City Centre Masterplan 2020 - Transformational Moves: Full Text September 2019 - Auckland Council
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City Centre Masterplan 2020 Transformational Moves: Full Text September 2019
City Centre Masterplan Refresh
We want your feedback on the future planning of Auckland’s Since 2012: What has been done so far
city centre. The City Centre Masterplan and The Waterfront
Plan are being refreshed and combined as part of a six-yearly • The resident population has increased from 24,000 to over The original City Centre Masterplan and Waterfront Plan
upgrade. 55,000 were adopted in 2012. We need to keep them up-to-date and
• The number of daily workers has jumped from 90,000 to relevant in line with other high-level planning documents.
The City Centre Masterplan refresh is a high-level, non- over 120,000
statutory document that supports the Auckland Plan 2050 and • Every day over 200,000 people visit the city centre The City Centre Masterplan refresh looks to build on the 2012
Auckland Unitary Plan. Together with the Waitematā Local • An estimated 20 per cent of Auckland’s gross domestic plans taking them online and combining them to:
Board Plan, these documents provide the overall vision that sets product is now generated from the city centre alone.
the direction for Auckland’s city centre. • Showcase progress
Auckland continues to grow at an unprecedented rate. Right • Reconfirm strategic direction
Have your say on the City Centre Masterplan refresh [h3] now, there is $73 billion of commercial construction across the • Highlight specific new initiatives and projects – most
region and more than 150 major development projects either in notably Access for Everyone
Your feedback will help shape the vision for Auckland’s city progress or in the pipeline.
centre and waterfront. What happens next
We need to continue the transformation of the city centre so
We would particularly like to hear your thoughts on: we can provide a cultural and economic heart for Auckland. This After the consultation period:
will help it become a great place to live, work and play.
• The ten strategic outcomes - shaping the vision of the city • We will use your feedback to help shape the direction and
centre and waterfront The City Centre Masterplan refresh provides the blueprint for content of the refreshed City Centre Masterplan
• The eight transformational moves - ideas, programmes and this transformation. • The refreshed City Centre Masterplan will go to the Planning
proposals to deliver this vision Committee for adoption in February 2020
• Access for Everyone (A4E) - a new idea for city centre access City Centre Masterplan refresh vision • The refreshed City Centre Masterplan will help to inform
future planning and council budgets to deliver on these
When you can have your say The City Centre Masterplan refresh presents a vision of a city aspirations for our city centre
centre that is:
You can have your say from 9 September - 18 October 2019.
Find out how to have your say on the Ways to Have Your Say • More family-friendly
page. • More pedestrian-friendly
• More environmentally-friendly
Why we need a masterplan
The city centre will be a place we are all proud of, feel excited
Auckland’s city centre has changed dramatically over the past about visiting, where we can do business and be entertained.
decade following significant public and private investment in
infrastructure and development projects.
City Centre Masterplan 2020 Consultation / Transformational Moves 2
City Centre Masterplan Refresh
The Auckland City Centre Masterplan sets out a 20-year
vision for the heart of the city. Its ten outcomes and eight
transformational moves are based on the six outcomes
underpinning the Auckland Plan 2050.
The City Centre Masterplan incorporates the Auckland Plan
outcomes with objectives from across the Council family, the 2012:
business community and the needs and aspirations of visitors Concept
and residents, to create a coordinated vision for the city centre. for re-using
Nelson Street
It is not a detailed project plan and should not be read as such. off-ramp as
It sets out a starting point for further consideration. Further linear park
feasibility work will need to be undertaken before commitment
can be made to delivering individual projects. This will include
investigative design, detailed modelling and an understanding
of benefits, costs and trade-offs. This relationship is shown in
the diagram opposite.
Project delivery will also depend on funding; in most cases
this is not yet confirmed. Delivery of Masterplan projects will
require applications in the next Long Term Plan funding round
and to be weighed against priorities elsewhere in Auckland.
Similarly, the illustrations and artist impressions in the
Masterplan are not intended to be absolute solutions but rather 2015: Opening
indications of the possible. of Te Ara I
Whiti - the
The 2012 Masterplan, for example, contained a high-level pink Lightpath
vision of turning the redundant Nelson Street motorway off-
ramp into a linear park, with tree planting and a narrow path.
This idea was subsequently developed into Te Ara I Whiti - the
pink Lightpath.
City Centre Masterplan 2020 Consultation / Transformational Moves 3
Eight Transformational Moves of the City Centre Masterplan Refresh
The 2012 City Centre Masterplan and Waterfront Plan contains 4: Innovation Cradle 7: City to the Villages
eight place-specific transformational moves that will unlock the
potential of the city centre. We want to: We want better connections between the city centre and city
fringe to:
Our proposed changes to these moves reflect wider changes to • Make the most of the value and proximity of the city
Auckland city centre over the past seven years. They will help centre’s university campuses • Provide safe, accessible and enjoyable journeys to and from
us meet the ten strategic outcomes of the Masterplan refresh. • Improve connections between the city centre and university the city centre
campuses • Improve access to city fringe destinations that complement
What the transformational moves include [h3] the existing offer in the city centre
5: Rapid Transport-Oriented Development • Support development of under-developed areas on the
1: Māori Outcomes immediate fringes of the city centre
New stations will create development opportunities and
We propose nine actions through the city centre and waterfront connect: 8: Waterfront and Harbour Edge Stitch
which:
• Britomart (downtown) This new move integrates the Waterfront Plan into the City
• Will visibly reflect Auckland’s Māori identity • Aotea Quarter (midtown) Centre Masterplan refresh. It adopts the vision and goals of
• Provide cultural and economic support to increase the well- • Karangahape Road (uptown) the 2012 Waterfront Plan, for a world-class destination that
being of Māori in the city centre. celebrates our sea-loving cultures and maritime history.
