In December 2022, Waka Kotahi published the Aotearoa Urban Street Planning and Design Guide (Street Guide). This guide provides a national framework to support the development of well-functioning urban environments and is a practical toolkit for anyone involved in the design, planning, construction, operations and maintenance of urban streets in Aotearoa New Zealand.
As part of the Street Guide’s development, Waka Kotahi committed to developing street indicators to assist practitioners to think about the whole street and the human experience, including a focus on air quality and emissions reduction, reduction of noise, road safety and creating a sense of place.
To do this, Waka Kotahi have worked with Healthy Streets to adapt a pilot Healthy Streets design check tool for an Aotearoa New Zealand context. The aim of the design check is to support the creation of streets that are pleasant, safe and attractive, and where noise, air pollution, accessibility and lack of seating and shelter are not barriers that prevent people from getting out and about.
The design check tool, originally developed by Lucy Saunders, can be used throughout the project lifecycle including to evaluate existing streets, to develop new street designs, and to evaluate changes to streets once they are made. It helps designers and engineers shift from focusing on individual modes and movement to holistic design. It can also be used to support conversations with stakeholders about proposed interventions.
Video: Lucy Saunders talks about Healthy Streets.
The New Zealand Healthy Streets Design Check Tool is a pilot and in draft form. Over the coming year, feedback from practitioners will inform any next steps with the tool. The pilot New Zealand Healthy Streets Design Check Tool is available on the Healthy Streets website.
New Zealand Healthy Streets Design Check Tool(external link)
If you would like to provide feedback on the Design Check Tool, please contact Waka Kotahi at streets@nzta.govt.nz
The New Zealand Healthy Streets Design Check Tool is part of the Aotearoa Urban Street Planning and Design Guide implementation. Its purpose is to support those involved in the design and implementation of street change projects, for example engineers, transport professionals, urban designers and landscape architects who design streets.
The tool:
Detailed information about the pilot New Zealand Healthy Streets Design Check, is available in Lucy Saunders ‘Capability Sessions: Learning Together’ webinar.
Capability Sessions: Learning Together with Lucy Saunders
In particular, information from Lucy Saunders and Sam Bourne (Waka Kotahi) in the section from the timestamps 21.09 to 31.37 will be useful for any practitioners wanting to trial the tool.
In the webinar, Lucy mentions other tools as part of the Healthy Streets toolbox. At this initial stage Waka Kotahi is only seeking to pilot the design check tool.
The use of the tool benefits from quality control and checking, please contact streets@nzta.govt.nz for support in using the tool or to feedback as part of the pilot.
