Emma McInnes, the chair of Women in Urbanism Aotearoa, talks on female-led initiatives being a necessity, how to craft Auckland into an equitable city, and her excitement for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in the sixth instalment of the seven-part series on significant wāhine toa.
“Women in Urbanism Aotearoa was set up because women’s experiences of cities are very different to those of men. We want to really empower other women to be part of how we shape and build our cities,” says McInnes.
“For example, Freyberg’s Place in the Ellen Melville Centre, had lots of women designers on it and now you can see this really wonderful place that lots of families come to, and children helped decide what the square was going to look like.”
McInnes says that thinking about how children want to use the city and how they can play and engage in public spaces is what makes a city homely.
“I find Auckland to be a really great place at the moment to raise a small child. I have a cycle path where I can drop Luna at daycare and then cycle off to work. It makes it really accessible to me as a young mother.”
McInnes can’t wait to take her daughter Luna and her partner to the FIFA Women’s World Cup – she plans to cycle there and back, and get some hot chips for the Football Ferns experience!
Watch the video below to learn more about Emma McInnes’ favourite places in Auckland, her FIFA excitement, and the power of female creatives.
Stay tuned to WOMAN to see more interviews with inspiring female leaders.
In collaboration with Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
Related Article: FIFA Women’s World Cup – The Time Is Now