The proposed Dominion Road Junction LRT station, supported
2: East and West Stitch by the nearby Mt Eden City Rail Link station, will be connected • We will transform the waterfront axis – from Harbour
in a similar way. Bridge Park in the west to Teal Park in the east – into a high-
We want to connect the western edge of the city to the centre quality, harbour-edge, pedestrian-friendly space
to confirm Aotea Quarter’s role as the civic and cultural hub, 6: Green Link • Street connections north-south across the axis will connect
and encourage development that is: harbour-edge public spaces and destinations back into the
We want to create a network of parks and green street spaces city
• High density that will connect: • Regeneration of Wynyard Quarter continues, with more
• High quality homes, businesses, open spaces and recreation added to the
• High value • Albert Park mix
• Victoria Park
3: Waihorotiu Queen Street Valley • Auckland Domain
• The waterfront
Light Rail Transit (LRT) in Queen Street will transform access • The future Wynyard Point headland park
to the city centre. We want to allow for growth around the
City Rail Link stations and reinforce Queen Street Valley as
Auckland’s cultural, commercial, retail and historic heart.
City Centre Masterplan 2020 Consultation / Transformational Moves 4
Summary • The Māori enterprise, innovation and resourced kaitiaki, Mana Whenua and Māori
investment footprint is continues to organisations lead other stakeholders in
The Auckland Plan 2050 Māori Identity and grow contributing high value speciality ensuring our natural environment continues
Wellbeing outcome states that a thriving Māori businesses, and Māori are significant to flourish and is able to respond to the
identity is Auckland’s point of difference in the investors in the City Centre and Waterfront challenges of an intensive city life and function.
world. A highly efficient and comprehensive public
OUR VISION: transport system ensures that the City Centre
This transformational move anticipates a range and Waterfront’s Māori facilities are accessible
of interventions and systemic changes that will Our vision is of a City Centre and Waterfront and affordable for all residents and visitors
bring Mana Whenua presence, Māori identity in which Māori culture and identity is able to to Tāmaki Makaurau, including our Māori
and life into the City Centre and Waterfront, thrive. Built on the City’s strong bi-cultural communities outside this area.
confirming the role and function of this area foundations, a strategic approach to planning
as the traditional gateway and origin point of and investing in key cultural infrastructure The CCMP anticipates a strategic approach to
Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau. elements will deliver this vision. investing in cultural Infrastructure, which may
include initiatives such as:
Vision: As one of the world’s most diverse post-
colonial cities, Tāmaki Makaurau is widely Cultural Campus
• Mana Whenua have a prominent, authentic admired for the way the contemporary City
and active presence in the City Centre and Centre and Waterfront has developed a unique A cultural campus comprises a cluster of
Waterfron identity and built form. A series of key cultural mutualistic and complementary facilities and
infrastructure elements provide a network of functions held by Mana Whenua. Located at
• Māori life and culture and life abounds cultural anchors, around which Māori culture the meeting point of Te Waitematā and the
through an interconnected network of and identity thrives. Māori, private and public central city, the cultural campus is one of
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cultural facilities and institutions, unique development sectors have all collaborated a network of regional gateways to Tāmaki
tourism offerings, kai and a full calendar of and contributed to delivering on this Makaurau that mark our regional edges and
cultural festivals and events kaupapa, encouraged and supported by local entry points. The cultural campus is also one of
government and Mana Whenua. Māori business the key pieces of cultural infrastructure within
• Te reo Māori is fully integrated within the offerings and experiences have built up Tāmaki Makaurau, and adds significantly to a
City Centre and Waterfront, and is spoken, organically around this cultural infrastructure unique Māori identity for Tāmaki Makaurau.
heard and seen as part of our city’s day to to offer unique and authentic experiences
day life of Tāmaki Makaurau. Language, history, The cultural campus provides a place and
performance, education, tourism, festivals, spaces for Mana Whenua to stand, to host,
• A Tāmaki Makaurau design approach traditional practices, arts, events, technology, to meet, to engage with the communities of
founded on the recognition of natural, kai – contemporary Māori culture enriching our Tāmaki Makaurau, to undertake traditional
human and cultural ecologies has delivered understanding of Tāmaki Makaurau: our place practices, to do business, to exchange ideas,
unique architectural and environmental in the world. to celebrate and to flourish as Mana Whenua
Māori Outcomes responses which are recognised
internationally Māori live, work, play, study and fully
– a multi-functional Mana Whenua embassy.
Located in its prime waterfront location, the
participate within life in the City Centre and cultural campus demonstrates the importance
• Environmental health indicators continue Waterfront. Mana Whenua undertake their of Mana Whenua for and to Tāmaki Makaurau,
to improve and consistently place traditional manaaki role for all visitors and and highlights the strength of the relationship
Tāmaki Makaurau amongst the top residents, and a booming tourism industry has Mana Whenua have with Auckland Council.
global performing cities, benefitting from established around the warmth and generosity
the mātauranga Māori environmental of Mana Whenua hosting and tourism offerings The highly distinctive form imparts a unique
management model developed and based on authentic experiences of the cultural presence on the waterfront which embodies
championed by Mana Whenua and and natural landscapes. As empowered and the mana and mauri of our Mana Whenua
Auckland Council
City Centre Masterplan 2020 Consultation / Transformational Moves 5
communities in Tāmaki Makaurau. Papa Kōkiri Korowai Kōrero
sets a new standard for contemporary Māori
and indigenous architecture that is recognised A new cultural landscape is being iteratively
and admired by indigenous communities, developed through the creation of new names
architects and designers across the globe. It is for spaces, features and developments that sit
truly a world-class building, but which balances alongside the traditional place names held by
beauty with practicality in providing a home Mana Whenua. Developments acknowledge
for waka culture and for actively promoting their locations within this cultural landscape,
and expressing other elements of Māori delivered through the application of Māori
culture, traditions, knowledge and practices.. design principles and with the support of Mana
Whenua and Auckland Council.
The cultural campus is the Tāmaki Makaurau
exemplar of Māori design, and provides us with Recognising the taonga status of our primary
a very clear vision of built form that celebrates language, Te Reo Māori is fully integrated into
our unique culture and our unique place. the City Centre and Waterfront. Te Reo Māori
is accessible to all as part of day to day life,
Whare Tapere and there are a wide range of opportunities
hard wired into the urban fabric for residents
Whare Tapere is the key piece of cultural and visitors alike to experience and participate
infrastructure in the mid-town area of the City in kōrero Māori.
Centre. Importantly, Whare Tapere is the first
civic contemporary expression of a traditional
whare tapere (historically a place where people
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gathered for entertainment, often outside).
Whare Tapere is the home for Māori
performing arts, merging mātauranga, tradition
and contemporary Māori architecture in
Tāmaki Makaurau.
