speaker 1: projects on that site to me last year, but he 49 00:03:02,099 --> 00:03:06,978 Speaker 1: also talked about it as being a post COVID challenge. 50 00:03:07,619 --> 00:03:07,779 Speaker 3: Now. 51 00:03:07,819 --> 00:03:10,339 Speaker 1: The second one that I think is well known is 52 00:03:10,379 --> 00:03:13,978 Speaker 1: the old Auckland Star site in between Shortland Street and 53 00:03:14,099 --> 00:03:18,099 Speaker 1: Fort Street that has been vacant for I think thirty 54 00:03:18,219 --> 00:03:23,459 Speaker 1: six years. And the third one, very high profile, is 55 00:03:23,499 --> 00:03:26,499 Speaker 1: what's known in the property sector, although I don't know 56 00:03:26,538 --> 00:03:29,698 Speaker 1: if other people call it, this is the Royal International 57 00:03:29,739 --> 00:03:33,099 Speaker 1: Hotel site. Now. This is below Albert Street, just right 58 00:03:33,179 --> 00:03:37,619 Speaker 1: beneath the new train station there, and it had a 59 00:03:37,659 --> 00:03:40,819 Speaker 1: reverse bungee jump on it for years. But as I 60 00:03:40,899 --> 00:03:44,059 Speaker 1: say in the story, even the reverse bungee jump people left. 61 00:03:44,459 --> 00:03:46,979 Speaker 1: That is a car park, so it does have some use. 62 00:03:47,339 --> 00:03:49,939 Speaker 1: Right beside the Attrium an Alia just at the back 63 00:03:49,979 --> 00:03:52,699 Speaker 1: of Westmith and Coe's used to be. So these are 64 00:03:52,739 --> 00:03:56,859 Speaker 1: all really central city important sites, and these are berg sites. 65 00:03:56,979 --> 00:03:59,659 Speaker 1: And those two last ones that I've referred to have 66 00:03:59,739 --> 00:04:03,619 Speaker 1: been vacant plots of land for nearly forty years. Nobody 67 00:04:03,659 --> 00:04:06,819 Speaker 1: talks about them, Nobody asks the questions, why is that 68 00:04:07,099 --> 00:04:10,619 Speaker 1: like that? These are like gaps in the teeth of 69 00:04:11,219 --> 00:04:13,499 Speaker 1: perfect mouth, you know what I mean. You can say 70 00:04:13,499 --> 00:04:16,618 Speaker 1: Auckland's not perfect. It's an evolving city. And some people say, 71 00:04:16,619 --> 00:04:19,618 Speaker 1: don't worry about the empty sites. Look at those, and 72 00:04:19,659 --> 00:04:21,539 Speaker 1: I think, what a lost opportunity. 73 00:04:22,099 --> 00:04:24,779 Speaker 2: It seemed like there was a time when you'd look 74 00:04:24,819 --> 00:04:28,659 Speaker 2: at the Auckland skyline and you'd see, you know, dozens 75 00:04:28,779 --> 00:04:32,539 Speaker 2: of cranes and things like that, and now you kind 76 00:04:32,539 --> 00:04:34,939 Speaker 2: of drive into the sea, you don't see many at all. 77 00:04:35,059 --> 00:04:36,459 Speaker 2: Do you do you feel the same? 78 00:04:36,739 --> 00:04:39,019 Speaker 1: I couldn't believe it. Driving over the Harbor Bridge, thinking 79 00:04:39,059 --> 00:04:42,379 Speaker 1: about making this with you today, I looked specifically now. 80 00:04:42,419 --> 00:04:46,179 Speaker 1: The one crane I did see is the China Construction 81 00:04:46,379 --> 00:04:50,659 Speaker 1: crane on the side of Seascape, the huge new apartment 82 00:04:50,699 --> 00:04:55,979 Speaker 1: building downtown which Icon has taken over from China Construction finishing. 