Auckland risks sliding down the global city success rankings
Auckland has scored badly on productivity, commitment to reducing emissions and for the quality of its cultural offerings, according to a new study comparing it with overseas rivals. Residents were happy with the quality of their neighbourhood environments, but the city risked losing the chance to be seen as forward-thinking and well-prepared on climate action , researchers found. It highlights economic weaknesses that have been the focus of initiatives as far back as 2000, but the report owner, The Committee for Auckland, believes it has assembled key backers to make progress. Some of those [10 highlighted] areas are definitely slower moving, particularly climate impact , but in the innovation space, I think progress could happen more quickly, said Mark Thomas, the director. READ MORE: * The industries and regions where you might have luck finding a job in during a recession * Frequent bridge closures 'hurt Auckland economy' * Job cuts process begins as Auckland Council looks for $295m budget savings The report by a UK-based urban intelligence firm, The Business of Cities , made comparisons with nine other cities with key similarities: Brisbane, Fukuoka, Tel Aviv, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Dublin, Vancouver, and the US cities of Austin and Portland. In simple terms The State of the City report says the work focuses on how prepared Tamaki Makaurau is, for the future of jobs, urban lifestyle and climate change. Auckland is described as one of the cities most disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic with longer lockdowns and significantly closed borders, creating long-term challenges to growth and sustainability. It said the city needed a more innovative and sustainable growth model to ensure its metropolitan centres are sufficiently vibrant. Auckland was slightly below average in employment opportunities for locals, and rated only sixth for jobs being created by foreign direct investment. The city was slightly above average for delivering sustainable and inclusive economic growth for all residents. However, it remains dogged by low productivity, ranked lowest among its peers and similarly for housing affordability, and was third-lowest for locals views on being able to find fulfilling jobs. Auckland was third lowest for having an innovation ecosystem the relationships between research and commerce and being able to expand innovation, including the number of start-up ventures. Within that, Auckland was 123rd out of 200 cities for spending on research and development, and spent less than half on early stage funding of ventures, compared with Melbourne. We have the smallest number of people who have graduated from a top 100 university in the world, and we have the highest number of graduates leaving, said Thomas. Its findings come as the councils economic and culture agency Tataki Auckland Unlimited begin its financial year with a 30% cut in ratepayer funding $34.5m less and a direction to focus less on economic development. Auckland rated highly as being attractive to tourists, but did not develop or express the cultural magnetism to convert that into immigration, business creators or advocates. The city rated well for residents happiness about their neighbourhood environments, but competitive risks included that Auckland might become more car dependent while other cities embrace alternatives. Other cities were found to have more ambitious climate and sustainability policies and there was a risk Auckland might lose the chance to be seen as a forward-thinking and well-prepared city. Auckland was also in the bottom half of cities on commitment to reducing emissions, and ranked lowest for active and public transport uptake. Thomas said the reports ambitions had the support of the government, the council economic agency Tataki Auckland Unlimited and the private sector, and he hoped to avoid the disappointments of past efforts. When these things come out, most people say they're on board. Then by their actions they end up not being on board and end up innocently pursuing their [own] agendas or priorities, he said. Tim Moonen, the managing director of the firm which authored the report, said Auckland should pick out the areas it wanted to work on. You can work on 100 things but the effect will be diluted. Pick one or two youre much more likely to see progress, he said.