Survey to provide feedback for CBD vision

A recent Auckland City Council survey will provide valuable information to help development of the CBD into a safer and more vibrant place to live, work and visit.

To find out behaviours, attitudes and perceptions in regard to safety in the CBD, the council recently surveyed Auckland City residents, workers and visitors.

This is the sixth time the survey has been undertaken by the council since 1989, enabling the results to be compared over time.

“It’s very positive to see that the majority of respondents perceive the city to be an ‘exciting and colourful place’,” says Councillor Juliet Yates, chairperson of the City Development Committee. “And that shopping continues to increase in popularity as a major attraction to the central area.”

An increasing number of workers are staying in the city after dark to partake in a variety of activities including dining out, and going to the cinema. Since 1989, there has been a 60 per cent increase in workers remaining in the city after work. Currently 78 per cent of non-resident workers remain in the city after work.

Over the past decade there has been a 39 per cent reduction in respondents that feel that it is not safe to be alone in the city after dark. In 2002, approximately 50 per cent of respondents feel unsafe after dark, compared to 89 per cent in 1981.

Queen Street was perceived as the safest location in the city both day and night.

“The committee has recommended that this survey in the future be concentrated on particular areas of the CBD, for example to record changes in attitudes perhaps after the opening of Britomart,” says Councillor Noelene Raffills, chairperson of the Law and Order Committee.

The council is currently developing a vision for the central area and the findings of this survey will provide valuable feedback for the formulation of policy, and development of initiatives to make improvements in the central area.

“The most common safety improvements identified in the survey are around ‘more police, better lighting, and more security patrols’,” says Councillor Raffills. “I am confident that the council’s CBD strategic directions team will look closely at these findings and address these issues in their central area vision.”

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