Located amongst mainstream theatre, gallery
and performance facilities in the heart of the
Aotea Arts and Culture Quarter, Whare Tapere
stands distinctively apart to celebrate the
important contribution that Māori performing
arts bring to the culture and identity of Tāmaki
Makaurau and Aotearoa. Hosting kapa haka,
Māori Outcomes professional dance and drama troupes, and
tertiary, secondary and primary education
groups, Whare Tapere is at the heart of a
vibrant Māori performance and drama industry.
Uniquely of here, Whare Tapere is one of the
most significant, well used and loved public
buildings within Tāmaki Makaurau.
City Centre Masterplan 2020 Consultation / Transformational Moves 6
Key Projects Preliminary Description
1 Papa Kōkiri A place for mana whenua to host guests and conduct business. An interface with the world. A place to
showcase taonga and crafts. Architecture of international prominence – showcasing Tāmaki Makaurau’
our point of difference in the world
2 Tumu Taiao An environment and science learning and education centre – bringing matauranga Māori and science
together – centre of excellence
3 Whare Waka A place to host and showcase waka and the Māori and Pacifika heritage of ocean travel, including waka
landing, shelter, mooring and housing
4 Papa Rehia Green space / play areas (multiple locations) including at the Wynyard Point park
5 Whare Tapere An entertainment and performance centre showcasing Māori culture, potentially at Aotea Square
6 Korowai Korero A thematic overlay across the city centre and waterfront and up to Karangahape Road, bringing a strong
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Māori presence through multiple projects, interwoven / laying a theme across the area, including via te
reo (spoken, heard, seen and electronic)
7 Place-based interventions Including places where people connect:
• Waipapa, an iconic marker of Māori participation in trade and the industrial revolution. Ships’ logs
records will show records of the vessels that left.
• Place interventions first identified in the Waterfront Plan 2012 that show Māori presence and
heritage along the historic waterfront and elsewhere. Including ecological restoration, opening up of
streams and creation of new green spaces.
8 Papa Hakinakina National / Regional sports stadium to be investigated
Māori Outcomes 9 Koranga Kāinga Vertical housing
City Centre Masterplan 2020 Consultation / Transformational Moves 7
Summary • Improve connectivity between the city The West
centre, Parnell and eastern suburbs
High-density land uses in Auckland city including understanding the feasibility of Broadly defined as the Victoria Quarter,
centre are concentrated in the Waihorotiu the private sector proposal to open the the western edge of the city centre centred
Queen Street Valley. Land at both the east protected historic heritage Albert Park on Victoria Park is a natural basin facing
and west edges of the city centre is under- tunnels the harbour and the Wynyard Quarter to
used and under-valued, cut off by major the north. On its eastern boundary is the
roads. This move proposes to stitch the city • Investigate opportunities for a rail station Nelson and Hobson Street ridge, the densest
centre together. (metro and regional) and bus interchange residential area in the city centre, while the
near Quay Park Te Tōangaroa to integrate western extent is defined by State Highway 1
Vision: public transport and connect the eastern and the historic inner suburbs of Freemans Bay,
side of the city centre to the centre St Mary’s Bay and beyond.
The West: Victoria Quarter
Central East-West Streets The area was the industrial hub of early
• Retune Nelson and Hobson Streets Auckland, with timber mills, brick kilns and
to address their impact on pedestrian To reinforce the East and West Stitch, boat builders’ yards dotted along the Freemans
severance, changing them to boulevards major central east-west streets would be Bay foreshore. As a result, the area has a rich
that improve pedestrian amenity and reconfigured: built and cultural heritage including the Rob
connectivity Roy and Drake taverns, the Logan Campbell
• Wellesley Street (bus transit street) and Free Kindergarten, and Victoria Park Market –
• Investigate the future role and function of Victoria Street (linear park) develop as all have had recent conservation work.
these streets for the Access for Everyone “Two Great Streets” with enhanced public
(A4E) concept realm and enhanced access to public In the few years since the publication of
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transport the 2012 City Centre Masterplan, there has
• Enhance density and connectivity of the been considerable development activity in
street network in the western portion of • Mayoral Drive becomes a strategic intra- the area, with many of its buildings and sites
the city centre city east-west traffic ring road/boulevard, coming to the end of their manufacturing and
supporting Access for Everyone warehousing lives. For example, almost the
• Deliver continuous urban fabric linking entire southern side of Sale Street has been
city centre to Victoria Park and Freeman’s OUR VISION: redeveloped, and the Union Street / Cook
Bay Street / Nelson Street block has been further
Better connecting the eastern and western intensified with the Sugar Tree and Union
The East: Eastern Transformation edges of the city centre to the central Street developments. These developments
Waihorotiu Queen Street Valley area through have reinforced the area’s role as the densest
• Investigate designs to complete SH16 to improved pedestrian amenity and connectivity neighbourhood in New Zealand.
Tāmaki Drive as a multi-way surface-level across the big north-south running streets
The East and boulevard, replacing the existing motorway
plan and to support the A4E concept for
(Hobson, Nelson and Symonds Street / The
Strand).
Despite this significant developer interest,
the area faces ongoing challenges. The street
West Stitch better movement around the city perimeter
Re-purposing of critical east-west connecting
network consists of a few major roads (a by-
product of its industrial past) and the public
• Improve strategic freight connection from streets (Victoria Street, Wellesley Street and realm is often low quality. This compounds
SH16 to the port Mayoral Drive). This would increase access existing challenges around pedestrian
to and through the eastern and western movement in the area caused by its steep hills.
• Enable extensive mixed-use frontage edges of the city centre, supporting public
development along the boulevard life and further heightening their appeal and
development potential.
City Centre Masterplan 2020 Consultation / Transformational Moves 8
Perhaps most critically, it is edged and bisected Port of Auckland) which is now significantly development potential of adjoining residual
by major transport corridors. To the north, degraded and acts as a major bottleneck for land owned largely by the Crown. Crossing
Fanshawe Street limits walkability between people and traffic accessing the city centre, Stanley Street and The Strand would become
Victoria Park and the Wynyard Quarter. To the eastern bays, and the Port simpler and safer, with reduced crossing
east, Nelson and Hobson Streets are one-way distances (widths) helping to connect Parnell to
streams of traffic to and from the motorway. • Te Tōangaroa Quay Park area which is the city, the city to the Domain, the Learning
To the west, Cook Street has become a high- sandwiched between The Strand and Quay Quarter to the Museum and beyond to the new
speed exit from the motorway. Park and is centred on a largely vacant Khyber Pass campus, bringing people into the
triangle of rail land. It represents the largest area.