83 00:04:56,019 --> 00:04:59,259 Speaker 1: That there's a crane there. But you're right, the cranes 84 00:04:59,259 --> 00:05:03,179 Speaker 1: have vanished, and you know, this is really a sign 85 00:05:03,219 --> 00:05:05,979 Speaker 1: of the recession. This is the downturn. This is the 86 00:05:06,019 --> 00:05:08,739 Speaker 1: developers not having the confidence to go ahead and build. 87 00:05:08,779 --> 00:05:11,859 Speaker 1: There are a few other cranes on the skyline, like 88 00:05:12,019 --> 00:05:16,019 Speaker 1: Pompealia on Pontsamby they've got a towel crane CMP Constructions 89 00:05:16,059 --> 00:05:19,379 Speaker 1: working there, but generally no, there are no on the 90 00:05:19,419 --> 00:05:24,059 Speaker 1: skull line anymore. And I also hear people say, well. 91 00:05:23,939 --> 00:05:26,259 Speaker 3: Hold on, foreigners are going to come in here, they're. 92 00:05:26,059 --> 00:05:29,059 Speaker 2: Going to buy up New Zealand and they're going to 93 00:05:29,139 --> 00:05:30,899 Speaker 2: leave and it's going to be ghost town galore. 94 00:05:31,619 --> 00:05:34,859 Speaker 3: Look, there's always solutions. Yeah, you know, you could do it. 95 00:05:34,899 --> 00:05:37,819 Speaker 3: Have a vacancy tax if a home was vacant for 96 00:05:37,859 --> 00:05:40,699 Speaker 3: more than six months a year, charge commercial council rates. 97 00:05:40,779 --> 00:05:43,539 Speaker 3: You know in Wellington that three point seven times higher 98 00:05:43,539 --> 00:05:44,899 Speaker 3: the residential rates. 99 00:05:45,099 --> 00:05:48,579 Speaker 2: In Auckland that's two point five times higher than residential rates. 100 00:05:48,659 --> 00:05:48,859 Speaker 3: Yeah. 101 00:05:48,979 --> 00:05:51,859 Speaker 2: Right, So plenty of ways. It's going to cat where 102 00:05:51,859 --> 00:05:53,939 Speaker 2: you could get some more deuce out of the lemon 103 00:05:53,979 --> 00:05:58,539 Speaker 2: potentially there. What are some of the main reasons why 104 00:05:58,659 --> 00:06:02,259 Speaker 2: these developers are sitting on these vacant sites, whether it 105 00:06:02,339 --> 00:06:05,299 Speaker 2: be years or like you said, decades. 106 00:06:05,019 --> 00:06:07,739 Speaker 1: Well, I think the main reason is the foreign I mean, 107 00:06:07,819 --> 00:06:10,699 Speaker 1: I'm not against foreign investment, but they don't have any 108 00:06:10,819 --> 00:06:14,899 Speaker 1: buy into Auckland. They live in Singapore and they live 109 00:06:14,899 --> 00:06:18,219 Speaker 1: in China. Now have they land banked those sites? 110 00:06:18,299 --> 00:06:18,899 Speaker 2: I don't really know. 111 00:06:19,299 --> 00:06:23,659 Speaker 1: It's impossible too, very hard, bit of a spectrum to 112 00:06:23,779 --> 00:06:27,419 Speaker 1: engage with them unless they have a local consultant. Very 113 00:06:27,419 --> 00:06:30,859 Speaker 1: hard to know what they're thinking, is, what their reasoning 114 00:06:31,019 --> 00:06:33,459 Speaker 1: is and what can be done about it. And I 115 00:06:33,499 --> 00:06:38,179 Speaker 1: talked to Shane Brearley from Simplicity Living last night about this, 116 00:06:38,299 --> 00:06:41,619 Speaker 1: and he said, Anne, tax them, tax them up to 117 00:06:41,739 --> 00:06:44,979 Speaker 1: ten percent per annum per year of the value of 118 00:06:45,019 --> 00:06:47,618 Speaker 1: their site. Give them a couple of years advance, warning 119 00:06:47,579 --> 00:06:50,139 Speaker 1: you going to do it, and then you see some action. 