Landscapes and Ecologies of Urban and Planning History

UHPH 14: The 12th Australasian Urban History Planning History Conference, Wellington, 2-5 February 2014The Australasian Urban History Planning History Group has been active since 1993 when an inaugural national conference was held.1 Since 1996, conferences have been held on a biennial basis. Urban history and planning history might seem strange bedfellows if one takes the view that much of what constitutes urban history is a chronicle of the unplanned growth, development and frequent collapse of concentrated human settlements. Yet this twinning appears to have provided a rich platform for discussion and the sharing of ideas over the past two decades and contributors are by no means drawn only from two countries. That said, given the size of the academic and professional constituency in Australia relative to New Zealand, the ratio tends to be two or three to one in hosting terms. So, having been in Melbourne, Caloundra and Perth for the previous three events, the venue, 'on this side of the Tasman [Sea]' as we are wont to say in these parts, was in New Zealand's capital city. The location for 2014 was at the School of Architecture, Victoria University, Wellington.The format for the event was consistent with tradition. A 'softopening' with refreshments was held at the National Library in the afternoon and early evening prior to the first day of the conference proper. Delegates were able to view historical short films about Wellington on a self-serve viewing booth basis and the Minister of Culture and Heritage, Dr Chris Finlayson, gave a welcoming speech. At the close of the conference, delegates had the opportunity to go on a walking tour of downtown Wellington or a bus tour to the Hutt Valley, again in keeping with a tradition that was, no doubt, especially appreciated by the historical geographers in attendance.2The setting for the conference departed from tradition a little, but not in a negative sense. The main campus of the university is well within city limits, but is perched on a relatively steep hillside, making sorties into the central city rather less spontaneous than some might hope when looking at a map. The School of Architecture at the Te Aro campus, however, could not be more centrally located and delegates had the luxury of stepping out of conference sessions into a pedestrian mall that is largely gentrified, but which remains stubbornly bohemian in places. Cuba Street Mall is bisected by Vivian Street, once famous for massage parlours and prostitutes, and the School of Architecture fronts onto this still rough-edged neighbourhood. The slightly exotic context was enhanced by the fact that while the keynote speeches and collective gatherings were held in the cool, postmodern environment of the School of Architecture main building, the main sessions were held on the other side of a service lane in a retro-fitted Edwardian hotel populated by visiting tourists and executives. Attendees could not help but feel urbane in these surroundings. An opening 'powhiri', or traditional Maori ceremony of challenge and welcome, set the tone for the conference as an event to be taken seriously in terms of issues to be covered, but the environment was 'made safe', so to speak, by way of cultural protocol. Delegates watched as others spoke on their behalf in a language and gestures that most did not understand at first. The conference dinner on the evening of the second of the three day event provided another form of cultural immersion as a local 'kapa haka' group, or Maori performing arts group, from the Wellington area performed songs and movements that told stories either of general welcome or local history. Male and female delegates were invited in gender groups to perform alongside the professional entertainers. Aside from providing some visual amusement and photo opportunities for all, the kapa haka performance also prompted a number of delegates to contrast this light-hearted experience with the sobriety of the formal welcome. …