It is proposed that Nelson and Hobson Streets development opportunity in terms of
be re-tuned as attractive pedestrian friendly footprint in the city centre after Wynyard The idea requires additional road corridor
boulevards. This would enhance the local Quarter but requires the upgrade of the width, but on balance, frees up land for
street network, supporting Access for Everyone adjoining primary network for its potential development (potentially including Churchill
and delivering a better public realm, a vibrant to be fully unlocked St) and provides connection to otherwise
urban community and a better business inaccessible sites. It could provide space for a
location. Opportunities for new pedestrian The CCMP proposes a series of linked new tech precinct, or student accommodation.
connections through the large blocks are interventions that would resolve some key Early estimates suggest building developments
being actively pursued e.g. Sugartree Lane and barriers and enable the emergence of a highly could provide housing for 1,300 residents
through the Union Street development. attractive and productive city centre quarter and commercial space for 1,500 workers
whilst maintaining the important traffic (potentially linked to the Learning Quarter
The East function of SH16 and The Strand. Universities given their proximity).
The Eastern Transformation represents an Multi-way boulevard At the southern extent the boulevard could
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opportunity to expand the core city centre and connect to a concept for new bus interchange
bring this area into more productive uses. Fundamental to the Transformational Move is integrated into the Learning Quarter at
a departure from previous transport planning Wellesley Street West.
The eastern part of Waihorotiu Queen Street that proposed a motorway extension of SH16
Valley includes some of Auckland’s most northwards to the port, an expensive solution Te Tōangaroa Quay Park
vibrant streets, with a growing residential that would further compound severance issues.
population and one of the highest employment The multi-way boulevard would support the
densities in New Zealand. Further east The CCMP promotes, as an alternative, a multi- development of Te Tōangaroa Quay Park as
however, at the edge of the city centre, way boulevard that would act as a large vehicle a new mixed-use precinct. Current proposals
street amenity and built form quality and corridor with improved traffic flow whilst also for the area envisage further enhancements to
intensity quickly drops off and issues of poor delivering improved amenity, connections and Beach Road, a green space network tied to the
connectivity prevail. The following features development opportunities. Green Link (via Albert Park and the boulevard),
define the area: the revealing or reinterpreting awa (the
The East and The concept, which supports the Access
• Grafton Gully, running north-south roughly for Everyone (A4E) city transport strategy,
Waiparuru and Waipapa streams ran nearby)
and new pedestrian links to the waterfront in
West Stitch between Wellesley Street and Beach Road, proposes tree-lined local access streets running support of quality new development.
which forms a natural barrier to the eastern parallel to a central heavy vehicle carriageway
extent of the city centre reinforced by SH dedicated to efficient through traffic to the As suggested in CCMP 2012, improved public
16 as it runs northwards before stopping eastern suburbs and the port area. transport facilities and services at Quay Park
abruptly at Stanley Street would dramatically improve its connectivity to
The access streets would provide for local the city centre commercial heart.
• The Strand, a historic mixed-use street parking, cycle lanes and ample pedestrian
connecting SH16 to Quay Street (and the amenity whilst unlocking the mixed-use
City Centre Masterplan 2020 Consultation / Transformational Moves 9
This could include a possible extension of some development proposition to re-open these
North Shore bus services, bringing passengers tunnels and provide a walking and cycling
to a bus hub at or near Quay Park (instead of access has been presented to Council. The
terminating as part of a Downtown bus loop). proposition features an even-graded walking
This could reduce city centre congestion and connection between Waipapa and Victoria
tie in to future land development Linear Park. It proposes two CRL rail station
entrances in the University of Auckland
The Quay Park rail station proposed in CCMP campus (via Metro-lifts) on Princes St and
2012 requires further investigation but could Symonds Street. The tunnel would allow a
have a role as part of metro rail network and person to walk between Quay Park and the
is the only potential terminus site for regional Waihorotiu Queen Street Valley in around six
Auckland to the Waikato rail service, should minutes, or ride through end to end in two or
this proposal be progressed. three minutes. The walk from Victoria St to the
Princes Street lift would be 200m, or about two
Waipapa and the Albert Street Tunnels minutes’ walk. The feasibility of this private
sector funded proposal is yet to be assessed.
The Waipapa and Waiparuru streams were
both once natural landmarks of this area. The Link: http://www.albertparktunnels.co.nz/
mouth of the Waipapa flowed into Mechanics
Bay, around the Stanley Street/Parnell Rise Symonds Street
junction. Waipapa provided safe harbour, a
source for valuable resources and was prized It is possible that following the full
for the depth and purity of its fresh water. implementation of Access for Everyone the
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central section of Symonds Street running
Waipapa was an important arrival place along the ridgeline through the middle of
for many and an integral place for the the Learning Quarter – comprising the city
establishment of enterprise and trade in centre campuses of AUT University and The
developing Auckland. A hostel was built in University of Auckland – could be redesigned
the early 1850s to provide accommodation as a pedestrian friendly multi-modal corridor.
for Māori entrepreneurs participating in the This would enable increased connectivity of
market trade. In 1966 the (rebuilt) hostel the campuses as part of the eastern stitch.
was demolished with the site set to be the
terminus of a motorway extension. Waipapa The East-West Connector Roads
fed the growth of the city and for Māori held
the promise and aspiration of a prosperous To reinforce these east and west stitches the
future. The multiway boulevard provides main east-west streets would be reconfigured
The East and impetus to restore the wairua of Waipapa, and
an opportunity to better express the identity
– Victoria Street as a Linear Park; Wellesley
Street as a Civic Street / Bus Connector (“Two
West Stitch of this historic site of international trade and
early beginnings.
Great Streets”).
