Navigating Public Understanding of Water-Sensitive Urban Design in Aotearoa New Zealand: Insights and Implications

Water-sensitive cities offer a framework for urban development that prioritizes water management and ecosystem services through water-sensitive urban design (WSUD). A fundamental aspect of achieving this is fostering well-informed and engaged communities. However, little research has explored public understanding of WSUD concepts, particularly regarding stormwater impacts on water quality and mitigation strategies. This paper addresses this gap by examining nationwide public survey data from Aotearoa New Zealand, focusing on water-related knowledge, urban water stewardship, and green stormwater management techniques.

Results show strong public support for WSUD, despite limited technical knowledge of specific technologies such as constructed wetlands and rain gardens. Most respondents endorse legislation requiring developers to incorporate nature-based solutions like parks and green roofs into urban areas. The paper identifies political and institutional barriers, rather than public resistance, as the primary challenges to widespread adoption of these solutions.

In the context of the Anthropocene, understanding how to harness community support for greener, more sustainable cities—majorly reliant on nature-based solutions like WSUD—is essential. This paper reflects the dissonance between community willingness and on-the-ground practice, highlighting strategies for scaling WSUD, embedding it in policy, and leveraging cultural values. Indigenous perspectives, for example, offer a foundation for fostering more sustainable relationships between communities and urban water systems. By integrating emotional, behavioral, and cognitive aspects of water-sensitive citizenship, this paper highlights the importance of scaling up WSUD to create greener, more resilient cities.