We're building harder, hotter cities: it's vital we protect and grow urban green spaces—new report

A new report from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) examines the climate vulnerability of urban Aotearoa New Zealand.

Green spaces aren't just pleasant places for a family picnic, they are a vital part of an ecosystem.

Green space has dwindled over the past six decades, replaced by paved roads, car parks and larger buildings on smaller sites.

Government's Medium Density Residential Standards require 20% of a site to be green space.

But this is often done in a piecemeal fashion, with less useful strips of grass scattered around a site.

Councils might impose citywide or more targeted green space rates levies.