120 00:06:50,499 --> 00:06:52,939 Speaker 2: I remember when I lived in Christchurch actually, and we 121 00:06:52,979 --> 00:06:55,739 Speaker 2: spoke about this this morning. A the Dirty thirty. So 122 00:06:55,779 --> 00:07:00,299 Speaker 2: the council basically decided to publicly shame at least thirty 123 00:07:00,379 --> 00:07:04,739 Speaker 2: either derelict or abandoned lots in the central city in 124 00:07:04,859 --> 00:07:07,499 Speaker 2: christ Church. This would have been maybe ten years ago, 125 00:07:07,619 --> 00:07:11,419 Speaker 2: maybe twenty seventeen. Say esh, I think you may have 126 00:07:12,699 --> 00:07:17,099 Speaker 2: incentivized a couple of them and then raised rates, or 127 00:07:17,139 --> 00:07:20,139 Speaker 2: that they threatened to raise rates as well. But they 128 00:07:20,179 --> 00:07:26,499 Speaker 2: did other things like helping developers navigate consent processes for example, 129 00:07:26,739 --> 00:07:31,019 Speaker 2: or offer those incentives or even the public shame part 130 00:07:31,099 --> 00:07:32,739 Speaker 2: of it got a couple of them moving. 131 00:07:33,059 --> 00:07:33,699 Speaker 3: So there are. 132 00:07:33,619 --> 00:07:36,859 Speaker 2: Different ways to try and get developers to actually do 133 00:07:36,979 --> 00:07:37,419 Speaker 2: some work. 134 00:07:37,419 --> 00:07:40,979 Speaker 1: Okay, well that's a really good point. You know, I've 135 00:07:41,019 --> 00:07:44,539 Speaker 1: talked about a punishment at Detrent for them leaving the 136 00:07:44,619 --> 00:07:47,259 Speaker 1: sites vacant. But that's a good point you make about 137 00:07:47,659 --> 00:07:50,579 Speaker 1: the encouragement, so the carrot rather than the stick. And 138 00:07:50,619 --> 00:07:54,019 Speaker 1: what Shane Brawley also told me about last night is 139 00:07:54,059 --> 00:07:56,699 Speaker 1: when he was working for a big Australian developer here 140 00:07:57,299 --> 00:08:00,819 Speaker 1: and they were developing the Key West apartments on Albert Street. 141 00:08:01,499 --> 00:08:05,059 Speaker 1: There were a two pronged incentive attack you told me 142 00:08:05,259 --> 00:08:08,379 Speaker 1: under the Mayor Les Mills. Now, what they got as 143 00:08:08,459 --> 00:08:13,219 Speaker 1: developers was basically a rebate on rates, so rates were 144 00:08:13,219 --> 00:08:18,179 Speaker 1: suspended for a period of time, plus development contributions were suspended. 145 00:08:19,259 --> 00:08:23,419 Speaker 1: This was an act of financial incentive and encouragement for 146 00:08:23,619 --> 00:08:26,659 Speaker 1: developers to build. I mean there are a lot you 147 00:08:26,659 --> 00:08:30,299 Speaker 1: could say that, having the Auckland Unitary Plan, having no 148 00:08:30,419 --> 00:08:34,098 Speaker 1: height limit in the CBD, obviously having to honor view shafts, 149 00:08:34,139 --> 00:08:37,219 Speaker 1: as my colleague Simon Wilson has been writing about recently, 150 00:08:37,419 --> 00:08:40,939 Speaker 1: but having no height limit is an incentive. But you know, 151 00:08:41,379 --> 00:08:45,619 Speaker 1: at the moment, developers just can't sell apartment buildings off 152 00:08:45,659 --> 00:08:48,699 Speaker 1: the plans. So apartments were a big part of the 153 