The 30-minute rural community at 40 degrees south

In recent years, the concept of the 30-minute rural community has gained momentum as a potential solution for improving the quality of life for rural dwellers. This approach, which aims to ensure that residents can access essential services and amenities within a 30-minute journey, has the potential to transform the way rural communities function and improve the wellbeing of everyone who calls these places home.

Aotearoa stands to benefit significantly from embracing the 30-minute community. Often overlooked, our 389 rural settlements are home to 835,000 people who deserve the same kind of planning attention given to their urban cousins; not to mention fairer access to healthcare, retail and services, education and learning, social activities, deliveries, and logistics.

So, what exactly is the 30-minute rural community? In a nutshell, it's a framework that ensures rural residents have access to a range of essential services and amenities, including healthcare, education, employment opportunities, retail outlets, and recreational facilities. The idea is that by creating communities where everything residents need is within a short distance, people can spend less time having to travel for life’s more utility based activities and more time enjoying the benefits of rural life.

Implementing this approach will require a coordinated effort between government, iwi, community groups, and businesses. A key aspect of the 30-minute rural community is the development of what are known as ‘hub towns.’ These towns serve as focal points where residents can access a range of services, including healthcare clinics, schools, and shops. By having these services in hub towns, rural residents can avoid the need to travel long distances to access essential amenities.

There are many benefits to the 30-minute rural community approach. One of the most significant is the potential to improve people’s health and well-being. By ensuring that essential services are accessible within a short distance, rural residents can more easily access healthcare, which research published in the New Zealand Medical Journal shows is often a challenge in remote areas. Reducing the journey times to essential services can lead to improved health outcomes and a higher quality of life for those living in rural areas.

Another benefit is the potential to reduce social isolation. Rural residents can often feel disconnected from their communities because of the distances they need to travel to access essential services. A May 2020 report from the Social Wellbeing Agency Toi Hau Tāngata, for instance, found that people in Aotearoa’s rural areas were more likely to feel socially isolated.

But with the 30-minute rural community, creating places where everything is within easy reach means rural residents can more easily connect with one another - fostering a sense of community and reducing feelings of isolation.

The 30-minute rural community approach also has the potential to attract new residents to rural areas. By creating vibrant communities with access to a range of services and amenities, rural areas can become more appealing to those looking for a more relaxed and sustainable lifestyle. This, in turn, can lead to increased economic growth and a more diverse and vibrant rural population.

Implementing a 30-minute rural community needs careful planning and a range of steps to ensure its success. These include conducting a needs assessment, engaging iwi and community to gain their support and input, developing a comprehensive plan, securing funding, developing partnerships, implementing the plan, and evaluating and adjusting it, as necessary.

In practical terms, realising the 30-minute rural community vision would likely involve the development of improved, eco-friendly transportation choices between villages and central towns, prioritising rural community needs in the development of highways, public transportation, energy, and digital infrastructure, and using existing ‘place-based’ assets in rural areas to serve as hubs for services. And, most importantly, tapping into the energy, enthusiasm, expertise, and experience of individuals, companies, and landowners to foster self-sufficient and robust communities that encourage local solutions to local issues.

By working together in this way, there’s no doubt we can do a better job of creating vibrant, connected communities that enhance the well-being of all those who call rural Aotearoa home. Hīkina te Mānuka - let’s take up the challenge!