Playgrounds might have been closed, but play remains important for the social fabric of cities and for reimagining the possibilities that are open to us.
Smaller projects are better for delivering broad, long-term value to communities across the country, reducing inequality and cutting emissions, as well as quickly providing jobs and economic stimulus.
Temporary and tactical urbanism offers simple, low-cost solutions to make streets and other public spaces both safe and sociable during this time of physical distancing.
These online spaces are more regulated than many media reports would have you believe. And the vast majority of dark web traders are steering clear of exploiting the pandemic.
We’ve all seen the footage of people in protective suits and vehicles spraying cities to control COVID-19. But because of the way disinfectant and contamination work, it might be mostly for show.
Ben Walker, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington; Rebecca Bednarek, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington; Todd Bridgman, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, dan Urs Daellenbach, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
Imagine you could only travel if you can prove COVID-19 immunity. The pandemic is already creating new social divides, and it is important we stay alert to their possible ramifications.
COVID-19 has upturned uses of public spaces that we took for granted. Will shifts in the regulation of these spaces lead to a change in thinking about who “owns” the city?
After the brief shock of food insecurity in the form of empty supermarket shelves, we might start thinking about having a Plan B and C based on local food sources and shorter supply chains.
Eating healthy food, exercising regularly and reducing stress are all measures we can take to stay as healthy as possible to fight off infection while we wait for a coronavirus vaccine.
We’ve all seen the increases in people walking and cycling on shared paths so crowded it’s almost impossible to maintain physical distancing. This must be fixed, and quickly.
Anxiety and loneliness affect many people at the best of times. The pandemic-induced isolation and stress won’t be helping, but cities can do many things to improve the ‘emotional climate’.
Turning COVID-19 into a political issue doesn’t help the public’s understanding of the disease and what needs to be done. Good things are happening we should feel optimistic about.
Now is the time for a two-pronged strategy to ensure everyone has a home: a spot-purchasing program to find homes for people now in emergency accommodation, followed by social housing construction.
As New Zealand prepares to ease its lockdown from April 28, new COVID-19 clusters are likely to emerge – but a combination of testing and contact tracing should be able to stamp out major outbreaks.
Arnagretta Hunter, Australian National University dan John Hewson, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
Other existential risks include the decline of natural resources (particularly water), human population growth beyond the Earth’s carrying capacity, and nuclear weapons.