Auckland scores poorly on international report

New ZealandS largest city, Auckland, is being held back by inadequate investment and planning, despite its important economic contribution, according to urban planning expert Timothy Welch. Welch argues that Auckland, as New Zealand‘s primate city, requires infrastructure investment and governance structures proportional to its economic output to foster national prosperity, drawing parallels with successful global economies.

Welch highlights international examples where primate cities are strategically supported. Japan’s “Quality Infrastructure Investment” principles allocate ¥13.2 trillion to regional infrastructure, while Australia’s A$120 billion infrastructure program acknowledges the significant GDP contribution of its major cities. He points to paris, which generates 31% of France’s GDP and receives commensurate investment, Seoul, producing 23% of South Korea’s output with significant infrastructure backing, and Tokyo, a key driver of Japan’s economy.

Research indicates that while excessive urban concentration can present challenges, withholding resources from a primate city can lead to a “deterioration in the quality of life” that negatively impacts the entire national economy. The proposed solution involves strategic investments that capitalize on the benefits of agglomeration while mitigating potential downsides for the national economy.

Growing pains

Auckland,Welch contends,should be viewed as an asset to be leveraged rather than a problem to be managed. He asserts that successful developed economies have recognized this principle.The international evidence, he states, is clear: countries that strategically invest in their primate cities experience higher productivity growth and maintain competitive advantages.

Auckland, according to welch, does not require special treatment but rather the same level of support afforded to primate cities in other successful economies. This includes infrastructure investment proportionate to its economic contribution, governance structures that reflect its scale, and political leadership that understands the principles of agglomeration economics.

The core issue,Welch concludes,is not whether auckland is too large,but whether New Zealand possesses the capacity to adequately support its primary urban center.

Timothy Welch Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence.