I was in Christchurch last weekend, and Wellington early this week, and they are gorgeous cities.
Wellington deserves the title the Coolest Little Capital in the World - and considering it was up against the likes of Tokyo, Paris and Berlin that's a title worth celebrating.
So how will Auckland,
this sprawling metropolis, find itself a heart when it is such a series of inter-connected villages all with their own identities?
Wellington and Christchurch have defined boundaries - Auckland spreads north and south. We have to find a way of connecting with each other more often, metaphorically as well as geographically.
We all manage to come together and play nicely for Christmas in the Park and Symphony under the Stars - let's have a few more events like that.
Make the most of our climate and build cycleways and walkways around the shoreline. Have little days out where it's free to travel on buses and trains to different parts of the city.
Bomb every shoddily built, sky-blocking apartment building and replace with green fields and high-density buildings that don't wither the soul.
I have no idea how to harness the energy and beauty of this city, but at least we're thinking and that's got to be good.
