Urban
Critical spaces - green areas and urban planning
Growing up in Germany, researcher Mirjam Schindler always had an interest in how green spaces shape the way people interact with each other and spaces around them. In this episode, she talks to… Audio
How to fix Auckland's ghost CBD
A simple stroll down Queen Street will reveal more than 38 empty shop fronts. What happened to Auckland's main street, and how can we fix it? Audio
Urban issues - light rail for the city of sails
Auckland Light Rail from the City Centre to the the airport has been announced, Bill examines the route and whether it is a good option or not. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of… Audio
How living near water could save your life
A new studyhas conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of all the evidence about how blue space positively impacts health, and the news is good for people who live in areas with access to… Audio
Small towns have higher risk of intimate partner violence
A new study out of Washington State University has shown that women living in small towns are most at risk of violence from current or former spouses and partners. The findings also ring true in New… Audio
Covid-19: Strong support for introduction of NZ curfew
Research NZ continues to take the pulse of the nation through the Covid-19 lockdown period. The latest survey shows that more people now fear they will lose their jobs, and more Kiwis think a 10pm… Audio
Combining urban design with nature
A visiting eco-architect has been sharing his expertise on how to create urban areas with nature through design innovation. Professor Klaus Klaas Loenhart explains his approach. Audio
A history of cities and how they've evolved
More than half the world's population live in urban areas and cities around the globe are getting larger and more congested. Through an archaeological lens, UCLA professor of anthropology and… Audio
Architects, ditch the big fancy houses
Bill McKay argues that architects and builders need to stop promoting themselves with big fancy houses and make their professions more relevant by helping the wider public house themselves. Bill McKay… Audio
New Zealand's cold old housing stock
It’s mid-winter and time for our annual reminder about the miserable quality of much of New Zealand’s housing stock, says Bill McKay. Audio
Cohaus Living
In a small corner of Grey Lynn, Auckland, trees are being cleared and tired old buildings are being demolished for a new development.
That doesn't sound particularly unusual - but it is.
Claire… Audio
Blue light at night, wildlife's blight
What happens to urban wildlife in cities that never sleep?, Dr Therésa Jones from the University of Melbourne's Urban Night Lab talks about the fascinating adaptive behaviour of a range of animals… Audio
Why some big builders are going broke?
Bill McKay takes a look at why a number of contractors have into receivership recently and the big hits Fletchers have taken over the last couple of years. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the… Audio
Meth lab do-up
Bill McKay reports on his meth lab do-up and his plans for a grand design in the back garden. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland. Audio
Tiny houses - what you can build in your backyard
Small backyard dwellings, what you can build at low cost and not requiring council consents. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland. Audio
How to make a damp, cold home healthier
With winter well under way, heating and moisture control become a problem in many Kiwi homes. Bill McKay, senior lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning says 40,000 children are… Audio
Know your boundaries. Do good fences make good neighbours ?
The Government believes good fences make good neighbours. According to the 1978 Fencing Act you have the right to put up a fence (or improve an existing one) and get your neighbour to pay half - even… Audio
Designing better apartment buildings in Auckland
How can city planners avoid developers squeezing too many units into multi-unit sites to maximise profit and the many dangers of buying off plans which may not be accurate or to scale. Bill McKay says… Audio
Urban issues with Bill McKay
Groups of people around the country are aiming to sort out the housing crisis on their own through cooperative housing, but running into bureaucracy. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of… Audio
Urban issues with Bill McKay
In recognition of ANZAC Day, we look at our country's war memorials and how they reflect our changing society over the last hundred years. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture… Audio