Commuting in Auckland
Commuting in Auckland
Highlights
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The Auckland metropolis (North Shore, Waitakere, Auckland, and Manukau
cities) employs over one-quarter of all employed people in New Zealand.
The proportion of New Zealand’s population who work in the Auckland
metropolis has increased slightly between 1996 and 2006, from 26.7 percent to
28.7 percent.
Of the North Island’s employed population, 39 percent work in the Auckland
metropolis.
The major commuting hubs within the metropolis are Auckland Central West,
Auckland Central East, East Tamaki , Manukau Central, Mt Wellington South,
and Auckland Harbourside.
Auckland metropolis commuting zones extend well beyond territorial authority
boundaries.
Almost 9 out of every 10 employed people in the Auckland region work within
the Auckland metropolis.
Introduction
The Auckland metropolis has the largest population in New Zealand and comprises the
country’s only urban area with more than a million people. Economically, the Auckland
region is a vital part of New Zealand’s economy. The experimental regional gross
domestic product (GDP) estimates produced by Statistics New Zealand showed that in
2003, Auckland’s share of the country’s GDP was 36 percent, constituting almost half
(46 percent) of the North Island’s GDP.
Throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries, the Auckland metropolis has grown at a
higher rate than New Zealand’s other largest cities.
1
Commuting in Auckland
Figure 1
The strategic location of Auckland means that it can be accessed by large populations
from the north and south. Over the 20th century, growth in and around the Auckland
metropolis dispersed, accompanied by a dependence on private transport that led to a
“scattered and decentralised settlement pattern” (McKinnon, 1997). In the mid-20th
century, central and local government policy supported this decentralisation, resulting in
a vast motorway system and a steady decline in public transport usage (Macdonald,
2006). Recent changes as a result of local government policy and investment have
improved the public transportation system and reversed the decline in public transport
usage. The Auckland Regional Growth Strategy aims to promote housing along
transport routes and consolidate growth within the existing metropolitan area. In recent
years, the Auckland region had the greatest growth in population of all regions,
increasing by 12 percent between 2001 and 2006. The metropolis expanded by over
121,000 people, accounting for around 84 percent of the region’s growth. The periphery
however, has been expanding at a higher rate than the centre, with Rodney district
growing by 18 percent and Franklin district by 14 percent during this period.
Because of their sheer size and economic importance, Auckland metropolis’ four cities
attracted workers from well outside their basic administrative boundaries. By 2006, a
total of 479,000 people gave a workplace address within the Auckland metropolis,
making it the largest labour market in New Zealand. In comparison, 171,600 people
gave a workplace address in the Wellington’s four cities, and 166,100 in Christchurch
city. The number of people working in the other large cities was much smaller: 60,800
gave a workplace address in Hamilton, and 49,700 in Dunedin, accounting for 4 percent
and 3 percent, respectively, of the national employed population. The proportion of the
national employed population that gave a workplace address in one of the four cities of
Auckland increased from 27 percent in 1996 to 29 percent in 2006.
2
Commuting in Auckland
Figure 2
Commuting within the Auckland metropolis
Commuting patterns varied considerably within the cities that make up the Auckland
metropolis. In 2006, although just 10 percent of New Zealand’s population lived in
Auckland city, 15 percent of the country’s employed population gave a workplace
address there. Several head offices for national firms are located in the Auckland
central business district. Of the four cities, Auckland city attracted the largest nukmber
of workers from the other three cities and surrounding districts (see figure 3). Most
people who lived in Auckland city also worked there – approximately 8 of 10 employed
people. In comparison, just over 4 out of 10 people who lived in Waitakere city worked
in Waitakere city (while 4 out of 10 worked in Auckland city). Waitakere also had one of
the highest commuter outflows of any city or district. North Shore and Manukau were
significant employers of their own population but did not attract very high proportions of
people from other Auckland cities.
3
Commuting in Auckland
Figure 3
Population That Gave a Workplace Address in the Auckland Metropolis
By usual residence in Auckland metropolis
2006 Census
Percent
100
80
60
40
20
0
North Shore city
Waitakere city
Auckland city
Manukau city
Total Auckland
Usual residence
Commuting destination
North Shore city
Waitakere city
Auckland city
Manukau city
Within the Auckland metropolis, commuters travelled significant distances, although
relatively few commuted from Manukau to North Shore (just over 1,800 employed
people who lived in Manukau gave a workplace address in North Shore).
Figure 4 shows commuting zones around the Auckland metropolitan area revealing the
existence of several hubs of activity: Auckland Central West was the major commuting
hub for the area, followed by North Harbour East on the North Shore, and East Tamaki
in Manukau city. Hubs are defined as the central area unit within a labour market area
(ie the area unit with the greatest number of inbound commuters).
4
Commuting in Auckland
Figure 4
Local Commuting Areas and Hubs in Auckland
2006 Census
Note: Zones were derived using primary linkage analysis to summarise ‘area unit travel-to-work’
data. The main focus of each zone is represented by a red dot. The size of this dot is
proportional to the zone’s total commuter inflow. Zone names are derived from the area unit that
forms the focus point. The colours demarcate the boundaries of the commuting zones.
5
Commuting in Auckland
Figure 5
Employment Density in Auckland City
2006 Census
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2006
In Manukau, employment is concentrated in the west, with East Tamaki, Manukau
Central, and Mangere South being the major employment hubs (see figure 6).
6
Commuting in Auckland
Figure 6
Employment Density in Manukau City
2006 Census
Source: Commuter view 2006, Census of Population and Dwellings, 2006
7
Commuting in Auckland
Figure 7
Employment Density in North Shore City
2006 Census
Source: Commuter view 2006, Census of Population and Dwellings, 2006
8
Commuting in Auckland
Figure 8
Employment Density in Waitakere City
2006 Census
Note: Employment in Waitakere is concentrated in the north and east. The west has fairly low
employment densities. Employment within North Shore city is more central, with North Harbour
East being the largest employment hub.
Commuting within the Auckland region
In 2006, approximately 9 out of every 10 employed people in the Auckland region gave
a workplace address in the Auckland metropolis. The Auckland metropolis attracted a
high percentage of the employed population from neighbouring territorial authorities
within the Auckland region. The number and proportion of people from these areas
listing a workplace address in the Auckland metropolis have increased in recent years.
9
Commuting in Auckland
For example, the number of commuters from Rodney district grew sharply in 2006, with
5,100 more giving a workplace address in the Auckland metropolis than in 1996. The
proportion of the employed population of Rodney working in the Auckland metropolis
also rose by over 10 percent, from 37 percent in 1996 to 41 percent in 2006.
In 1996, 4,400 people living in the Franklin district gave an Auckland workplace
address. This number rose to 7,100 in 2006, a 60 percent rise compared with an
increase of 23 percent in the district’s usually resident population for the same year.
From 1996 to 2006, the proportion of its employed population working in the Auckland
metropolis increased by almost one-third, from 22 percent to 29 percent.
Figure 9
Note: Franklin district is split between the Auckland and Waikato regions but majority of the
population is within Auckland.
In contrast, the proportion of employed people in Papakura district who gave a
workplace address in the Auckland metropolis has remained fairly constant since 1996.
In 2006, over half its employed population (who stated a workplace address) worked in
the Auckland metropolis (55 percent or 9,200 people). Just under one-third of these
people (30 percent) commuted to Manukau city, while 23 percent went to Auckland city.
Very few listed Waitakere or North Shore cities as a workplace address. The reasons
for these differences depend both on the location of employment and the strength of
employment in a particular area. As figure 10 shows, Waitakere had very strong
commuter outflows and relatively few commuter inflows from other Auckland cities or
surrounding districts.
