Category: Local Government

Source: Auckland Council

Since 2019, the Ngā Puna Pūkenga skills for industry programme has supported more than 1000 Aucklanders into sustainable employment with contractors to Auckland Council through social procurement.

To celebrate this milestone, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and Minister of Social Development Louise Upston met with some of the programme’s industry partners at the Fulton Hogan-managed Watercare Waikōwhai worksite today. 

“It makes perfect sense for Auckland Council to leverage its considerable purchasing power to support people in business who invest in the people that work for them. In the end, we all share in the economic and social benefits,” says Mayor Brown.

Under Ngā Puna Pūkenga, Auckland Council and MSD work in partnership with council contractors like Fulton Hogan and small-to-medium-sized industry employers to create newly established roles for people who face barriers to the employment market.

The business must provide permanent full-time employment and a living wage, with at least one year of training and workplace mentoring.

The Ngā Puna Pūkenga team, based within council, support these businesses with recruitment, onboarding and pastoral care, as well as MSD-funded training and wage subsidies. 

Based on 1000 job placements, the programme has an impressive employment retention rate of 80% at two years. As of May 2024, 70% of the programme’s participants were still off benefits.

Ngā Puna Pūkenga began as a modest initiative in Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters team.

General Manager of Healthy Waters, Craig McIlroy says, “When we started this programme, the aim was to create 60 new jobs in the first year. We encouraged and supported council contractors that we worked with to take on people who were facing barriers to employment, particularly Māori and Pasifika, and young people.”

“Achieving more than 1000 job placements in five years has far exceeded our expectations. It’s humbling to be part of a programme that has changed people’s lives. The success of Ngā Puna Pūkenga means success for people in Auckland who have struggled to gain full-time employment or access to the support and training needed for skilled jobs.”

With the support of Mayor Brown and increased MSD funding of up to $3.8 million for the 2025 financial year, Ngā Puna Pūkenga is now being actively rolled-out across all of Auckland Council.

“We are thankful for the support of the Ministry of Social Development and its continued funding for Ngā Puna Pūkenga. This year, we have committed to achieving 300 employment outcomes putting 300 people into jobs, which is 100 more than last year,” says McIlroy.

“The sectors that Ngā Puna Pūkenga employees work in, such as infrastructure and construction, are helping to keep our region running effectively as it grows.”

MSD Director Industry Partnerships, Amanda Nicolle, reflects that when the right mechanisms are in place, local and central government working together can have significant impact.

“Over the past five years, Ngā Puna Pūkenga has been building a way of working across local and central government, and industry, that demonstrates how local initiatives with central funding can support individuals, suppliers of all sizes and communities to be better off. It is a model we are proud of,” says Nicolle.

The model for the programme, developed and refined by Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters team, is now being trialled by other city councils.

“Our Healthy Waters team has set the gold standard for social procurement in local government, and people are taking notice. The secret to this success is their hard work and aroha,” says Mayor Brown.

About Ngā Puna Pūkenga

For Ngā Puna Pūkenga, the goal is simple – to support Aucklanders into sustainable employment today, while building skills for tomorrow.

Ngā Puna Pūkenga partners with council contractors to create sustainable employment. This means getting people into work, keeping them in work, and providing opportunities for them to advance over time.

The programme creates sustainable employment for Aucklanders who may face barriers to the job market, including long-term unemployed, young people not in employment, education or training, Māori and Pasifika, and people with disabilities.

This year, eligibility expanded to include displaced workers, who have lost their jobs due to business closures or downsizing, and women in male-dominated industries like construction and transport.

The types of roles recruited reflect the types of goods, services and works procured by Auckland Council. They can range from entry-level labourer to quantity surveyor.

Under the programme, contractors to Auckland Council enter into an agreement with Ngā Puna Pūkenga to take on an employee in a newly created role.

In return, the Ngā Puna Pūkenga team provides tailored advice and support around recruitment, onboarding and skills development, including MSD-funded pre-employment and in-work training, wage subsidies, and pastoral care.

Source: Auckland Council

The Te Wero Wynyard Crossing Bridge, an important link between Auckland City Centre and the Wynyard Quarter, has been closed to the public since March 2024 to undergo a significant programme of preventative maintenance works.

This includes a full overhaul of old mechanical and electrical parts, sand-blasting and remedying steelwork and applying new protective coatings. At the completion of the physical works, a thorough commissioning process and acceptance tests will be conducted to ensure the bridge is reliable and safe for public use. 

While the works are carried out, the bridge will remain closed to pedestrians. When the spans are in place, but the bridge is out of operation, the spans legally have to remain upright to allow free access to marine traffic, a condition of the bridge’s resource consent.

The bridge is due to return to full service in December 2024. 

Because of the complexity of this project and the nature of the works, a date for the bridge to reopen to the public is still to be confirmed.  As the project team get further through the programme and gain more certainty around remaining tasks, they will be able to more accurately specify a completion date. 

There are two programmes of works underway – structural, i.e. the physical bridge itself, and mechanical and engineering (M&E), i.e. everything needed to operate the bridge. 

