Dear Fabian Friend

Narratives for Auckland 2 - Building Liveable Cities

I would like to invite you to the second seminar in our Narratives for Auckland Series, to be held on Monday 26th August in Case Room 3, Owen Glenn Building, University of Auckland at 6pm.

The ingredients of a liveable city (affordable housing, modern public transport, great public spaces, urban renewal and the celebration of creative diversity) cannot be delivered by the market. It takes many hands working with councils, communities and the private sector.

Phil Twyford MP will discuss the role of government in facing these challenges, Denise Bijoux and Paul Grimshaw will outline what they learned on good urban development from their recent visit to Seattle, Victoria and Portland.

Phil Twyford is Labour’s spokesperson on Housing, Auckland Issues and he is Associate Environment spokesperson with a focus on cities.  Phil is the Member of Parliament for Te Atatu, and was first elected to Parliament in 2008. Before politics he spent 15 years with the international humanitarian organisation Oxfam.

Denise Bijoux works in community-led development to create effective models of partnership, participatory community development, sustainable healthy housing, placemaking and Asset Based Development. She has worked with Inspiring Communities & manages the Neighbourhoods Programme for Beacon Pathway. Denise led the study tour to North America.

Paul Grimshaw is a lawyer with 25 years experience who has specialises in construction disputes and Building Code compliance issues. Over the last 10 years he has acted for approximately 6,000 owners who have been affected by the leaky building disaster. His experience has provided him with valuable insight in to the current state of housing in New Zealand.

And more … as a follow-up session for activists for community level organising, there is a workshop, Thursday 29th August 6pm at the Polish Society Room, Morningside.

Jim Diers on “The local is everything in the lively city” $20 cover charge + lite food + a bar

See Jim here http//www.neighborpower.org/  and here http//www.abcdinstitute.org/faculty/diers

Warm regards

Phil Harington,

For the New Zealand Fabian Society

ENDS

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