10
Commuting in Auckland
Figure 10
Selected Commuting Flows from Waitakere City
2006 Census
Source: Commuter view 2006
While North Shore city did attract more commuters, they were largely from Rodney
district in the north. The logistics of travelling from the south to the north of the Auckland
metropolis reduce the attractiveness of commuting between these areas. The
proportions of the employed population commuting from Rodney to either Auckland and
North Shore cities are split evenly, at 16 percent and 19 percent, respectively.
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Commuting in Auckland
Figure 11
Commuting Flows in Rodney District
2006 Census
Source: Commuter view 2006
Commuting to Auckland metropolis from smaller urban areas
The employment ties of the Auckland metropolis with smaller urban areas within the
Auckland region are strong and have increased over recent years. In 2006 for example,
just over 1 in 4 employed people in Pukekohe and Waiuku and more than 1 in 3 in
Helensville gave a workplace address in the Auckland metropolis. In 2006, the number
of commuters was highest in Pukekohe, with over 2,000 people giving a workplace
address in the Auckland metropolis. (Pukekohe is a secondary urban area
approximately 50 kilometres from Auckland central. It is the southernmost part of the
Auckland suburban rail network.) The numbers increased steadily over the years. In
1996, 1,100 people or 18 percent of the working population in Pukekohe gave a
workplace address in the Auckland metropolis; in 2001, this figure rose to 1,500 (22
percent of the working population), and rose further to 2,300 in 2006 (27 percent of the
working population). Statistics from previous censuses also reveal high population
growth in this area. Between 1996 and 2006, its census usually resident population
increased by one-quarter, from 16,900 to 22,500 people. This was the largest increase
experienced by any secondary urban area in New Zealand.
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Commuting in Auckland
Figure 12
Commuting Flows in Franklin District
2006 Census
Helensville and Waiuku also had substantial proportions of their employed populations
working in Auckland and have experienced high population growth in recent years.
Table 1
Population That Gave a Workplace Address in the Auckland Metropolis
Aged 15 years and over, usually resident in selected urban areas
2006 Census
Usual residence
Pukekohe
Wellsford
Warkworth
Snells Beach
Helensville
Waiuku
Employed population that
gave a workplace address in
the Auckland metropolis
Number
2,320
30
150
150
360
840
Percent
27
5
12
12
39
28
Areas within commuting distance of the Auckland metropolis have experienced high
population growth since 1996, particularly satellite urban areas and rural areas with high
urban influence.
13
Commuting in Auckland
Figure 13
The Auckland metropolis also attracted workers from surrounding rural areas, with more
than 12,000 giving a workplace address in the Auckland metropolis in 2006.
Commuting to Auckland metropolis from outside the region
Census data showed that over recent years, there has been a rise in the number of
people that gave a workplace address in the Auckland metropolis but lived outside the
Auckland region. Although fairly small compared with those commuting within the
region, these figures have increased sharply between 1996 and 2006.
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Commuting in Auckland
Figure 14
The greatest proportional increase in commuting comes from people living outside the
region but working in the Auckland metropolis (3,300 people or a 69 percent rise
between 1996 and 2006). The number of commuters tended to be greatest from
territorial authorities close to the Auckland region. For example, almost two-thirds of
people in the Waikato region that listed a workplace address in Auckland city lived in
Hamilton city or Waikato district. Again, most listed either a workplace address in
Auckland city or Manukau city, while people to the north of the Auckland metropolis
worked either in North Shore or Auckland city.
