City Centre

With its Waitematā Harbour setting, the Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland city centre has the potential to become one of the world’s most stunning and exciting districts for living and doing business.

Aucklanders are clear about what they want: improve waterfront connections, make it easy to get around, and create great spaces to enjoy. With the hosting of the 2021 America's Cup, some of these benefits are already being enjoyed, and there's still plenty more to come.

Auckland Council has refreshed the City Centre Masterplan and the Waterfront Plan. It’s looking to speed up cycling, walking and public transport improvements, provide better access to the harbour edge, and make the area more family and environmentally friendly.

We are one of the council-controlled organisations (CCOs) leading the delivery of significant projects as part of the city centre's regeneration.

The city centre is the engine room of Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland's economy. It generates 20 per cent of the region’s gross domestic product (GDP) and is home to many of the country’s business and financial services. Along with unique historical and natural heritage, it’s a hub for arts and culture, tertiary education, and major events.

We need to cater for Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland city centre’s rapid growth. Just over 50,000 people live here, while 80,000 workers, students, shoppers and visitors travel here every day between 7am and 9am. One in seven Aucklanders now work in the city centre.

For more information on the City Centre Masterplan, visit https://aucklandccmp.co.nz/

For more information on what development work is already underway or has been completed, visit https://progressakl.co.nz/

Given Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland city centre’s importance, to both the region and the country as a whole, its regeneration is guided by several strategic plans.

These plans include:

• The Auckland Plan 2050
• The City Centre Masterplan
• The Waterfront Plan
• The Aotea Quarter Framework
• The Waitematā Local Board Plan

With the futures of the city centre and waterfront interwoven in places, the City Centre Masterplan and the Waterfront Plan are companion documents.

The various plans also line up with and complement private sector investment, particularly in the waterfront and Britomart areas, and significant public transport projects such as the City Rail Link.

The region’s planning blueprint, the Auckland Unitary Plan, applies zoning that seeks to ensure the city centre is an international centre for business and learning, innovation, entertainment, culture and urban living. It also recognises the area’s important historic heritage, and we’re taking this into account during regeneration.

Both geographically and economically, the city centre lies at the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau.

From its sea-edge with the Waitematā Harbour, Auckland city centre includes the central business district (CBD), and extends west to Auckland Harbour Bridge, east to TEAL Park near Mechanics Bay, and south to the Karanga-a-Hape Road ridge.

Aucklanders are starting to see big changes in their city centre at an even faster pace than first thought.

Hosting the 2021 America’s Cup acted as a catalyst for projects that will have a long-term impact. We are transforming our city centre to put people at its heart and make it greener, safer, and better connected for everyone. Improved access, enhanced public spaces, cleaner air and a strong Māori identity will make our city centre a welcoming and vibrant destination - one that is uniquely Tāmaki Makaurau.

City Rail Link (CRL)

• The City Rail Link (CRL), a 3.5km-long, double-track rail tunnel under the city centre. It's the largest transport infrastructure project ever to be undertaken in New Zealand. The 3.45 kilometre twin-tunnel underground rail link will unlock Auckland’s public transport network and transform the way people travel around the growing international city. When the CRL opens, Aucklanders will have new world-class stations and an integrated rail service that will benefit the entire transport network for decades to come.

  The rail link connects Waitematā (Britomart) and Maungawhau (Mt Eden) stations with the creation of two brand-new underground stations along the way: Te Wai Horotiu (Aotea) and Karanga-a-Hape. The project will create development precincts adjacent to all stations – with Kāinga Ora engaged to help us to deliver developments around the Maungawhau and Karanga a Hape stations, called Maungawhau and Karanga-a-Hape precincts respectively.

  There iKaranga-a-Hape precincts to deliver vibrant, urban living in a part of the city that is central, highly accessible and in close proximity to the emerging rapid transit public transport network.

• Te Wai Horotiu (Aotea). Development information to come.

• Karanga-a-Hape. The land around the station at Karanga-a-Hape Station (0.2ha) is jointly owned by Auckland Council and Central Government. It will be developed to provide more homes, retail, entertainment and commercial buildings right on key public transport lines. Further development opportunities within the neighbourhoods are also being explored.

  This partnership with Kāinga Ora is made possible because of our work together in other neighbourhoods, such as Avondale, Northcote and Manukau. While our team boasts significant expertise in urban regeneration, Kāinga Ora (working on behalf of Central Government) brings substantial knowledge of urban development through their housing projects across the country.

  Together, we see this as a hugely exciting opportunity to enable cutting edge, new, diverse communities in character neighbourhoods close to the city centre. Auckland’s economy will be invigorated with places to shop, eat, work and live close to fast, frequent public transport.

• Six new ferry berths at Queens Wharf.

• Te Wānanga - a new, people-focused space on the water between Princes and Queens wharves.

• Te Komititanga (a striking, new people-friendly square in the heart of the city’s downtown) and Quay Street, with better pedestrian access and more public spaces.

• Improved connections that make it easier for people to move between the downtown area and Wynyard Quarter.

Read an update about the last 10 years of progress in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland city centre.

Commercial Bay

Commercial Bay is a premium retail precinct in downtown Auckland, in a prime block bounded by Quay Street, Queen Street, Lower Albert Street and Customs Street.

The new shopping centre, with flagship global retail brands and diverse food and drink options, is an exciting addition to the area.