These maintenance programmes have been running independently of each other and will soon reach the point where they will integrate as we enter the final phases of this large, complex project and the bridge is rebuilt in Wynyard Quarter. 

The return of the physical structures, including the spans and engine rooms, will allow specialist technicians to begin the works to reanimate the bridge.  So while it might look like it’s back and should be open, there will be a lot going on behind the scenes for the recommissioning in December to ensure long-term durability and reliability.

Below is further information on what works are underway in September.  We’ll be providing this monthly update until the bridge returns to service.

Stay connected and informed

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What is happening in September?

Structural works have seen the removable steel parts of the bridge, including the spans and engine rooms, relocated to a purpose-build compound on Wynyard Wharf for protective coating repairs using a jack-up barge. Doing this work offsite meant it could be done quickly and efficiently, with less disruption for surrounding users and reduce the risks associated with health and safety.

Safety hoardings have been installed on Karanga Plaza and Te Wero Island to secure the area around the parts of the bridge that can’t be moved to allow on-site works. 

Structures and wraps will enclose these spaces while works are underway to contain any discharge including dust and paint flakes

Once these works are complete, the jack-up barge will return bridge elements for reinstallation. Lifting each part individually into position is just the start, as once secured there is still a lot to do to ready the bridge for service. This includes starting the work to fully refit and rewire the entire structure so that it’s operational again, which will take a couple of months to complete.

Considerable maintenance has been underway on the mechanical components since the bridge closed in March, with the majority of parts replaced or refurbished including winches and cables. 

Because parts for this specific bridge are no longer manufactured, meaning there are no ‘off-the-shelf’ options available, comparable parts have been commissioned or imported and are either being adapted for use off site ready for installation, or will be as they’re refitted.

Additionally, the maintenance team has checked and restocked spares, ensuring good stocks of consumables are available locally when needed in future, and ensuring long lead items are held as critical spares.

Next month will see the engine room reinstallations begin – we’ll have more updates on that and other works at the beginning of October.

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council invites all Aucklanders to explore Pacific ties at the upcoming Auckland Heritage Festival, which runs from 28 September to 13 October, with the theme of Moana Oceania.

Returning for its 20^th year, the two-week festival includes talks, walks, exhibitions, performances, and workshops right across Tāmaki Makaurau. It offers the opportunity to explore and commemorate the region’s Pacific history and heritage. This year marks important anniversaries such as the 50th anniversary of Niue self-government. It also recognises the historical impact of the dawn raids on Pacific communities 50 years ago.

“How we define heritage continues to evolve and change, as we learn more about the rich tapestry of our city”, says Councillor Julie Fairey, deputy chair of the Auckland Council Community Committee.

“The Auckland Heritage Festival aims to highlight how heritage influences the character and quality of Auckland’s places and landscapes from maunga (mountain) to moana (sea). This year’s theme, Moana Oceania, gives us all opportunities to better understand and celebrate the many ways Pacific cultures have enriched Tāmaki Makaurau and laid out the foundations we stand on today”.

Auckland Council Heritage Manager Noel Reardon says there will be something on offer for all to enjoy at this year’s festival and emphasises the importance of heritage for the region.

“Our heritage is incredibly valuable and it’s important to make an active effort to share stories and traditions with our rangatahi. Understanding our past not only paves the way for a better future, but also helps keep culture and traditions alive,” Mr Reardon says.  

“We’re very excited to shine a light on our Pacific communities this year and look forward to the events that showcase our Pacific ties through history,”

“Auckland Council has now been running this annual festival for 20 years, and it’s always inspiring to see such dedicated event hosts and a positive turnout year-on-year. One of the many great things about the festival is the range of activities – it lends itself to a wide audience as there’s always something for everyone.”

“I encourage Aucklanders to consider an outing with friends and whānau, perhaps with tamariki over the school holidays, and explore all that the Auckland Heritage Festival has to offer.”

Visit Auckland Heritage Festival for the full programme of 130 free or low-cost events that will run between 28 September – 13 October 2024 throughout Tāmaki Makaurau.

Event highlights include:

Exploring the King of Tonga’s Trees at Atalanga

Learn about the unique history and value of some of Auckland’s finest trees in their historic settings on The Tree Council’s guided walking tour of Atalanga, the King of Tonga’s Auckland Residence in Epsom.

Tongan Indigenous Knowledge Showcase

Our elderly Tongans possess a wealth of Tongan indigenous knowledge, and Fe’unukoula – Academy of Tongan Arts, Dance and Culture – would like to honour the uniqueness of these skills and knowledge in the Heritage Festival. Fe’unukoula Director Losalia Pusiaki Fifita leads a showcase explaining different types of attire worn by Tongan people. Visit our Tongan village and join in to learn about the skills of making table mats, wall hangings, laundry baskets, beautiful and colourful leis, the art of mat weaving and sinnet braiding, Tongan dancing and lots more.

