Revitalising public spaces through collaboration and citizen empowerment : An exploration of Tactical Urbanism’s role in Aotearoa New Zealand : A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Planning at Lincoln University

Abstract

Urban centres face many complex challenges including rapid urbanisation, car dependency, and climate change, which are increasingly difficult to address through standard planning mechanisms. Bureaucratic and prescriptive systems have restricted the effectiveness of urban interventions, often escalating project risk to the point where the costs outweigh the potential benefits. Consequently, many urban spaces have become low quality and fail to respond to the needs of their communities. Tactical Urbanism (TU) offers a flexible, community-focused alternative incorporating lower-cost, iterative placemaking through experimentation and adaptation. By prioritising community participation, TU facilitates a more responsive and engaging process that can address specific issues, while supporting broader strategic directives. This concept has gained traction worldwide, with numerous successful implementations, including in Aotearoa NZ. The field has evolved towards a more institutionalised planning strategy, highlighted through local examples. This research utilises a mixed-methods approach to explore how TU can best be utilised in Aotearoa NZ, by investigating case studies and local professional experiences, to develop recommendations for future practice. Notable local examples include Waka Kotahi’s ‘Innovating Streets for People’ and the ongoing ‘Streets for People’ initiatives, which have evolved over time, though an optimal approach befitting of Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique context has yet to be established. This research uses a mixed-methods approach to explore how TU can best be utilised in Aotearoa NZ, by investigating international case studies, and local professional perspectives, and identifying key success factors for future interventions. The findings highlight that while past case studies provide useful foundations, the success of these projects depends on the integration of the core principles of TU, namely, community-focused strategies that are responsive to local contexts. Key recommendations include: (1) Catering to context, (2) Relationship building, and (3) Intervening with intent. Together, these strategies offer a framework to enhance the effectiveness of TU, to optimise its implementation in Aotearoa NZ.