Panuku Development Auckland
Auckland, New Zealand
As cities grow and evolve, access to healthy, culturally meaningful food is increasingly recognised as critical urban infrastructure.
SGS worked with Panuku Development Auckland to scope a strategy for Urban Food Infrastructure (UFI) that supports Panuku’s broader mission of delivering social, environmental, and economic value through urban regeneration.
Panuku Development Auckland was an Auckland Council-owned development agency tasked with revitalising areas across the city, from small-scale site improvements to major neighbourhood transformations, while generating strong community outcomes and sound financial returns for Council.
The project explored how Urban Food Infrastructure can enhance Panuku’s planning, design, and commercial delivery processes, aligning with Auckland Council’s existing food tourism and sustainability initiatives. Auckland Regional Council had built a strong regional identity around fresh, high-quality, and culturally significant food. Panuku considered how food systems infrastructure, such as markets, urban farms, food distribution hubs, and hospitality precincts, can contribute to placemaking and project viability.
SGS prepared a policy and strategic framework to guide Panuku in embedding Urban Food Infrastructure into future developments. The strategy focused on:
- Ensuring permanent access to healthy, affordable, and high-quality food for residents and visitors in Panuku precincts.
- Leveraging food access as a core placemaking element, enhancing liveability and commercial appeal.
The project included defining Urban Food Infrastructure in a development context, assessing its role in delivering community and commercial benefits, reviewing relevant case studies, and recommending practical implementation actions tailored to Panuku’s unique position in Auckland’s development landscape.
