ABSTRACT
This chapter reports on findings from our Kids in the City research conducted in Auckland, Aotearoa/New Zealand, investigating the impacts of neighbourhood attributes and residents’ perceptions on children’s independent mobility (unsupervised outdoor play and travel) and activity levels – and thus their well-being. It is set in the context of decreasing levels of physical activity and rising child obesity rates amongst children in Aotearoa/New Zealand, coupled with an urban intensification which is changing neighbourhood environments. Physical activity and independent mobility are essential for children’s development and well-being (Christensen and O’Brien, 2003; Valentine, 2004); yet a combination of safety-conscious parenting, car reliance and auto-centric urban design, sees children living ever more sedentary lives (Ministry of Transport, 2009). The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which New Zealand is a signatory, sees children’s well-being and quality of life as the ultimate indicators of sustainable development (Malone, 2001). How can we best ensure that the well-being of children is to the fore in urban planning?
