Auckland is being lauded for two decades of significant urban transformation, according to its former design champion. The city’s evolution is presented as a successful “instructive laboratory” for modern city planning globally. This suggests Auckland’s initiatives offer valuable lessons for urban development elsewhere. The article, published on Newsroom, highlights the positive changes witnessed in the city’s design and infrastructure. The success implies a need to celebrate and replicate effective approaches to city-making. This perspective frames Auckland’s progress not as isolated improvements, but as a blueprint for future urban environments. Ultimately, the piece advocates acknowledging and building upon Auckland’s accomplishments.