00:08:48,739 --> 00:08:53,378 Speaker 1: redevelopment and the regeneration of the Auckland CBD, and those 154 00:08:53,419 --> 00:08:57,019 Speaker 1: have stopped, and even the ones that are developed, like 155 00:08:57,019 --> 00:08:59,939 Speaker 1: I've been talking to John Love at the CAAB, the 156 00:09:00,299 --> 00:09:03,899 Speaker 1: former Civic Administration building, and he's still got twenty, he 157 00:09:03,978 --> 00:09:06,139 Speaker 1: tells me, out of one hundred and fourteen to sell. 158 00:09:06,419 --> 00:09:08,819 Speaker 1: Now that project was finished some time ago, and that's 159 00:09:08,858 --> 00:09:13,618 Speaker 1: a very beautiful building. John Love has done an extraordinary 160 00:09:13,738 --> 00:09:18,779 Speaker 1: job there. Those apartments are very attractive and he's still 161 00:09:18,779 --> 00:09:19,939 Speaker 1: got twenty to sell. 162 00:09:20,458 --> 00:09:25,018 Speaker 2: Why are developers choosing the outer suburbs. I suppose you're 163 00:09:25,059 --> 00:09:28,619 Speaker 2: Ponts and bees your new markets to develop apartment living. 164 00:09:29,019 --> 00:09:32,299 Speaker 1: That's where people want to live. That's the really sad thing. 165 00:09:32,659 --> 00:09:35,499 Speaker 1: When I talked to the developer Shane Braley yesterday, he said, Anne, 166 00:09:35,498 --> 00:09:38,419 Speaker 1: I don't want to come into the CBD anymore. So 167 00:09:38,498 --> 00:09:41,779 Speaker 1: where are they going. They're building a North Kit and 168 00:09:41,858 --> 00:09:45,259 Speaker 1: they're building a line level building on former Calma order 169 00:09:45,338 --> 00:09:49,699 Speaker 1: land over there. They're building in Remuera they're building in Allislie, 170 00:09:49,819 --> 00:09:53,459 Speaker 1: They're building in mornings Are they building all over not 171 00:09:54,059 --> 00:09:58,299 Speaker 1: in the CBD. Now, Precinct Properties is another example. They're 172 00:09:58,338 --> 00:10:02,578 Speaker 1: building in Carlton Gore Road in Newmarket. They've got a 173 00:10:02,618 --> 00:10:07,458 Speaker 1: really big site of all places, our premiere office developer. 174 00:10:07,578 --> 00:10:11,099 Speaker 1: They're building in Dominion Road and Mount Eden. Now, when 175 00:10:11,139 --> 00:10:13,819 Speaker 1: that starts happening, I begin to think there's been some 176 00:10:13,939 --> 00:10:16,459 Speaker 1: big shift happen here. People are not building in the 177 00:10:16,498 --> 00:10:20,699 Speaker 1: CBD anymore. Why just where people want to live. They 178 00:10:20,738 --> 00:10:23,458 Speaker 1: know they can pre sell in those suburbs. 179 00:10:30,299 --> 00:10:33,098 Speaker 2: When you look at somewhere like Queen Street, right, and 180 00:10:33,098 --> 00:10:37,578 Speaker 2: we've been speaking about revitalizing Queen Street for some time, 181 00:10:37,699 --> 00:10:40,898 Speaker 2: for years in fact, but in terms of businesses on 182 00:10:41,218 --> 00:10:47,379 Speaker 2: Queen Street, businesses need people, but people don't go to 183 00:10:47,458 --> 00:10:50,179 Speaker 2: Queen Street because there's no businesses. Well, there are some, 184 00:10:50,299 --> 00:10:53,979 Speaker 2: but it has the vibrant sea has been lost. I 185 00:10:54,019 --> 00:10:55,699 Speaker 2: think that's fair to say, hey. 186 00:10:55,779 --> 00:10:58,779 Speaker 1: Well, it's terrible to think of Smith and Corey's shutting. 