Auckland moves into world cities top 10   3 Jul 2012

News Release

3 July 2012

Auckland moves into world cities top 10

Auckland is up another four places in the Monocle Magazine’s urban quality of life ranking on its trajectory towards becoming the world’s most liveable city.

Auckland now sits in 9th place, an improvement on 13th in 2011 and 20th in 2010, rounding out a top-10 placing across all three international quality of life surveys [Monocle (9th), Mercer (3rd) and the Economist Intelligence Unit (10th)].

“Our consistent gains across a number of international quality of life surveys are a strong indication that Auckland is fast becoming the one to watch,” says Mayor Len Brown.

The magazine identifies new entertainment precincts and public transport initiatives completed ahead of the Rugby World Cup, and the region’s new political structure as the reason for its success.

Monocle also applauds the passing of the first Auckland Plan, the blueprint for the next 30 years of the region’s development, with its emphasis on a more efficient and exciting Auckland, with a better connection to the waterfront and better urban design.

Auckland’s multicultural population and tolerance for diversity, and its business-friendly environment also get the nod.

The title of world’s most liveable city goes to Zurich with our neighbours Melbourne at #6 and Sydney at #8. The magazine also includes Len Brown in a list of 10 smart local government leaders.

The magazine says the Mayor has made the formerly fractured city buzz in the 18 months since his election.

“The uniting of Auckland has really delivered any opportunity to uncork our potential,” Len Brown said in an interview with Monocle. “I am challenging the city to step up and be prepared to go with whatever it takes.”

The magazine says it waits with baited breath for what the next year brings as Auckland faces the challenge of finding alternate funding sources for important transport infrastructure, including the City Rail Link.

“More and more, international commentators and Aucklanders are realising that the City Rail Link is the single-most important project to transform our quality of living and our ability to become a truly global city,” says the Mayor.

“The CRL, network electrification and 57 new electric trains will mean faster and more frequent rail journeys, as well as economic and transport benefits of up to $38 billion. Now
we can now have an educated debate on how we pay for the CRL and other major infrastructure projects necessary to get our city moving. And we now know that debate will be followed with interest not just nationally, but internationally.

Monocle is a London based magazine which is published ten times a year with a mission to focus on global affairs, business, culture and design and “keep an eye on the world.”

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