This thesis examines the impact of spatial configuration on users' social-ecological experiences and practices within residential developments in Aotearoa. This research is based on a comparative approach using space syntax and geographic information systems (GIS) to analyse six of Aotearoa’s residential developments on a neighbourhood scale. The residential developments used in this study are currently being used as case studies for the organisation People, Cites & Nature, Aotearoa (PCaN). This thesis will contribute to one of the key areas within PCaN, researching residential design for biodiversity. The neighbourhood scale for each development is between 15 and 30 households. The analysis identifies areas of social connection namely visibility, accessibility, and movement as well as greenspace parameters which include greenspace cover, area, and fragmentation. The mutual relationship between social connection and greenspace parameters demonstrate that the spatial configuration of residential developments likely affects people's use of in- between spaces and their relationships to greenspace. Moreover, this thesis has shown that in-between spaces within residential typologies such as linear layouts have been shown to result in low levels of socio-ecological activity compared to courtyard residential layouts, which have shown to result in higher levels of socio- ecological activity. This reinforces the connection between spatial form and ecological and social biodiversity relationships as well as the need to consider indirect socio-ecological benefits when designing medium density residential developments.