187 00:10:58,819 --> 00:11:01,539 Speaker 1: I mean that was such an anchor for the midtown. 188 00:11:01,779 --> 00:11:05,259 Speaker 1: A really large development site across the road on Queen Street, 189 00:11:05,259 --> 00:11:08,099 Speaker 1: the Saint James Sweets where there was a four hundred 190 00:11:08,179 --> 00:11:13,059 Speaker 1: million dollar apartment project planned. Chinese are now selling that site. 191 00:11:13,179 --> 00:11:15,579 Speaker 1: Good luck to them. This is a really bad market 192 00:11:15,939 --> 00:11:18,179 Speaker 1: to be quitting a site like that. And now that 193 00:11:18,379 --> 00:11:21,619 Speaker 1: was to be right beside the Saint James Theater. Saint 194 00:11:21,699 --> 00:11:25,299 Speaker 1: James Theatre sitting there partly wrecked. Where's that going? 195 00:11:25,379 --> 00:11:25,539 Speaker 2: You know? 196 00:11:25,618 --> 00:11:31,098 Speaker 1: I mean, so many holes in our CBD, so many opportunities, 197 00:11:31,179 --> 00:11:35,098 Speaker 1: but such a lack of movement, and to a large extent, 198 00:11:35,179 --> 00:11:38,939 Speaker 1: it's really COVID. And it's also the economic downturn at moment. 199 00:11:39,098 --> 00:11:40,139 Speaker 1: So things may change. 200 00:11:40,179 --> 00:11:42,419 Speaker 2: And is it things? Is it hard to get consents 201 00:11:42,458 --> 00:11:46,179 Speaker 2: and funding for things or is it just literally a 202 00:11:46,299 --> 00:11:46,859 Speaker 2: vibe check. 203 00:11:47,139 --> 00:11:49,939 Speaker 1: We're not going to apply for consent if you know 204 00:11:50,098 --> 00:11:52,898 Speaker 1: you can't pre sell them. So to get the funding, 205 00:11:52,939 --> 00:11:55,619 Speaker 1: you need the pre sales to get the ten percent deposits, 206 00:11:55,659 --> 00:11:57,379 Speaker 1: to go to the bank and say give us the 207 00:11:57,419 --> 00:12:00,098 Speaker 1: top up. And if the pre sales are not there, 208 00:12:00,218 --> 00:12:02,978 Speaker 1: which they're not, you know, this is just a sign 209 00:12:03,098 --> 00:12:07,098 Speaker 1: of people are not selling their houses and moving to apartments, 210 00:12:07,139 --> 00:12:10,658 Speaker 1: People are not buying apartments, people fair job losses. This 211 00:12:10,738 --> 00:12:14,898 Speaker 1: is the economic downturn in gorm reality. It's a very 212 00:12:14,939 --> 00:12:17,259 Speaker 1: good point you've just made Look at the skyline. Where 213 00:12:17,259 --> 00:12:21,338 Speaker 1: do the cranes go? Where are they in storage yards? 214 00:12:21,379 --> 00:12:24,379 Speaker 1: Stacked up in little bits like lego sets? Is the answer. 215 00:12:24,618 --> 00:12:25,338 Speaker 1: That's where they went. 216 00:12:26,299 --> 00:12:29,499 Speaker 2: That's a good vestor that's sad, that's really sad. 217 00:12:29,699 --> 00:12:32,899 Speaker 1: It's terrible because I mean, well, so you know, you say, well, 218 00:12:33,059 --> 00:12:34,899 Speaker 1: do we need the city to be changing. There's a 219 00:12:34,939 --> 00:12:37,699 Speaker 1: really good University of Auckland paper that I was looking 220 00:12:37,738 --> 00:12:41,259 Speaker 1: at which sort of encouraged more acceptance of the dynamic 221 00:12:41,458 --> 00:12:44,218 Speaker 1: or even non dynamic shape of Auckland