Mayoral Drive becomes the Inner East-West
Today the site of the former hostel is a car Traffic Boulevard as identified in the Access for
park, under Māori ownership. It is located at Everyone concept.
the western entrance to the historic WWII
Albert Park air raid shelter tunnels. Although
these tunnels have been backfilled, a private
City Centre Masterplan 2020 Consultation / Transformational Moves 10Summary complementary commercial address to envisaged under Auckland Council’s
Queen Street and Shortland Street. As a proposed Access for Everyone (A4E) concept
Waihorotiu Queen Street Valley is the cultural, second ‘spine’ to the Queen Street Valley, it
historical, commercial, professional and retail increases diversity and enriches the primary • A4E will prioritise walking, cycling and
heart of Tāmaki Makaurau and is critical to layout of the city centre. public transport through a series of
New Zealand’s economy. interventions, informed by universal design.
OUR VISION: These include expanding the pedestrian-
This move proposes to make the area priority laneway circuit (Federal Street and
more accessible, more attractive and more More than many city centres, Auckland has High Street being the immediate priority).
prosperous, with better connections to the rest been defined by a single main street. At the The concept complements ongoing and
of the city centre. heart of a grid of Downtown city blocks planned streetscape improvements across
and sitting in the centre of the Waihorotiu the valley including Albert Street, Quay
Vision: Valley, Queen Street is our ‘Golden Mile’. Street, the Victoria Street Linear Park, and
As a consequence of this single dominant the Lower Queen Street Civic Space.
The Waihorotiu Queen Street Valley: street, commerce (national and international
trade, finance, property, investment and legal • Low Emission Zone across much of the
• Remains vital to the regional and national services) shares the area with primary retail, area, enabled through A4E, will address the
economy and the location of choice for creating a distinctly Auckland Downtown. city centre’s air pollution problem which is
national and international head offices, particularly acute in the Waihorotiu Queen
becoming even more accessible at a The success of the Waihorotiu Queen Street Street Valley with elevated concentrations
regional and local scale Valley is critical to Auckland’s and New of NO2 and black carbon from transport
Zealand’s economy. Much of the city centre’s and port pollution trapped between
• Becomes the central zone (or core) of the economic activity (approx. $16 million of tall buildings. Air quality concerns and
03
Access for Everyone concept. It supports GDP per annum) is concentrated here and it Auckland’s climate change promises have
and is defined by the surrounding low- forms the densest job centre in New Zealand focused attention on fossil fuel vehicles in
traffic neighbourhoods. It is the pedestrian- [StatsNZ] which is expected to further intensify the city centre. The Low Emissions Zone
friendly, high-amenity, safe and vibrant with transport improvements including City will be delivered as part of the C40 Global
core of the city with quality zero-emissions Rail Link (CRL) and public realm upgrades that Cities Initiative.
public transport support continued development activities
(commercial and residential). • Emergence of Albert Street as a new,
• Accommodates the proposed Light Rail complementary commercial address to
Transit (LRT) along Queen Street (subject The concentration of people in the Waihorotiu Queen Street. The growth of Albert Street
to further development) and the route of Queen Street Valley includes residents and is supported by CRL and the new station
the City Rail Link under Albert Street (in visitors alongside workers. The daytime entrances at the Wellesley Street and
construction) population is expected to double in 20 years, Victoria Street intersections. It is expected
requiring interventions across the area to free that further large-scale development
Waihorotiu Queen • Forms the extent of a wide Low Emissions
Zone to deliver the goal of the cleanest air
up road reserve space for pedestrians. will occur along this north-south street
including on the Council owned Bledisloe
Street Valley quality of any major city in the world As the city centre evolves so does the role of
Waihorotiu Queen Street Valley – the next
West site.
• Includes an extensive historic laneway stage in its story is expected to include: • Ongoing growth of the Downtown area
circuit and network of pedestrian-priority as a prominent retail, leisure, heritage and
streets with High Street and Federal Street • The introduction of LRT along Queen Street commercial destination with the success of
the priority for improvement which with general road space reallocation the Britomart Precinct bolstered by the new
projects across the area will deliver public Commercial Bay development.
• Enables Albert Street to emerge as a new transport and public realm improvements
City Centre Masterplan 2020 Consultation / Transformational Moves 11Summary Innovation Attributes Museum, which provide research and
education services
With its concentration of higher education, The city centre is a hub for businesses, creating
research institutes, specialised businesses, and developing innovative products for the rest • The clustering of business services in the
professional bodies and sources of finance, of New Zealand and for export overseas. It has Waihorotiu Queen Street Valley, the marine
Auckland city centre is a cradle for innovation several attributes that are driving innovation. industry and GridAKL in the Wynyard
and enterprise. This move will strengthen these The challenge is to leverage them fully. These Quarter, and the creative industries around
attributes. attributes include: Victoria Quarter and Karangahape Road
Vision: • The city centre location of the main • The presence of the Auckland District
campuses of The University of Auckland Health Board and the concentration of
• Strengthen the city centre’s role as the and AUT University. Both universities medical and clinical research and services
core of Auckland’s innovation ecosystem are considered in the top five percent of in the Park Road area, including the Cancer
with further development of the Wynyard international business schools, with their Society and the Grafton Faculty of Medicine
Quarter Innovation Precinct and leveraging undergraduate and graduate schools and and Health Sciences.
the value and prominence of the two several centres of research excellence. The
universities within the Learning Quarter universities are arguably two of the city To increase our level of innovation and
centre’s most important economic assets. innovative products, we must harness the city
• Better physical connections between the centre attributes and provide opportunities for
Learning Quarter and the Waihorotiu Queen • The universities’ attractiveness and groups to communicate with each other and
Street Valley supporting the universities’ connectivity with the city centre can cross-fertilise ideas. Some valuable initiatives
multi-million dollar investments in their city be increased by creating integrated and of this nature are already in place and require
centre campuses welcoming public spaces, improving further nurturing. They include:
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pedestrian connections, celebrating the
• Deliver Māori creative and innovation heritage values of the historic campus, • The University of Auckland and Auckland
potential including via the universities enhancing personal safety and applying University of Technology’s (AUT) business
universal design incubators; The Icehouse and the AUT
• Support an update of the 2009 Learning Business Innovation Centre. The Icehouse
Quarter Plan • The range and diversity of businesses, has helped about 150 firms to grow in
organisations and people in the city centre. its first eight years and has a strategic
OUR VISION: In February 2018 there were 183,300 ambition to assist 2,000 companies by
people in 24,000 businesses working in the 2020.