Find our more about Commercial Bay.

Britomart precinct

Britomart has proved one of Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland’s most successful urban renewal projects. We continue to work closely with Britomart Group to maximise public benefit from this development, particularly how it can complement the Britomart Transport Centre.

Civic Administration Building (The CAB)

In the heart of the arts and theatre district and where council staff once toiled, a new apartment building now presides, overlooking Aotea Square.

Once development of the building’s surrounds is completed, the residents and visitors to the area will also be able to take in vibrant laneways, a boutique supermarket, luxury hotel, artisan food offerings and contemporary dining.

Auckland Council’s former Civic Administration Building has been renovated and refurbished as apartments by Civic Lane Limited, an associated company of private developer Love & Co. It’s on the corner of Greys Avenue and Mayoral Drive, which means it will also be just moments away from the future rail station.

Branded as The CAB, the upper-floor apartments are tailored to all lifestyles , including a penthouse with Sky Garden open-air courtyard, while the ground floor features a concierge plus food and beverage facilities. The building also has a swimming pool, gym and private movie theatre.

The City Rail Link (CRL) is the largest transport infrastructure project ever to be undertaken in New Zealand. The 3.45 kilometre twin-tunnel underground rail link will unlock Auckland’s public transport network and transform the way people travel around the growing international city. When the CRL opens, Aucklanders will have new world-class stations and an integrated rail service that will benefit the entire transport network for decades to come.

The rail link connects Waitematā (Britomart) and Maungawhau (Mt Eden) stations with the creation of two brand-new underground stations along the way: Te Wai Horotiu (Aotea) and Karanga-a-Hape.

Development and scope in and around City Centre CRL stations?

On 1 October 2020, Auckland Council formally gave us the mandate to lead, in partnership with Kāinga Ora, the regeneration around Karanga-a-Hape station.

The land around the station Karanga-a-Hape Station is approximately 0.2ha. The mandate is to lead the development and delivery of the development opportunities adjoining the CRL station sites, including Te Waihorotiu, which is expected to be the country’s busiest train station and Waitematā Railway Station.

How will the Karanga-a-Hape station plans reflect community input?

Input from communities will play an important role in the programme. We will work with local boards to obtain input from local businesses and communities, along with mana whenua. We will also build on any plans that have already been prepared, including the CRL Development Opportunities Programme Blueprint, the City Centre Masterplan 2020 and the Karangahape Road Plan 2014-2044.

The project will create development precincts adjacent to all stations – with Kāinga Ora engaged to help us to deliver developments around the Maungawhau Station (outside the City Centre) and Karanga-a-Hape Sation (within the City Centre).

We’ll continue our conversations and work with local community stakeholders as we progress through the design stages.

Will Karanga-a-Hape station residential areas, commercial areas or both?

It will be developed to provide more homes, retail, entertainment and commercial buildings right on key public transport lines. Further development opportunities within the neighbourhoods are also being explored.

How high can developers build around Karanga-a-Hape Station?

Planning work is underway to determine how high buildings can go in line with the proposed National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD). The proposed NPS-UD may increase building heights and enable more housing in areas of the city with good public transport links and walking and cycling options to jobs and key services.

The current Auckland Unitary Plan enables heights of 35m around the Karanga-a-Hape Station. Some buildings can go to a height of 30m if within the volcanic viewshaft area. 

The outcomes sough around Karanga-a-Hape 

We’ve worked with our mana whenua partners, the Waitematā Local Board to develop the outcomes being sought for the future development sites around the City Rail Link (CRL) Karanga-a-Hape station.

The proposed ‘Foundation Outcomes’ guiding this urban regeneration programme are:

• Environmental vitality and climate action: An exemplar net-zero carbon urban regeneration development that is resilient to climate change and focuses on the prioritisation of sustainable modes of transport and environmental vitality
• Mana whenua partnership: Partner with mana whenua to integrate mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and reflect Māori identity in the precincts
• Homes: Provide healthy, affordable and accessible homes with a mix of different types and options, to cater for a diverse community
• Accessibility: Create precincts that are accessible for all, encourage the use of public transport, and provide a safe and connected neighbourhood
• Economic & social well-being (‘Community well-being’): Provide public space, health, community space, learning, and employment facilities that enhances the existing community and enables people to thrive
• Value realisation: Creating enduring investments for the community and realise value over time.

What is some high-level timing for Karanga-a-Hape station development project?

The CRL project sponsors – represented by the Auckland Council Governing Body, Minister of Transport and Minister of Finance – are due to approve a precinct development plan in mid-2023.

We expect to go to market to seek a development partner(s), from late 2023 or 2024.

Construction on sites cannot commence until the CRL project is finished, expected to be in November 2025.

Why won’t construction begin prior to the completion of the CRL stations?

Due to the complexity of CRL construction, it is not possible to build above stations before they are completed.

Apart from the station re-build, Maungawhau is also the site where CRL is being connected to the existing Western Line and is the project’s ‘base’ for work related to tunnel excavation into central Auckland, so station-adjacent development is not feasible here until after completion.

We are working to ensure that the land can be constructed on as close to the underground station being completed as possible.

When will you be seeking development partner proposals?

The timing is dependent on finalising the subdivision plan, to show the land sites available for development, and the site information from CRL Ltd. Ideally, we will go to the market for a development partner(s) in late 2023 or 2024.