CBD, and it 222 00:12:44,299 --> 00:12:47,218 Speaker 1: sort of said, look, it's always evolving, just accepted as 223 00:12:47,259 --> 00:12:49,978 Speaker 1: it is. And I kind of like that more optimistic 224 00:12:50,098 --> 00:12:53,658 Speaker 1: sort of to say it'll be fine, it'll work out 225 00:12:53,699 --> 00:12:56,499 Speaker 1: fine in the end. It's just that we've gone from 226 00:12:56,578 --> 00:13:01,179 Speaker 1: a period of extraordinarily intense development and a lot of 227 00:13:01,218 --> 00:13:04,299 Speaker 1: developers to crol for the clean out of Albert Street. 228 00:13:04,299 --> 00:13:06,779 Speaker 1: But you know, I have been down the Tibayhoo two 229 00:13:06,899 --> 00:13:09,858 Speaker 1: station and I have to say it's very, very beautiful. 230 00:13:10,299 --> 00:13:13,219 Speaker 1: So if there's going to be a revitalization, maybe it's 231 00:13:13,299 --> 00:13:16,898 Speaker 1: that big transport project, and maybe it's the beautiful new 232 00:13:16,939 --> 00:13:18,778 Speaker 1: train stations you've got to go there to look at. 233 00:13:18,699 --> 00:13:24,498 Speaker 3: The After COVID, it kind of went a bit downhill 234 00:13:24,858 --> 00:13:27,819 Speaker 3: in terms of the city center and you know, the 235 00:13:27,858 --> 00:13:29,499 Speaker 3: shops not being as busy. 236 00:13:29,858 --> 00:13:31,059 Speaker 1: Traffic is horrendous. 237 00:13:31,139 --> 00:13:34,859 Speaker 3: Auckland transport has slowed traffic down, so it makes it 238 00:13:34,899 --> 00:13:38,338 Speaker 3: harder to get anywhere in the city. Too many speed bumps. 239 00:13:38,738 --> 00:13:42,619 Speaker 3: We need basically more events in the city and more 240 00:13:42,978 --> 00:13:47,059 Speaker 3: reason to come into the city because you know, parking cerebral, 241 00:13:47,098 --> 00:13:50,699 Speaker 3: traffic cerebral. You have to go three one way straight 242 00:13:50,779 --> 00:13:51,939 Speaker 3: to even get anywhere. 243 00:13:54,738 --> 00:13:59,978 Speaker 2: In terms of Auckland, is it a dying city? Because 244 00:13:59,978 --> 00:14:02,699 Speaker 2: I know that we like to compare ourselves to other 245 00:14:02,819 --> 00:14:08,899 Speaker 2: metropolitan centers around the world, and the prices absolutely reflect 246 00:14:09,019 --> 00:14:10,578 Speaker 2: that as well, if I'm going to be honest, in 247 00:14:10,659 --> 00:14:14,059 Speaker 2: terms of rent, house prices, cost of food, et cetera, 248 00:14:14,139 --> 00:14:19,419 Speaker 2: cost of living. Rather in terms of Auckland and it 249 00:14:19,539 --> 00:14:24,299 Speaker 2: being the country's largest city. A third of us live 250 00:14:24,779 --> 00:14:29,219 Speaker 2: in Auckland and it contributes what about forty percent GDP 251 00:14:29,539 --> 00:14:32,739 Speaker 2: to the rest of the country. Does Auckland get the 252 00:14:32,779 --> 00:14:34,579 Speaker 2: respect it deserves? Do you think? 253 00:14:34,979 --> 00:14:35,099 Speaker 3: Well? 254 00:14:35,139 --> 00:14:38,219 Speaker 1: There was that Committee for Auckland report which came out 255 00:14:38,259 --> 00:14:41,899 Speaker 1: just recently, which talked about how far Auckland had fallen behind, 256 00:14:42,579 --> 00:14:45,819 Speaker 1: and I found that really concerning in terms of respect. 