In 2008 when we purchased our home Auckland had about 1.4 million people. Our block had about 60 dwellings, or about 200 people. In 2019 Auckland reached about 1.7 million people. Our block still had about 60 dwellings with maybe 220 people.
By 2028 Auckland will reach 2 million. More people per year than the current population of Onehunga.
Our block could have 400+ dwellings under the AUP. Enough for another 1000 people.
We are 800m from two train stations and two different frequent bus services. Onehunga is a village with many amenities. It's inner city. Everywhere on the isthmus is inner city.
All physical and social infrastructure that can be more productively used with more people.
The alternative is to send people further and further away from the inner city. Putting them in cars, so they can live their lives. Unsustainable for these people and unsustainable for the city.
But how do we have this conversation? How do we communicate with our neighbors? How do tell the story of the 1000 people without a voice who can not live on our block? Building a more sustainable city?
