Comment: In today’s fast-paced urban centres, many people are more familiar with supermarket shelves than with soil, seasons, or seeds. Living in modern cities has created a significant disconnect between people and the origins of their food. For generations now, food production has been something that happens “somewhere else”—in rural areas, behind closed factory doors, or in countries far away.
This detachment not only dulls our awareness of how food is grown but also distances us from understanding the environmental and social costs of food systems that prioritise efficiency over sustainability.
Urban agriculture has emerged as a promising solution to this problem. At its heart, urban agriculture involves the production and distribution of food in and around cities. This can take many forms, from rooftop gardens and vertical farms to community gardens and hi-tech indoor systems. It’s not just about growing vegetables in pots on a balcony or in your garden (although this counts too); it’s about integrating food production into urban life.
Around the world, examples of urban agriculture are appearing as cities look for ways to become more self-sufficient, reduce carbon footprints, and improve food security.
In Japan, some office buildings now house indoor rice paddies—not only as a source of food but also to educate residents about agriculture and create a stronger connection with the land. In cities such as Detroit and London, community gardens have sprung up in vacant lots, giving locals a chance to reclaim unused space and build stronger neighbourhoods.
A striking example of urban regeneration is King’s Cross, London, transformed from a derelict industrial site into a vibrant, integrated community. The redevelopment weaves together residential, commercial, educational, and recreational spaces while honouring the site’s industrial heritage. Public spaces such as Granary Square and Coal Drops Yard (though privately owned by the developer Argent) have become social hubs where food plays a key role—from rooftop gardens to markets celebrating local producers.
How could we apply these ideas to New Zealand?
We’re often seen as a country of rolling hills and fertile farmland, but urban sprawl is starting to encroach on some of the most productive agricultural land, especially around fast-growing towns and cities. Take Havelock North, nestled in the heart of Hawke's Bay, one of the country’s richest horticultural regions. As the town grows, there’s a real risk that new developments will eat into surrounding orchards and vineyards, slowly replacing them with houses and roads.
But what if, instead of letting sprawl consume productive land, we rethought what a town like Havelock North could be? This was the focus of my recent thesis research, investigating how the town could be designed not just to accommodate people but to grow food alongside them. Such an approach would have urban agriculture integrated into residential developments from the start, the use of edible landscaping instead of purely decorative plants, community gardens and greenhouses as part of public grounds, and small vertical farms near the town centre to supply fresh produce to local businesses.
My thesis also explored the idea of a local exchange hub—a central building designed to streamline the journey from food production to consumption. The exchange would act as a logistical and operational anchor in the town’s food network, linking local farms and orchards with distribution routes. Architecturally, the hub is designed with functionality and flow in mind, featuring dedicated zones for receiving, processing, and dispatching produce. More than just a building, it symbolises a shift towards a more connected, efficient, and locally rooted food system—one that strengthens the town’s resilience.
Of course, this would require a shift in both mindset and planning. It’s not just about adding greenery for the sake of appearance, but about reimagining the urban-rural boundary. Councils and developers would need to work together to protect existing productive land while exploring ways to embed food production within the urban fabric. This could include policy changes—such as zoning regulations that support urban farming—as well as incentives for developers who prioritise food systems in their designs.
This isn’t just an environmental or economic matter—it’s a social one too. Urban agriculture offers opportunities for education, community building, and public health. For children growing up in cities or towns like Havelock North, being able to see how food is grown is a powerful learning experience.
Urban agriculture isn’t a silver bullet, but it is a practical, scalable, and community-driven way to bridge the gap between cities and the sources of their sustenance. It invites us to think differently about how we build, live, and eat. In a world facing climate change, supply chain vulnerabilities, and rising food insecurity, we can’t afford to keep our food systems out of sight and out of mind.
By embracing urban agriculture not as a novelty but as a necessity, we can build towns and cities that are greener, more resilient, and more connected to the land. Bringing our agricultural heritage to our urban centres could also make New Zealand a leader in the field of urban agriculture.
This article was originally published on Newsroom.
Isabella Mendonca is a Master of Architecture graduate from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.