Auckland’s city centre is known as a world- city centre and city fringe areas of Parnell/
class centre for education, research and Newmarket, Grafton, Eden Terrace, Mt. • The 2009 Learning Quarter Plan, a strategy
development, and as an incubator of ideas, Eden, Ponsonby, and Freemans Bay. between the universities and Auckland
products and services with strong and Council, aims to strengthen the ties
Innovation Cradle flourishing links between research institutions, • The variety of affordable locations for
entrepreneurs, businesses and financial start-up businesses in city-fringe locations,
between ‘town and gown’
institutions. It is a magnet to innovative firms including Karangahape Road, Newton, • The Ministry of Business, Innovation and
and attracts high-value businesses and skilled Grafton, Ponsonby and College Hill Employment’s (MBIE) mandate to provide
workers seeking a dynamic and attractive grants and technology transfer vouchers
place. • The location of major cultural venues, to encourage business research and
including the Auckland Art Gallery, the development through its Commercialisation
Central City Library, the National Library of Partner Network (CPN) programme
New Zealand, the Auckland War Memorial
Museum and the New Zealand Maritime
City Centre Masterplan 2020 Consultation / Transformational Moves 12• MBIE has also recently reviewed and further The development of the Wynyard Quarter
committed to the Technology Incubator Innovation Precinct has strengthened the
Programme which helps commercialise city centre’s role as the core of Auckland’s
complex technology, largely the deep innovation ecosystem. New co-working spaces
intellectual property coming out of public such as GridAKL provide space for start-ups,
research organisations Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and
corporates working together in a connected
• UniServices which is The University of and collaborative environment.
Auckland’s commercial arm, and the largest
of its kind in Australasia, which amongst GridAKL is also home to Hatchbox, a
other support provides early proof of collaborative innovation space for government,
concept and pre-seed investment to support industry, academia, startups and communities
the University’s research discoveries, to work together to design and generate
enabling them to reach a point where innovative technologies, processes and policies
commercial usefulness can be demonstrated to tackle urban challenges for Auckland.
and the first steps are taken to ensure
commercial viability The transformational move seeks to support
the continued success of the Innovation
• The University of Auckland-hosted Māori Precinct and leverage the value and
research centre, Ngā Pae a te Māori prominence of the universities by better
Māramatanga, and Auckland University of integrating their facilities and activities into
Technology’s Te Ipukaera: The National the wider city centre ecosystem.
Māori Language Institute, aim to unleash
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Māori creative potential relating to their Better physical connections between the
customary knowledge, lands, cultural Learning Quarter and the Waihorotiu Queen
institutions and people. In addition, the Street Valley as proposed in the East and West
development and growth of rangatahi to Stitches (Move 2) will give the universities
drive and contribute to Māori innovation a competitive advantage for attracting
and enterprise is essential for a successful students and staff seeking a dynamic urban
future. Rangatahi leadership, education and environment. This connection also pumps life
employment are therefore key focuses for into the city centre by adding more people to
achieving Māori success and innovation city centre streets across different times of the
through enterprise. day.
• The ATEED/Panuku-led development of an As the city centre and universities grow
innovation precinct in the Wynyard Quarter and develop, there is also the opportunity
Innovation Cradle (Wynyard Central). This is focused on
GridAKL which opened its doors in 2014. It
to improve the connections between the
universities’ city campus, the Grafton campus,
now consists of three co-working buildings. the new campus at Newmarket and the
It aims to support innovative individuals, Auckland War Memorial Museum, an important
entrepreneurs and businesses to connect, public face of research and investment.
collaborate, share ideas and access the tools
they need to help them grow.
City Centre Masterplan 2020 Consultation / Transformational Moves 13Summary OUR VISION: location combined with improved transport
access have contributed to widescale
Access to the city centre is being transformed To fully leverage off major investment in rapid redevelopment including the Britomart
by regional public transport investment, transport i.e. City Rail Link (in construction) and Precinct and Commercial Bay (opening
including City Rail Link, the new bus network Light Rail Transit (proposed), to deliver growth in 2020). The addition of LRT will further
and light rail (proposed). across the city centre and enable public realm and cement this location as Auckland’s centre of
development opportunities near to the station / commercial and job activity.
The Auckland Transport Alignment Project stop locations that reflect these locations’ contexts.
(ATAP) also indicates investments that will Building on the success of Britomart will
form the basis of Auckland’s rapid transit Rapid Transport Supported Growth involve extending the node of activity across
network over the two decades. several blocks into the Viaduct, Quay Park and
The insertion and expansion of rapid transit Fort Street areas. This can be realised through
Increasingly, thousands more Aucklanders will into the city fabric will stimulate development thoughtful street and transport interchange
have easy access to the city centre and city and investment. Station areas are ideal places design that allows people to comfortably and
fringe via public transport. to focus planning efforts to leverage the safely move around the wider area. A Customs
investment in public transport to create great Street public transport street is proposed that
This move will shape planning and places to live, work and socialise. will integrate public transport services at the
development in the best-connected areas street level while minimising the severance
of Auckland, maximising the benefits of Together, the City Rail Link (CRL) stations caused by transport infrastructure.
investment in public transport. and proposed light rail transit (LRT) stops
will concentrate access and activity along Aotea Quarter (Midtown)
Vision: the Waihorotiu Queen Street Valley. The
emerging Bus Reference Case identifies the Aotea Station is predicted to be Auckland’s
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• Development of bustling urban destinations importance of new bus terminals for transport busiest station area once it opens in 2024.
centred on transport nodes (City Rail Link, to and within the City Centre.
light rail, buses and ferries) at: The planned Wellesley Street bus boulevard
CRL, LRT and bus station / stop areas in close will provide train and LRT users with a high
• Britomart proximity at Britomart (downtown), Aotea frequency shuttle service to east/west
• Aotea Quarter Quarter (midtown) and Karangahape Road destinations like Wynyard and the Learning
• Karangahape Road (uptown) will become key development areas. Quarter. Walking access to and across the
• Dominion Road Junction/Mt Eden station area will be supported by the Victoria
Station Further out in the City Fringe the proposed Street Linear Park as part of the Green Link on
Dominion Road Junction LRT station area Victoria Street and the idea of the Albert Park
• High-quality public realm connecting public appears ripe for redevelopment supported by Tunnels if delivered through a private investor
transport passengers with city centre the new Mt Eden CRL station nearby. would connect this to the Learning Quarter
streets and Quay Park Te Tōangaroa.
