Local geographies shape the relationship people develop with place, affecting the sense of belonging. People-place relationships vary spatially and temporally. A sense of belonging is important for new parents, who are at risk of social isolation and mental health issues through potentially disrupted mobility to places of meaning. However, little is known about how new parents experience local geographies and how planners can improve this process of placemaking, i.e. building a relationship to place. Limited research focuses on ways in which placemaking might be en-/disabled for new parents in suburbia and therewith create a sense of belonging in place.
This project aims to explore how new parents engage spatially with their local geographies in suburban Wellington and which diverse spatio-temporal geographies contribute (or not) to a sense of belonging. Through an online survey and emplaced walking/cycling interviews we will record multi-sensory experiences of parents to guide more inclusive city planning.