Maungawhau

The City Rail Link (CRL) is the largest transport infrastructure project ever to be undertaken in New Zealand.

There is an opportunity for the Maungawhau precinct 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.

The land around the station at Maungawhau (approx. 3.2ha) 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.

The outcomes sought for Maungawhau

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

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 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. These added connections present a huge opportunity to unlock the development potential in the areas adjacent to stations in the same way that the Waitematā Station (Britomart) has already transformed its neighbouring areas.

For more information on CRL, visit the City Rail Link website.

City Rail Link (CRL) construction is underway and scheduled for completion in late 2025. We’re working with Kāinga Ora, Auckland Council and City Rail Link Ltd to develop a programme business case that will help shape the precinct development plan that will outline design principles and desired outcomes to meet the needs of the growing neighbourhood and community.

Who is delivering the project and what’s in scope?

On 1 October 2020, Auckland Council formally gave us the mandate to lead, in partnership with Kāinga Ora, the regeneration of the precincts around the Maungawhau and Karanga-a-Hape stations. The mandate is to lead the development and delivery of the development opportunities adjoining the CRL station sites.

How will the 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 Newton and Eden Terrace Plan (2016).

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

Will there be residential areas, commercial areas or both?

The development will consist of a mix of residential, retail and commercial.

How high can developers build?

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 the Maungawhau precinct to be developed to a height of 18-21m depending on whether a site is within a volcanic viewshaft area.

What will it look like?

This is yet to be determined and will be influenced by the desired principles and outcomes in the precinct development plan once approved.

What is some high-level timing for the 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.

When will construction start?

Construction is planned to start after completion of CRL’s Karanga-a-Hape and Maungawhau stations, when the City Rail Link opens.

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.