Rapid Transit • Support development in Wynyard Quarter
The transport access and interchange function
of, these transport nodes will generate many Increasing connectivity across the station
Oriented and Quay Park Te Toangaroa by including
these areas in transport infrastructure
walking trips, making them viable, 24-hour,
mixed-use locations.
area should also include introduction of new
through-building links and public laneways.
planning
Development Britomart (Downtown) The Aotea Quarter Framework Plan sets out
key outcomes envisaged for the areas including
The opening of Britomart station in 2003 was strengthening the area as the city centre’s
pivotal in the city centre resurgence which civic and cultural heart and key development
continues today. The central waterfront opportunities on Council owned land.
City Centre Masterplan 2020 Consultation / Transformational Moves 14Karangahape Road (Uptown) Safe streets will facilitate access to the station
area and enable seamless interchange
With two CRL station entrances and an LRT between services. While the stations will provide
station, mixed use re-development in this effortless and fast trips to the city centre, many
heritage-rich neighbourhood will become people will choose to walk or cycle the short
supercharged. Comfortable, legible and safe journey when New North Road and Upper
connections between the two stations and Symonds Street are improved.
bus services on Karangahape Road is critical
for getting the most out of the transport Wynyard Quarter and Quay Park Te Tōangaroa
investment.
Addresses the ‘connected waterfront’ goal
The effects of high traffic volumes using by improving pedestrian, cycle and passenger
Mercury Lane and Karangahape Road as part of transport to Wynyard Quarter and Quay Park Te
a longer journey (through traffic) will need to Tōangaroa, supporting development.
be resolved in order for these neighbourhood
streets to be safe, attractive and vibrant places. Refer to Move 2 East and West Stitch and
Move 8 Harbour Edge Stitch.
The Karangahape Road public realm upgrade
will be critically important in ensuring the
area is able to fully able to cope with the
change proposed. The Karangahape Road Area
Plan 2014-44 provides direction on some of
the other key public realm and development
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opportunities which should be pursued in the
future.
Dominion Road Junction (City Fringe)
As part of the City Centre to Mangere
LRT project, a major regeneration project
is planned in the location of the existing
Dominion Road interchange. The proposal
would add 8,000 residents and 7,500 workers.
Transport access will be a key enabler of
redevelopment. Light and heavy rail stations
and bus connections to crosstown destinations
Rapid Transit like Kingsland and Newmarket would be built
into the urban fabric.
Oriented Located at a similar distance to the city centre
as Parnell and Ponsonby, this site has the
Development potential to define what a modern day inner
city suburb should be.
City Centre Masterplan 2020 Consultation / Transformational Moves 15Summary Quarter to a future Wynyard Point park that Victoria Linear Park - Connecting Victoria
will become an important bookend to the Park and Albert Park
A green link through the city centre connects western waterfront.
to the waterfront’s blue link creating an A high amenity link is envisaged across the
opportunity for a blue-green park network. Background city from Victoria Park to Albert Park to the
Domain. The centrepiece of this will take the
A growing city centre needs to maintain In 2010 the renowned Danish urban design form of a linear park on Victoria Street linking
and enhance access to green spaces. This firm Gehl Architects undertook a public life Victoria Park in the west with Albert Park in the
move delivers a connected network of green survey of the city centre. It identified a lack east across the other side of the Waihorotiu
parks and street spaces from Quay Park Te of attractive walking routes between the city Queen Street Valley.
Toangaroa and the Auckland Domain through centre’s open spaces as our key public realm
to Albert Park, Victoria Park, Wynyard Quarter deficit. Further, the projected residential and It will complement the function and people
and a future regional park at Wynyard Point. employment growth requires a commensurate carrying capacity of Wellesley Street as a key
increase in the distribution of quality public public transport corridor one block to the
Vision space including more green park space and south. The vision is for these two streets to
greener streets. complement each other as ‘two great streets’
• Transforming Victoria Street into a high- redefining the accessibility and amenity of
amenity linear park that will connect Several of the larger open spaces (green rooms) the densely developed and heavily utilised
Victoria and Albert Parks are scattered in a loose east-west direction, midtown area in the heart of the city.
from the Domain in the east, through to
• Completing the development of Daldy Albert Park, and then west to Victoria Park. Victoria Street Linear Park will become the city
Street in the Wynyard Quarter as a linear Eventually, these parks will be joined by the centre’s urban green link, allowing Victoria and
park connection between Victoria Park and sizeable addition of Wynyard Point park at the Albert parks to merge. It will act as a ‘breakout
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a new regional destination park at Wynyard tip of the Wynyard Quarter, blending our green space’ for those living, visiting and working in
Point park space into the blue of the Waitematā the Queen Street Valley and Victoria Quarter
Harbour. areas and has the potential to become one of
• Connecting new green links through the postcard images of Auckland, with a wave
Albert Park and the Learning Quarter and There are many potential environmental, of green vegetation down Victoria Street from
potentially also under the park, using the economic, social, and cultural benefits that will Albert Park amplifying the already memorable
historic WWII air raid tunnels (private flow from enhanced green links through the qualities of Albert Park as a dramatic green
sector funded proposal) city centre. edge to this side of the Queen Street Valley.
• Achieving better links for walking and The masterplan envisages uniting some of our A linear park in Victoria Street will require
cycling across Grafton Gully and better most important and historic parks and open fewer lanes for vehicles, wider footpaths,
connections to Auckland Domain, to spaces through a network of tree-lined linear tree planting, more green amenity and
Waipapa and to Quay Street park spaces along a key street corridor. slower traffic movement. This will deliver a
The Green Link • More tree cover, planting and access to This would give residents, workers and visitors
sequence of attractive, safe and engaging
spaces or rooms that strongly integrate with
open space in the city centre much more access to open space in a way the surrounding built form and land uses and
that is also closely interwoven with city life. celebrate the public life of the city centre. The
OUR VISION: It would also complement the heritage and street’s traffic function can be maintained for
character of our existing parks and open the most part with a reduced number of buses
Our vision is to deliver a connected network spaces, responding in nature to the change in continuing to operate along its length, and an
of signature green parks and street spaces topography, built form and land use along its improved cycling environment.
from Quay Park and the Auckland Domain length.
in the eastern city fringe through to Albert
and Victoria Parks, and through the Wynyard
City Centre Masterplan 2020 Consultation / Transformational Moves 16Victoria Street Linear Park also provides the Street East and Beach Road/Parnell Rise and
opportunity to develop a green infrastructure Stanley Street/Grafton Gully via Churchill
network, incorporating ecological and Street, with lifts providing direct, accessible
biodiversity corridor principles to enhance vertical connections to Princes and Symonds
environmental sustainability. Street. The feasibility of this proposal is to be
assessed.
