THR

Even though by global standards Auckland is not a big city, it is still very big for the country it occupies. Fortunately, Auckland is not the capital of the country; they are quite capable of taking care of themselves without a capital- status.

Has there been any debate in NZ whether it is healthy for the country that one city is so dominant compared to others?

Batty

I don't know many countries where one city is NOT more dominant than others London/Paris/Amsterdam/NY etc.etc.

THR

You're right but Auckland in NZ is much more dominant in NZ than most cities in their respective countries.

happynz

I beg to differ, THR. I wager that your list of countries with a single dominant city will be longer than countries that don't fit that description.

How's Helsinki by the way? I hear its a nice place.

THR

The population of Helsinki is about 560,000 out of the population of Finland which is at 2007/2008 5,300,000.

In addition to the city-proper there are satellite towns and the metropolitan area of Helsinki is considered to be at 1.3m people. About 25% of the country.

In Auckland and NZ that ratio is much higher. Of course, in your situation we must remember the South Island which is larger than the North Island but still like some sort of southern hemisphere Lapland.

irnbru14

Well, its not a patch on Wellington though

I still see it as a bit of an Edinburgh/Glasgow thing, bit of a love hate relationship between Welly and Auckland, with the smaller city being the capital

THR

My point was that the population of Auckland is 1.3m out of a population of 4.3.

happynz

Thanks. I like that. Here I live in Christchurch, the dominant city in the southern hemisphere's Lapland.

THR

I didn't mean it any offensive way. After all, here in Europe the whole of Finland is considered one big Lapland by people who live closer to the main centres of the continent.

Arrogance really and I don'twant to be arrogant. I'm sure life in Christchuch or Dunedin is just fine though not as stimulating as it is in a city like Auckland but it really depends on what you want from life, doesn't it?

happynz

No, I didn't take it any way as offensive.

<- See, I'm happy.

I'm sure crawling through the traffic jams on the motorway in Auckland is very stimulating.

Maz

^^ One of the main reasons we don't live there. Plus I like being in a smaller city with excellent public transport. Heck we just moved over from a sprawling metropolis, certainly didn't want to come to another one!

THR

However, good afternoon to you people over there on the other side of the world.(Isn't the internet a wonderful thing?) Here where I am, I'm just gonna go to the pub because it is Friday-night.

happynz

Enjoy!

Nerine

I think people are getting Auckland region mixed up with Auckland City. The city itself has a population of 404,658, it's just that you can't see where it stops and the other cities start (Waitakere, Manukau, North Shore etc.....)

The population of Christchurch City is 348,435, Wellington's is 179,466.

pioneer7

I like Auckland

State Highway 1 as soon as you hit motorway you know Auckland is not to far way so you go somewhere else. I reckon it helps to keep the Aucklanders from getting out scared of the narrow single lane roads and helps remind the rest of New Zealand to keep clear

Closest I get is Hamilton to scarey traffic further North, not used to roads with more than 12 cars per 100km