257 00:14:45,859 --> 00:14:48,779 Speaker 1: You know, all the relatives in the mainland hate the 258 00:14:48,859 --> 00:14:51,099 Speaker 1: Auckland is right, you know, they give me stick when 259 00:14:51,139 --> 00:14:54,819 Speaker 1: I go down there, and it's like a badge of dishonour, 260 00:14:54,899 --> 00:15:00,219 Speaker 1: isn't it. She's from Auckland. Really okay? But I think 261 00:15:00,299 --> 00:15:03,739 Speaker 1: that that is a big city sentiment that's reflected in 262 00:15:03,819 --> 00:15:08,219 Speaker 1: every country, whether it be London or Paris, or Berlin 263 00:15:08,659 --> 00:15:10,619 Speaker 1: or Sydney. It's just the way it. 264 00:15:10,619 --> 00:15:10,939 Speaker 3: Is, right. 265 00:15:11,259 --> 00:15:14,099 Speaker 2: Well, I read in the Deloitte report. Actually they did 266 00:15:14,139 --> 00:15:17,419 Speaker 2: a state of the City report for Auckland which compares 267 00:15:17,459 --> 00:15:20,659 Speaker 2: Auckland with other global s around the world. And it's 268 00:15:20,699 --> 00:15:23,619 Speaker 2: funny you bring up Paris because Paris generates this is 269 00:15:23,619 --> 00:15:27,139 Speaker 2: a quote from the report thirty one percent of France's 270 00:15:27,299 --> 00:15:32,699 Speaker 2: GDP and gets treated accordingly, which I thought was that 271 00:15:33,059 --> 00:15:35,659 Speaker 2: stuck out to me because do you think Auckland gets 272 00:15:35,739 --> 00:15:37,418 Speaker 2: treated accordingly? 273 00:15:38,779 --> 00:15:43,979 Speaker 1: Very interesting, very interesting comparison. I remember Grant Robertson at 274 00:15:44,019 --> 00:15:46,939 Speaker 1: one of the I think it was the Infrastructure of 275 00:15:46,939 --> 00:15:50,779 Speaker 1: the Auckland Project events, and he was saying how difficult 276 00:15:50,819 --> 00:15:53,179 Speaker 1: it is when he was Finance minister to live in 277 00:15:53,179 --> 00:15:55,419 Speaker 1: a city that's being redeveloped. And we know that the 278 00:15:55,459 --> 00:15:58,979 Speaker 1: mayor has the War on Cones, so we know that 279 00:15:59,419 --> 00:16:02,899 Speaker 1: development has its price and makes it very inconvenient for people. 280 00:16:03,179 --> 00:16:05,619 Speaker 1: It's just that when development stops you sort of sit 281 00:16:05,659 --> 00:16:08,339 Speaker 1: there and look at it and think, right, what's going on. 282 00:16:08,539 --> 00:16:12,259 Speaker 1: I'm sure that development will come back. Auckland is a 283 00:16:12,339 --> 00:16:15,219 Speaker 1: huge generator of wealth. It has so many of the 284 00:16:15,619 --> 00:16:20,339 Speaker 1: growing financial services and the other spects to New Zealand's 285 00:16:20,379 --> 00:16:23,619 Speaker 1: economy that is so important. Fon Terra's headquarters is down 286 00:16:23,619 --> 00:16:25,939 Speaker 1: on Vanchul Street. I mean, you know, what is it 287 00:16:25,979 --> 00:16:29,898 Speaker 1: an export lead recovery. So it's a really good question 288 00:16:29,979 --> 00:16:33,739 Speaker 1: to ask about the role that Auckland plays in terms 289 00:16:33,739 --> 00:16:36,179 Speaker 1: of New Zealander. The rural growth we know at the 290 00:16:36,219 --> 00:16:39,099 Speaker 1: moment is coming from the agricultural sector, and a lot 291 00:16:39,099 --> 00:16:42,539 Speaker 1: of people who work in services have fears about job 292 00:16:42,579 --> 00:16:46,579 