The most livable city in the world? Flattery baffles Auckland residents

It has beautiful beaches, a temperate climate and a multicultural population that has fostered an eclectic mix of food, music and arts. But is Auckland really a remote place in the South Pacific, the most livable city in the world?

A poll by the Economist Intelligence Unit published this week ranked the city of New Zealand above Vienna, Melbourne and other previous winners, thanks to its success in suppressing the Covid-19.

Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, also raised the ranking to fourth place, while four Australian cities were in the top ten.

The survey compared 140 cities around the world in terms of stability, health, culture, infrastructure and several other factors.

“The harsh blockade of New Zealand allowed its society to reopen and allowed citizens of cities like Auckland and Wellington to enjoy a lifestyle similar to pre-pandemic life,” said Upasana Dutt, head of the overall life capacity of EIU.

The award surprised some New Zealanders who pointed to the port city housing crisis, traffic jams and low wages. Auckland was recently classified Demographics, the fourth least affordable city in the world.

European and Canadian cities fell to the Economist ranking due to the increased health stress caused by the second wave of Covid-19 cases and the requirements to maintain restrictions on social distancing.

Compared to many people who lived in cities in Europe or North America last year, 1.7 million Auckland residents have enjoyed an enchanted existence. In February, the “city of sails” hosted the America’s Cup yacht race, while spectators have attended rugby matches, concerts and other entertainment events for most of the year.

Schools have remained largely open early decision of the authorities closing the country’s borders and introducing social distancing restrictions limited the number of infections in New Zealand to less than 2,700 cases, resulting in only 26 deaths.

Friday is 104 days from latest case of Covid-19 community transmission was denounced, on 28 February.

Not surprisingly, there are more than 40,000 New Zealanders returned from overseas since the pandemic occurred last year, a trend that pushed the country’s population to more than 5 million at the end of last year.

“I always intended to go home, it’s part of the kiwi mentality to go abroad and gather experience and get it back,” said Jane Henley, who gave up a job at the World Bank in Washington to return to Auckland. when the pandemic began to spread.

Henley said he returned home a little earlier than expected in part because of concerns about gun laws in the U.S. But it has few penances, citing Auckland’s friendly culture, access to nature and relaxed attitude.

But Henley, an expert on sustainable construction programs, admitted that Auckland had considerable challenges, such as traffic congestion, expensive housing and relatively low wages.

“House prices are similar in London or New York, or at least equivalent to wages. But wages are much lower than they should be compared to house prices, ”he said.

House prices in Auckland have risen 21% a year through the end of May, with the average house price now at A $ 1.3 million (US $ 934,000), according to QV, a New Zealand real estate appraisal and services.

New Zealand faces a severe housing shortage, with some 22,000 people on social housing waiting lists despite Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s 2017 election promise to address both the housing crisis and inequality.

“The truth is we have a two-tier city,” said Jan Rutledge, general manager of De Paul House, an emergency housing service in Auckland.

“This is a beautiful city for those who have secure housing and work, but it is very difficult for those who do not.”

The success of New Zealand’s Covid-19 has boosted its economy, which is expected to grow by 2.9% in 2021. Unemployment is 4.7%.

The pandemic has also fostered a boom in film production in the country, with international projects and stars seeking security conditions and a blockchain-free lifestyle.

James Cameron is filming multiple Avatar sequels in New Zealand and work continues on Amazon lord of the Rings television series, with the government granting exemptions at the border to allow crucial staff to travel the country. International film productions will generate an expenditure of A $ 730 million this year, according to the New Zealand Film Commission.

Cameron, who is Canadian, and his wife Amis said this week in Auckland that they lived in New Zealand full time and that they “loved it.”

The film director said the past four years had been “absolute hell” in the U.S. during Trump’s presidency.

New Zealand has shown the world in a different way, Cameron added. “It’s a certain sense of duty to each other, that you’re part of a team, that you’re going to sacrifice for each other.”