This book was one of the first to explore the concept of sustainability and its application to New Zealand settlements. Upon their arrival in New Zealand from the UK, the editors of this volume noted that the concept of sustainability and its application to the built environment had been relatively underdeveloped in New Zealand's academic environment. By bringing together eleven theoretic and pragmatic contributions from those who have been working on the issue, they hope to jump-start the debate in the island country. Issues such as the relationship between urban areas and their rural hinterland, urban vs. rural lifestyles, modes of transport, social justice, urban renewal and growing multicultural communities are all under discussion.