Planning the urban foodscape: Policy and regulation of urban agriculture in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

Policy support for urban agriculture (UA) has increased internationally in the past decade, driven by factors such as urban decay, food insecurity, climate change and disasters, self-determination efforts and the Covid-19 pandemic. To date, there has been little analysis of the emergent practices across different cities in Aotearoa New Zealand. To address this gap, we examine key aspects of UA in Aotearoa and assess the application of local plans and regulation to determine how UA is defined and treated in the four most populous cities. The results reveal a lack of specific attention to and policy direction for UA. This vacuum is compounded by purpose-driven zoning typologies, restrictive resource use controls, scant provision for Māori food practices and a failure to keep pace with the changing forms of UA. The results identify the need for cities to review and clarify provision for UA, to create greater certainty and where appropriate, facilitation of food sovereignty and diverse urban foodscapes.