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Commuting in Auckland
Table 2
Population That Gave a Workplace Address in the Upper North Island
By usual residence and commuting destination
2006 Census
Population That Gave a Workplace Address in the Upper North Island, Usually Resident in the
North Island, By Commuting Destination, 2006 Census
Usual Residence
Rodney
District
Rodney District
North Shore City
Waitakere City
Auckland City
Manukau City
Total Auckland metropolis
Papakura District
Franklin District
Thames-Coromandel District
Hauraki District
Waikato District
Hamilton City
Waipa District
Western Bay of Plenty District
Tauranga City
Rotorua District
21,183
1,755
1,155
738
282
3,930
33
48
24
0
12
27
6
9
36
12
North Shore Waitakere
City
City
6,822
58,383
4,332
7,257
1,824
71,793
177
171
21
15
30
75
24
15
60
27
1,701
1,905
31,794
6,183
1,050
40,932
84
99
12
0
21
27
9
9
27
15
Auckland
City
5,706
28,188
30,957
140,517
40,881
240,543
3,894
3,117
105
54
261
345
84
72
195
84
Manukau
City
627
2,604
3,288
16,023
66,210
88,122
5,079
3,720
57
51
237
126
36
24
78
39
Papakura
Total
District
Auckland
metropolis
54
14,856
180
91,077
258
70,371
942
169,983
3,384
109,962
441,396
4,764
6,567
9,231
1,869
7,110
21
195
9
123
72
546
18
573
6
156
6
120
24
360
6
165
Despite the distance, several people in the North Island gave a workplace address in
the Auckland metropolis. These situations have been a consistent and growing pattern
over the last censuses and may not likely be caused simply by data issues. Census
data does not provide daily working patterns so there are no definitive answers on why,
for example, someone in Christchurch may give a workplace address in Auckland.
There are a number of possibilities, however: for example, some people might have a
flat in Auckland city and travel there and back once a week, in which case they would
have a second residence that would not be recorded in the census. It is also possible
that some of these numbers may include people that have moved temporarily to
Auckland but still regard their usual residence to be in another territorial authority.
People may also work part time from home for an organisation within the Auckland
metropolis. These figures, however, do indicate the importance of the Auckland labour
market, particularly on surrounding areas in the North Island.
In 1996, 11 of the North Island districts (outside the Auckland metropolis) had more than
100 people each who gave a workplace address in the Auckland metropolis; in 2001,
the number of districts increased to 15; and by 2006, to 20. In addition, there was a
small but consistent number of people in Christchurch and Dunedin who gave a
workplace address in the Auckland metropolis. Figure 15 shows that the majority of
these people worked in Auckland city.
16
Franklin
District
39
201
156
672
882
1,908
714
15,165
36
42
231
54
15
0
15
9
Commuting in Auckland
Figure 15
Conclusion
The Auckland metropolis has the largest employed population within New Zealand and
is a substantial part of the New Zealand economy. Proportionately, it employs a slightly
higher percentage of the national employed population than can be accounted by its
share of the usually resident population. Within the metropolis itself, Auckland city is
the most significant employer, with over half of the employed metropolitan population
working there. Nationally, Auckland city accounts for approximately 15 percent of the
national employed population. The metropolis dominates employment within the
Auckland region and is also important to surrounding districts outside the Auckland
region.
Between 1996 and 2006, the number of employed people who gave a workplace
address in the Auckland metropolis increased. In 1996, 27 percent of the national
employed population gave a workplace address in the Auckland metropolis; by 2006,
this proportion rose to 29 percent. The majority of this growth came from those usually
residing in neighbouring districts and cities, although there has also been a growth in
people living further away.
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Commuting in Auckland
Figure 16
Population That Gave a Workplace Address in the Auckland Metropolis
By territorial authority of usual residence
2006 Census
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Commuting in Auckland
References
Macdonald, F (30 April 2006). Where do Auckland’s traffic jams start? Sunday Star
Times. Wellington.
McKinnon, M (Ed). (1997).Cities and cars: The expansion of Auckland, 1940s to 1950s.
New Zealand Historical Atlas. Auckland: David Bateman in association with Historical
Branch, Department of Internal Affairs.
Newell, J & Perry, M (2003). Functional labour markets revealed by travel to work data
1991 and 2001. Wellington: Monitoring and Evaluation Research Associates and
Department of Management and Enterprise Development, Massey University. Available
from http://www.dol.govt.nz/publication-view.asp?ID=180.
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