First, read regional council bounds. This geometry will be used to clip NZ-wide datasets to just the region of interest, Auckland

Create a land geocube. Areas outside Auckland should still distinguish land from water (for proximity scores).

Land use

Load the LRIS Land Cover Database (downloaded in GDB format from https://lris.scinfo.org.nz/layer/104400-lcdb-v50-land-cover-database-version-50-mainland-new-zealand/)

These classes are far too detailed - simplify to just Urban, Vegetation, Water, Other

Land Uses Detailed

Like above, but not simplifying to broader categories

Population density

Distance from major roads

Distance from CBD

Slope

Building Consents

bus stops

Train stations

Car Parks

Schools

Hospitals