An interesting recent report from New Zealand highlights the importance of urban environments for population health.  Healthy Places, Healthy Lives examines research evidence and sets out a number of case studies that illustrate ways to design cities, towns, neighbourhoods and streets to promote health. The Public Health Advisory Committee advises the Minister of Health and focuses on the wider determinants of health, reducing health inequalities, improving Māori health, and the need for intersectoral collaboration. The Committee has produced other useful reports on health impact assessment, health promotion and Health Is Everyone’s Business on cross-sectoral collaboration.