The fourth Aotearoa New Zealand Walking Summit - 24-25 July 2023

The 2023 Living Streets Aotearoa Walking Summit

Ōtautahi/Christchurch was the place to be on Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 July, as we explored our theme of "Walking into the Future".

Presentations and videos from the Walking Summit

Keynote address, Monday 23 July

John MintoCommunity connections through walking (video, 28:51)

Individual presentations

Monday 23 July

The National Walking Plan

Alan Meharry and Nick Potter, The National Walking Plan (PDF, 2.1MB)
Alan Meharry is Principal Advisor, Urban Mobility Team, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
Nick Potter is Principal Advisor, Placemaking and Urban Development Team, Te Manatū Waka Ministry of Transport

The Climate for Walking

Danny EyreWalking and a thriving, climate-resilient and low emissions Aotearoa (video, 16:09)
Danny Eyre, Principal Analyst in the Climate Change Commission’s Transport and Urban Systems team

Charlotte McKayLocal Government's role in placemaking in a changing climate (video, 9:05)
Charlotte McKay is Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor, Local Government New Zealand

Hon Dr Duncan WebbA Government Minister and Christchurch MP perspective (video, 9:23)
Hon Dr Duncan Webb is Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Minister for State Owned Enterprises, and MP Christchurch Central since 2017

Walking and Public Transport

Holly SmithWalking & Public Transport: The First & Final Leg (video, 13:20)
Holly Smith is a Transport Planner, Service Network Development Team, Auckland Transport

Sarah ThorneNavigating Boundaries: Creating an Inclusive and Safe Public Transportation Network in Christchurch (video, 11:19)
Sarah Thorne is Principal Advisor Public Transport Infrastructure, Christchurch City Council

Gerry Dance and Patricia Vasconcelos, Walking and Bus Stops (PDF, 3.5MB)
Gerry Dance is Team Leader Multi-modal, Programme & Standards, Transport Services, Waka Kotahi
Patrícia Vasconcelos is Principal Multi-modal Advisor, Programme and Standards, Transport Services, Waka Kotahi

Walking to School

Duane Burtt, Young people and walking to school – lessons from Melbourne (PDF, 4.3MB) plus Victoria Walks, Change to Walking 2017-18 (video, 3:03)
Duane Burtt is Principal Policy Advisor, Victoria Walks

Ashley Beaton and George Booty, Walking School Buses in Christchurch (PDF, 2MB)
Ashley Beaton and George Booty are Community Travel Advisors, Christchurch City Council - contact SchoolTravel@ccc.govt.nz

Grace StapletonHow Active Transport to School can be encouraged in New Subdivisions (video, 16:06)
Grace Stapleton is in the Land Development Team, Abley

 

Tuesday 24 July

City Design for the 21st Century

Cr Sara TempletonWalking the Talk - Rebuilding a City with People at its Heart (PDF, 18.3MB)
Cr Sara Templeton holds the Climate Change Portfolio on Christchurch City Council

Nicki Williams, Walking While Female (video, 19:01)
Nicki Williams is in the Otago Population Health Department

The Walking Future for Ōtautahi Christchurch

Dr Colin Meurk ONZMFirst Urban Great Walk of Aotearoa – a Model for Your City (video, 12:32)
Dr Colin Meurk developed the Christchurch360Trail, which won an LSA Golden Foot Award in 2009

Jacqui Miller and Helen MilesLessons from the Christchurch Walking Festival (video, 13:41)
Jacqui Miller and Helen Miles are Community Recreation Advisors, Christchurch City Council

Sarah McKay and Maria SmolarFrom safer streets to healthy streets: a pilot project of the Healthy Streets framework in South Brighton (PDF, 5.6MB)
Sarah McKay is a Community Worker, "Common Ground", Sustain South Brighton
Maria Smolar is Lead System Innovator, Healthy Families

What Do Inclusive Streets Look Like?

