A new report warns public and private green space in urban centres shouldn't be optional, as two of our biggest cities' green spaces shrink by up to a third.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Simon Upton's latest report, Are we building harder, hotter cities? finds green spaces in our cities are dwindling as we densify our cities in line with population growth.
Mr Upton urges planners to weigh the environmental benefits grass and leafy spaces bring, including temperature regulation, storm-water management, air filtration and habitat provision.
He urges green spaces be considered a form of infrastructure every bit as important as pipes and roads
Between 1980 and 2016, green space has fallen by at least 30% in Auckland, and at least 20% in Hamilton. Nearly all of this loss occurred on private residential land.
Greater Wellington bucks the trend - the proportion of urban green space there has remained the same as the city has grown.
The report points out many councils are struggling to improve the quality and availability of public green spaces to compensate for the loss of private yards and gardens, as infill development and larger houses on smaller sections drive the trend.
