Auckland waterfront 2040

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Realising the vision

Land aquisition

Auckland City Council will purchase about 13 hectares of new public space that it will own and can develop into parks, plazas, boardwalks and boat moorings. We are also acquiring the rights to significant water space in the area. Along with Westhaven Marina and public spaces at the Viaduct Harbour that the council already owns, the waterfront vision of linking people with the sea and city is well on the way to becoming a reality.

Harbour Park

The western end of the CBD waterfront is punctuated by Harbour Park. This is currently an undeveloped open space, partially owned by Transit NZ and used as a storage space for bridge-related works equipment.

Auckland City Council has acquired one hectare of the park to ultimately develop this popular area for walking and fishing from the water's edge.

Westhaven Drive

Auckland City Council bought Westhaven Marina in 2004 and has now acquired Westhaven Drive. Public ownership of Westhaven Drive will help improve access to the water's edge and marina: one of the largest and most well-equipped marina's in the southern hemisphere.

Auckland City Council is also planning a future waterfront walkway from St Heliers to Herne Bay and upgrades to walkways along the Westhaven Drive part of the project.

Auckland City Council is preparing a concept plan for the wider Westhaven area to guide its development based on the principles of the Auckland Waterfront Vision 2040.

Wynyard Quarter

The transformation of the Tank Farm on Wynyard Quarter from an industrial storage area to a prime waterfront attraction is a core element of regenerating Auckland's CBD waterfront.

The redevelopment will include public open spaces; a marine events centre; residential, commercial and fishing and marine industry activities; and a new opening bridge linking Wynyard Quarter to the Viaduct Harbour. It will take place during the next 20 to 25 years and have a huge impact on the appearance and uses of the waterfront, as well as bringing benefits across the city.

Auckland City Council and Auckland Regional Holdings have agreed a formula and processes for the joint funding and rollout of the public infrastructure in Wynyard Quarter.

Auckland City Council will lodge a district plan change for the area to enable different uses of the land, achieve the right balance of public and commercial space, and provide an efficient transport infrastructure. People will be able to give feedback on the proposed plan change when it is notified.

Auckland City Council will buy about 7.2 hectares of land and wharves in this area from Auckland Regional Holdings that will be used for public space. Auckland City Council will fund the public infrastructure including paths, seats, lighting and landscaping.

Auckland Regional Holdings will jointly fund about 43 per cent of this public infrastructure as well as develop the commercial and residential buildings across its land. As part of this redevelopment, 18.5 hectares of Wynyard Quarter's 36 hectares will be developed by Sea+City Projects Ltd: the specialist management company managed by Auckland Regional Holdings.

Auckland City Council also purchased the ground lease on a 1.7 hectare site on Halsey Street this year, which will probably be used for public spaces and community facilities, and future residential and commercial uses.

Picture of the Tank Farm on Wynyard Quarter

Marine events precinct

To secure Auckland's place on the international marine events calendar, our city needs a purpose-built venue with world-class facilities and a regulatory environment that enables the hosting of these types of events.

Public consultation and research supports the need for a marine events precinct on Auckland's CBD waterfront.

A site close to the CBD, marine industries, hospitality outlets and the sea has been identified as playing a key role in the success of a marine events precinct.

The marine events precinct on the waterfront will include public spaces, water space and buildings for events such as boat shows close to the heart of the city.

This unique concept will provide an international showcase for our marine industry.

Read about how this fits in with Auckland's CBD waterfront vision (932Kb PDF)

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Te Wero Bridge

To link Wynyard Quarter to the CBD, Auckland City Council will build an opening bridge spanning the Viaduct Harbour entrance at Te Wero Island. Its aesthetics and operational functionality will be world-class, reflecting its maritime and transport functions, and its location on the waterfront in the heart of Auckland city.

Te Wero Bridge will integrate into the current and planned transport network as well as the surrounding infrastructure and environment. It will provide convenient access for pedestrians, cycles and public transport between Quay St in the CBD and Jellicoe Street in the Wynyard Quarter.

An opening bridge will also enable the Viaduct Harbour marina to function efficiently: continuing to allow boats to move easily between it and the Waitemata harbour.

Building this bridge will be an opportunity to construct a landmark sculptural structure for the harbour, the Wynyard Quarter and our city.

Hobson Wharf and the Maritime Museum

Hobson Wharf is part of the gateway to the Viaduct Harbour and home to the New Zealand National Maritime Museum, which celebrates the maritime heritage at the heart of Auckland's character.

The museum is largely funded by Auckland City Council, which will now acquire Hobson Wharf.

Queens and Captain Cook wharves

For several years, Ports of Auckland Ltd, which owns and uses Queens and Captain Cook wharves, has been developing its container-handling capabilities in the eastern end of the CBD waterfront, in response to a growing volume of containers passing through the port.

This development has allowed Ports-owned land, including Hobson Wharf, Princes Wharf and Wynyard Quarter, to be freed up for other uses.

Although Ports of Auckland Ltd still uses Queens, Captain Cook and Marsden wharves for general cargo, these wharves are likely to become available for redevelopment and public access when they are no longer needed for commercial port operations.

Port Access Roads

Auckland City Council owns Tinley, Plumer and Tooley Streets located within the Ports of Auckland boundary and Gabador Place in Mt Wellington. Ports of Auckland will gain parts of these streets, part of Gabador Place and some adjoining land to enable more effective use of land.

Teal Park

Teal Park at Mechanics Bay marks the eastern end of the CBD waterfront and the gateway to the eastern beaches of Okahu Bay, Mission Bay, Kohimarama and St Heliers.

The park's location makes it an ideal spot to watch the shipping and boating activity on the Waitemata Harbour and the helicopter-landing pad at Mechanics Bay.

In line with Auckland City Council making the waterfront a more accessible, attractive destination, Auckland City will buy the park, and transform it into a pleasant green open space with better access to and from the water and Tamaki Drive.