Professor Shanthi Ameratunga, Lessons Learned from a Community-Based Participatory Research Project in Tāmaki Makaurau (video, 15:38) plus presentation (PDF, 2.2MB)
Professor Shanthi Ameratunga is in the School of Population Health, University of Auckland

Professor Simon Kingham, The potential for walkable street spaces to enhance wellbeing (video, 9:47)
Professor Simon Kingham is in the School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury

Rolly Rowland, Raising the Golden Foot Award for Wairarapa – Raised Pedestrian Crossings on State Highway 2 (video, 17:37)
David (Rolly) Rowland is Southern Area Programme Manager for Road to Zero, Waka Kotahi

Jeanette WardPlanning and designing with a gender lens (video, 10:05)
Jeanette Ward is Technical Director, Abley

Emily Ward and Nick ReidAge-friendly design: Bursting with Stride! (video, 14:09)
Emily Ward, University of Canterbury / Te Manatū Waka (Ministry of Transport)
Nick Reid, University of Canterbury / Via Strada

How Do We Achieve Pedestrian Improvements?

Gerry Dance and Patricia Vasconcelos, Overview of the Pedestrian Network Guidance (PDF, 3.5MB)
Gerry Dance is Team Leader Multi-modal, Programme & Standards, Transport Services, Waka Kotahi
Patrícia Vasconcelos is Principal Multi-modal Advisor, Programme and Standards, Transport Services, Waka Kotahi

John LieswynWe can quantify the economic impact of investing in roads for drivers - why not pedestrians? (PDF, 6.2MB)
John Lieswyn is Director and Principal Transportation Planner, Via Strada

Walking into the Future - Pedestrian Perspectives

Panel discussion, Walking into the Future - Pedestrian Perspectives (video, 51:03)
Panel at the 2023 Walking Summit, with speakers Carina Duke, Carl Lintott, Ed Hill, Ingrid Robertson, and Judi Whittingham

Living Streets Aotearoa's YouTube channel is a great place to find Walking Summit and other walking videos - please subscribe to get notifications.

Check out the 2023 Walking Summit highlghts video:

Video credit: Ramibaha.com


Full programme available to download

 

All about the Walking Summit

This year’s Walking Summit brought together people from across Aotearoa to discuss how we can make the places we live more walkable, liveable, and sustainable. The Walking Summit was held in Ōtautahi Christchurch for the first time on Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th July 2023.

As well as exploring ways to reduce emissions, increase resilience in the face of climate change and create more inclusive streets, the Summit celebrated those who are removing barriers to walking in their communities.

There was an impressive programme of speakers, walkshops, and discussions. A series of experts, leaders, and change-makers shared their insights on how to create walking-friendly spaces, including:

  • A keynote address from transport equity campaigner John Minto;
  • A panel on how walking can contribute to transport emissions reductions;
  • All about the National Walking Plan, currently under development;
  • Professor Simon Kingham, Dr Shanthi Ameratunga and others shared research on creating inclusive streets;
  • Councillor Sara Templeton on walking as part of the Christchurch rebuild;
  • Nicki Williams applying a female and equity lens to transport;
  • Waka Kotahi and local government representatives provided their insights on what's coming up in the policy space; and
  • we got inspired by the amazing mahi undertaken by Living Streets Aotearoa Golden Foot winners Colin Meurk and Walking Festival director Jacqui Miller.

Please contact WalkingSummit@livingstreets.org.nz if you have any questions.

 

Walking Summit 2023 poster

 

Previous Walking Summits

 

All about our previous Walking Summits: 2021, 2019, 2017
 

Teaser: 

The fourth Aotearoa New Zealand Walking Summit 2023 focused on key issues for walking and pedestrians as we walk into the future. Check out videos and presentations from the Summit.

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PDF icon WhyCantWeWalk.pdf1.3 MB

About Us

Living Streets Aotearoa is the New Zealand organisation for people on foot, promoting walking-friendly communities. We are a nationwide organisation with local branches and affiliates throughout New Zealand.

We want more people walking and enjoying public spaces be they young or old, fast or slow, whether walking, sitting, commuting, shopping, between appointments, or out on the streets for exercise, for leisure or for pleasure.

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