Our Research
Our research asks How can future Urban Industrial Zones (UIZs) be designed to integrate resource-efficient economic principles, ecologically-sustainable technologies, and inclusive practices to drive economic, environmental, and social resilience whilst adapting to increasingly uncertain futures?
We adopt a holistic approach to UIZs to outperform traditional models economically, environmentally, and socially. By integrating ecological-economic systems with multi-sector expertise, we can create efficient, resilient, and high-performing urban economies that drive long-term prosperity.
As cities face mounting pressures from climate change, biodiversity loss, and overburdened infrastructure, it is imperative to rethink urban development. Current approaches struggle to cope with escalating climate-related events, threatening business continuity, public infrastructure, and economic stability. Aotearoa-NZ’s economic resilience depends on smarter, future-focused urban environments.
Led by a transdisciplinary team from the University of Auckland, Market Economics Ltd, The Urbanist Ltd, AUT, University of Otago, University of Waikato, and Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, supported by the Auckland Council, and in partnership with architecture-engineering-planning practices and business organisations, our programme will transform Aotearoa’s UIZs into thriving economic hubs.
Our cutting-edge tools – Urban Industrial Zone Digital Twin, Ecological-Economics Simulation Model, socio-technical Post-Occupancy Evaluations, biodiversity and ecosystem services analyses, and multisensory analysis – will provide actionable strategies for decision-makers, businesses, and regulators.
Collaboration is at the heart of our approach. By engaging Māori, local and national government, local communities, businesses, professionals, and policymakers, we co-develop transformative solutions that enhance business resilience, reduce economic risk, and improve ecological and societal outcomes.
This research lays the foundation for a flourishing economy that is not only sustainable but also more competitive, adaptive, and resilient to future shocks. Together, we redefine urban industrial success in Aotearoa-NZ.
Principal Investigators
A Professor of Architectural Technology and Sustainability at Te Pare School of Architecture and Planning, University of Auckland, Paola Boarin is an internationally recognised leader with a distinguished career spanning research, teaching, academic leadership, and strategic engagement.
Her research and teaching operate at the nexus of architecture, technology, and the environment, with pioneering contributions to the sustainable adaptation and conservation of heritage and existing buildings, the development of sustainability assessment tools, socio-technical post-occupancy evaluations, and transdisciplinary approaches to climate-responsive and regenerative design.
Contact: p.boarin@auckland.ac.nz
A Professor of Ecology at the School of Biological Sciences, Waipapa Taumata Rau – University of Auckland, Jacqueline Beggs is a leading scholar and advocate for Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique biodiversity, with an extensive track record in research, academic leadership, and sector engagement.
Her research centres on the ecology, impacts, and management of introduced species, with internationally recognised contributions to understanding and controlling invasive social wasps—a focus that began with her PhD at the University of Otago (1999) and continues to inform her prolific research portfolio.
Contact: j.beggs@auckland.ac.nz
A Director at Market Economics Ltd, Gary McDonald is a leading expert in ecological economics and complex systems analysis, with more than two decades of experience advancing evidence-based policy and sustainable development across Aotearoa New Zealand.
His work focuses on developing sophisticated qualitative and quantitative toolkits to inform strategic decision-making, with internationally recognised expertise in System Dynamics, regional economic and environmental modelling, Input–Output and Environmental Input–Output analysis, Ecological Footprinting, Computable General Equilibrium modelling, cost–benefit analysis, and econometrics. Gary’s specialist focus in ecological economics underpins his commitment to integrating environmental limits with economic performance to support long-term resilience and sustainability.
Contact: garry@me.co.nz
Our Partners