This connection of two of the city’s greatest
assets with a linear park is subject to a full In addition to the tunnels proposal,
business case process involving further improvements could be made to the pedestrian
feasibility studies, design development and and cycle facilities along Wellesley Street and
public consultation to land on a preferred Grafton Road including addressing the missing
design and address the integrated transport link for active modes across the motorway on
and access considerations as well as public this corridor. The intersections of Grafton Road
space outcomes desired. The implementation and Wellesley Street with Stanley Street could
programme for this green link can be become tighter, more attractive, and offer
incremental and will likely start with a first safer pedestrian mobility at modest cost.
phase associated with the opening of the Aotea
Station upon completion of the City Rail Link. Future enhanced green connections to the
port are being planned as part of the multi-
Daldy Street Linear Park - Connecting way boulevard (Stanley Street / The Strand)
Wynyard Point park and Victoria Park concept and the masterplan for Te Toangaroa
Quay Park which will deliver future links
Opportunities for new, sizeable open spaces through to Quay Street.
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in the city centre are mostly limited to the
waterfront areas, particularly Wynyard Point
park in the Wynyard Quarter. Daldy Street
becomes vital as a linear park, stitching
Wynyard Point park and Victoria Park together
across Fanshawe Street; and joining the
city centre’s open space network with the
Waitematā Harbour.
Albert Park and the Domain
The steeply undulating topography of Albert
Park, the Symonds Street ridge and Grafton
The Green Link Gully, exacerbated by SH16, limits the
connection between the city centre and the
Auckland Domain. It also affects connections
with city fringe destinations including Auckland
Hospital, Grafton and Parnell.
There is a bold proposal from an interest group
to reopen the protected historic heritage
WWII Albert Park air raid shelter tunnels (now
backfilled) as a visitor destination and walking
and cycling connection between Victoria
City Centre Masterplan 2020 Consultation / Transformational Moves 17Summary within easy reach of the city centre by foot or including our maunga volcanic cones and
bicycle. Increasing city centre access by active harbour.
Natural and artificial barriers restrict modes will help achieve the transport goals for Since the 2012 CCMP, considerable investment
movement between the city centre and the the city centre of reduced car travel. has gone into extending the off-road
city fringe. This move will improve the links to pedestrian/cycleway at Grafton Gully through
areas surrounding the city centre. For those already inside the city centre, spaghetti junction and connecting it to the
particularly residents and visitors, these city centre at Upper Queen Street, Symonds
Vision connections to the city fringe provide access Street and Beach Road which has itself been
to multiple destinations that are missing from upgraded. Perhaps the most symbolic project
• The walking and cycling journeys between or complement the offering in the city centre, under this transformational move in 2012 now
the city centre and its fringe suburbs will be including: delivered - Te Ara I Whiti, the Lightpath - best
safe and enjoyable captures the ambition to improve connectivity
• The Domain in creative and uplifting ways.
• Gateways into the city centre, including • Auckland Hospital
bridges across the urban motorway system, • Inner-city schools, educational and Walkability is just one aspect of the city
are celebrated and take advantage of views healthcare providers to village connection. Auckland Transport
will continue to work on providing more
• Development of under-developed sites on They also encompass the rich range of mixed- convenient and frequent bus services, and
the immediate fringes of the city centre is use village centres, main streets and inner-city with the New Zealand Transport Agency will
supported neighbourhoods including the Newmarket continue to develop proposals for Light Rail
metropolitan centre, Parnell and Ponsonby. All Transit to and through the city centre. This
• Convenient and frequent bus, heavy rail, contribute a different character and offering to has the potential to significantly improve
ferry and possible future light rail services the city centre, within easy reach of it. connections between the city centre and city
07
connect the city centre and its inner fringe locations to the south such as Eden
suburbs There are walking routes into the city from Terrace and the city end of Dominion Road.
historic city fringe suburbs like Parnell,
OUR VISION: Freemans Bay, Ponsonby and Grafton. The completion of the City Rail Link will
However, these routes are typically narrow likewise greatly improve rapid transit links
Improving connections between the city centre strips alongside several lanes of traffic and the between the city centre, Mt Eden, Grafton
and its surroundings. walking experience can be unsafe, unpleasant and Kingsland Stations. The Council and
and confusing. Cycling infrastructure is Auckland Transport will continue improving
Background currently piecemeal, with some key routes, footpaths and providing more dedicated cycle
such as Upper Queen Street, Lightpath to infrastructure, trees, and better street lighting.
The central motorway junction, known as Nelson Street, Quay Street and Franklin Road
spaghetti junction, signalled the start of a benefiting from safe, separated cycleway As improvements to transport connections to
new freedom of movement to the north and access, while other key routes for cycling still the city fringe are made, we can expect further
City to the Villages south of the city, and then the west and east.
When work began in the 1950s, the emphasis
need to be developed. intensification and development of under-
developed and valued sites on the immediate
was on getting through and past the city. This The challenge is to make this journey safer and fringes of the city centre.
has been at the expense of the city centre’s more pleasant to increase active mode travel
connections with the historic urban villages on between the city centre and also capitalise This will be most apparent in areas adjoining
its edge at the city fringe. on the motorway network. Beautifying and the motorway network, where currently
softening the motorway infrastructure will surface car parking, vacant lots and other low,
These villages, in particular Parnell, Ponsonby allow us to see its viaducts, trenches and unproductive uses exacerbate the feeling of
and Eden Terrace, are vital to the city centre, sweeping bridges as vantage points for viewing passing through traffic-dominated, low-activity
as they house a large residential population our city, and its historic and natural heritage, areas that sever the centre and the fringe.
City Centre Masterplan 2020 Consultation / Transformational Moves 18You can also read