Speaker 1: loss and unemployment. Has you know, that's been something that 293 00:16:46,739 --> 00:16:50,179 Speaker 1: is a real issue now. You can only hope that 294 00:16:50,819 --> 00:16:54,899 Speaker 1: for Auckland's sake, that that dynamic nature of the city 295 00:16:54,979 --> 00:16:58,859 Speaker 1: continues and the developers will return. We need good shops, 296 00:16:58,939 --> 00:17:03,539 Speaker 1: we need good offices, We need good hotels and apartment buildings, 297 00:17:03,699 --> 00:17:07,138 Speaker 1: we need really good infrastructure, and I would say that's 298 00:17:07,299 --> 00:17:11,419 Speaker 1: one aspect of Auckland that hasn't had the attention it deserved. 299 00:17:11,499 --> 00:17:15,059 Speaker 1: I remember someone from Auckland Transport telling me years ago 300 00:17:15,379 --> 00:17:17,859 Speaker 1: that in nineteen fifty nine people said, why do we 301 00:17:17,899 --> 00:17:20,179 Speaker 1: need to harbor Bridge? This only Strawberry Fields on the 302 00:17:20,219 --> 00:17:23,459 Speaker 1: north shore. Lack of vision, right, And many people are 303 00:17:23,499 --> 00:17:26,219 Speaker 1: critical of the City rail Link, and I think they 304 00:17:26,299 --> 00:17:29,859 Speaker 1: really don't understand the difference that City rail Link is 305 00:17:29,939 --> 00:17:32,739 Speaker 1: going to make to Auckland. And I hope with that 306 00:17:32,899 --> 00:17:38,019 Speaker 1: movement and easy movement of people around the CBD that 307 00:17:38,179 --> 00:17:41,739 Speaker 1: we do see some change. There's a proposal for the 308 00:17:41,779 --> 00:17:47,339 Speaker 1: Symphony Center, like multi million dollar project of offices and 309 00:17:47,579 --> 00:17:51,259 Speaker 1: apartments right above the teawater y hodd A two station 310 00:17:51,499 --> 00:17:54,859 Speaker 1: on the old Bledislow car Park, the Auckland Council car 311 00:17:54,899 --> 00:17:59,259 Speaker 1: Park site. So you know, let's hope that those developers 312 00:17:59,379 --> 00:18:03,379 Speaker 1: are finding in the market the ambition and the drive 313 00:18:03,419 --> 00:18:06,819 Speaker 1: and the determination of businesses to commit and people to 314 00:18:06,819 --> 00:18:09,739 Speaker 1: buy apartments. Otherwise that scheme will not go ahead. 315 00:18:10,179 --> 00:18:11,859 Speaker 2: And in the meantime we should tax them if they 316 00:18:11,859 --> 00:18:12,499 Speaker 2: don't do anything. 317 00:18:12,499 --> 00:18:13,059 Speaker 3: With their land. 318 00:18:14,019 --> 00:18:17,499 Speaker 1: It's quite a controversial idea, isn't it. 319 00:18:17,619 --> 00:18:23,979 Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us, An. That's it for this episode 320 00:18:24,139 --> 00:18:27,499 Speaker 2: of the Front Page. You can read more about today's 321 00:18:27,539 --> 00:18:32,259 Speaker 2: stories and extensive news coverage at enzidherld dot co dot MZ. 322 00:18:32,979 --> 00:18:36,699 Speaker 2: The Front Page is produced by Ethan Sills and Richard Martin, 323 00:18:36,939 --> 00:18:41,619 Speaker 2: who is also our editor. I'm Chelsea Daniels. Subscribe to 324 00:18:41,659 --> 00:18:45,219 Speaker 2: the Front Page on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, 325 00:18:45,539 --> 00:18:49,419 Speaker 2: and tune in tomorrow for another look behind the headlines.