Seminar: Ecological Build Zones

Zoning regulations are often perceived as restrictive, setting limits on what can be built within an area. But could we utilise green infrastructure to create an ‘Ecological Build Zone’ where zoning restrictions are relaxed for achieving biological targets? 

This idea is a permissive overlay where bonus development rights such as extra floors could be awarded if developments and buildings incorporate certain features that promote water detention and treatment functions. Green infrastructure, roofs and walls could reduce site runoff and improve water quality through bioretention, and provide multiple benefits such as reduced air pollution, reduced urban heat island effects, increased wellbeing and improved biodiversity functions. 

What are the challenges we face to bring such ideas to fruition? Join our in-person event to discuss, hosted at Isthmus on Queen Street on Thursday, September 19th at 5:30! We are excited to have Zoe Avery, Iresh Jayawardena, Deb Lee Sang and Karen Creagh as our panel with Simon Wilson as chair.

*This is a hybrid event. Join us in person for a networking opportunity and discussion with our panellist. This event will also be live-streamed online. Drinks and nibbles provided. 

About our panelist:-

Simon Wilson (Emcee)

Simon Wilson is an award-winning senior writer with the NZ Herald, where he focuses on Auckland and covers politics, the climate crisis, transport, housing, urban design and social issues, and sometimes books and the arts.



Deb Lee Sang

Deb is based in our Tāmaki Makaurau Studio with experience within both the United Kingdom and New Zealand. She brings experience from across the full range of projects the profession has to offer—from strategic direction, the regeneration of town centres, transit-led development, public realm improvements and engagement-led design initiatives. Place-led thinking and integrated approaches are important to her and the outcomes she seeks. Deb’s sweet spot is in the strategic design space, shaping places through her acuteness to interrelationships, understanding what small shifts can lead to big changes over time, influencing through compelling story-telling and extensive work experience with architecture, planning, landscape architecture & transport teams.



Karen Creagh

Karen is the Environmental Services Manager (North) at Awa Environmental. Karen has spent the last two decades working in the fields of ecological research, ecological economics and strategic sustainability consulting to deliver better outcomes for people, communities and the environment. She has worked across continents, as well as the public, private and community sectors to set the bar higher to maintain, restore or create healthy ecosystems. Karen subscribes to being “nature positive”, supporting the transformation of nations, cities, businesses, investors and consumers behaviours. This includes promoting and facilitating the uptake of ecologically sound green infrastructure and developments.


Iresh Jayawardena

Iresh is a lecturer in Urban Planning at the University of Auckland and a Full Member of the New Zealand Planning Institute. He specialises in environmental planning, climate change adaptation, and natural hazard risk management in built environments. With over a decade of experience in academia and professional practice, Iresh's current work focuses on integrating climate resilience and sustainability into urban policy and planning practices. His extensive field experience and passion drive him to prepare the next generation of urban planners to tackle complex environmental challenges, particularly climate change adaptation and impacts.