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Research in policy and practice · No. 111 · District-plan hearing evidence · 2024

Urban-climate research reaching Wellington’s planning hearings

Research cited in green-space evidence submitted to the Proposed District Plan hearings

At a glance

Role: Co-author of research cited in a submitted evidence paper
Host: Wellington City Council · Proposed District Plan, Hearing Stream 11
Hearing: Proposed District Plan · Hearing Stream 11 · 11 September 2024
Submitted evidence: Multiple Roles of Green Space in the Resilience, Sustainability and Equity of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Cities
Research co-authors: Zahra Jalali, Amirhosein Ghaffarianhoseini, Ali Ghaffarianhoseini, Michael Donn, Abdulbasit Almhafdy, Charles Walker and Umberto Berardi

The story

Research entering a planning debate

Urban-microclimate research co-authored by Professor Amir Ghaffarianhoseini forms part of the evidence base in a green-space review submitted to Wellington’s Proposed District Plan hearings. Environmental consultant and researcher Dr Paul Blaschke submitted the review as evidence for Hearing Stream 11 on 11 September 2024.

Connecting green space and urban heat

The submitted paper, published in Land in July 2024, draws on the team’s critical review of New Zealand’s urban microclimate when discussing the need to address urban heat islands. Its discussion connects more vegetation and permeable surfaces in parks and public spaces with the wider benefits of urban green infrastructure.

A documented route into public planning

Blaschke’s speaking notes explain the submission’s focus on protecting and enhancing urban green space, including its biodiversity, health and wellbeing roles during urban intensification. The submitted review carries the team’s urban-climate research into this wider discussion of public planning and green infrastructure.

Evidence