Guided Pasifika Heritage Walk of Ponsonby

Take a stroll with charismatic Samoan street historian Reverend Mua Strickson-Pua along Ponsonby Road and discover the Pacific urban history and stories of Ponsonby. Hear about Pacific urban migration, dawn raids on overstayers, the Springbok Tour protest, the Polynesian Panthers, and much more.

Tuia Mātauranga: The Ocean That Binds Us Together

Uncover the rich voyaging traditions and cultures of Moana Oceania – the Pacific Ocean.

Embark on a journey with storytellers Sonny Natanielu and Tony Marsters as they take you through the extraordinary achievements of the Pacific voyagers, highlighting their mātauranga, innovation and navigation prowess across the vast Pacific Ocean.

Immerse yourself in the Tuia exhibition, delving into the tapestry of our migration history and settlement, prompting reflection on Aotearoa today and our collective aspirations for the future.

Fakafetuiaga

Reminisce and celebrate our beautiful Niue! Niue celebrates its 50th anniversary of self-governing, highlighting its relationship with Aotearoa. The island is commonly referred to as ‘The Rock’ of Polynesia, and it was European sailor Captain Cook who coined the famous phrase ‘Savage Islands’.

Through historical imagery, we explore the timeless stories of Niue, the memories and identity that grounds our Niuean communities here in Aotearoa and abroad.

Sustainable Conservation of Pacific Art and Heritage

The team at Studio Izzo talk about their experiences working with Pacific artists on their artworks and more. As part of its everyday activities, Studio Izzo receives many items including those from public art galleries and communities. The talk explores some of these items, their meanings, and sustainable conservation methods for Pacific treasures. You are welcome to bring your own objects to discuss – the team is keen for questions about your treasures!

Source: Auckland Council

New Lynn’s Ceramic House, the former home of Crown Lynn pottery, is one of 11 places that will be added to Auckland’s heritage schedule following today’s Planning and Policy Committee (previously the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee).  

Chair of the committee, Councillor Richard Hills, says heritage plays an important role in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s identity.  

“Auckland’s heritage schedule contains places that help tell the story of Tāmaki Makaurau. It includes buildings, cultural landscapes, archaeological sites, gardens and notable trees.  

“Though built not that long ago, Ceramic House is an important and quirky expression of New Lynn’s ceramics industry when it was at its peak in the 1960s. It’s one of two places in the area remaining from that time. The other is Ambrico Kiln, which is also on the heritage schedule.” 

Ceramic House was built for Consolidated Brick and Pipe Investments, best known for the Crown Lynn pottery brand. It was built in 1969, when Crown Lynn pottery could be found in around 60% of New Zealand households. Displaying the versatility of the company’s products was part of the brief for the building. They feature throughout – from ceramic door handles and toilet roll holders, to the reinforced brick walls. 

Noel Reardon, Manager of Heritage at Auckland Council says Ceramic House is a reminder of New Lynn’s pottery production. Not only that, but it was also designed by a notable architect and is an intact example of building design being influenced by technology. 

“Ceramic House is one of renowned architect Neville Price’s works, recognisable for its unique three-storey dodecagon (12-sided) shape. It was built especially to house a new computer.” 

“Computers in were much, much bigger in the 1960s than they are today. Price was asked to design the entire building so it could fit the new computer, which took up a whole room. It’s one of the first ‘computer buildings’ in Tāmaki Makaurau and a rare example of when computers defined the form and function of a building,” he says. 

The completion of Ceramic House marked an exciting point in Neville Price’s career. He went on to be commissioned to build commercial and residential buildings across the city and, at one point, had the biggest architecture firm in New Zealand. His best-known work is the iconic West Plaza at 1 Albert Street in central Auckland, completed in 1974.  

Ceramic House has been added to the heritage schedule following a public nomination received in 2019. It falls within Category A on the schedule, recognised for its outstanding heritage significance. 

For more information on Ceramic House and the other places added to the heritage schedule at today’s committee meeting, please visit the Auckland Council website.  

Auckland Heritage Festival takes place from 28 September – 13 October. Find out more on OurAuckland.  

Source: Auckland Council

Time is running out for storm-affected Auckland homeowners to register to find out about any future risk to life at their home, and if they qualify for construction funding or a council buy-out.

Identifying future danger

Following major storms early last year, Auckland Council has been assessing and categorising affected properties based on whether there is an ‘intolerable risk to life’ from future storms, and whether there is anything that can be done to reduce the risk. 

There are construction and consenting grants available for homeowners to do work on their property that will reduce this risk to life, including building retaining walls and shifting or raising the home. Where there is nothing that can be done on the property or in the community to reduce this risk, the council is offering a voluntary buy-out at a valuation before any storm damage.

Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson says 2023 for Auckland will go down in history as one of the darkest times for our city after the pandemic.

“A years’ worth of rain in just a few months was unprecedented and unstoppable. There was tragedy through the loss of lives, homes and livelihoods,” says Ms Simpson.

“Sadly, there is a strong likelihood that we will experience severe weather events like this again. Signing up for these assessments will give those who live in flood prone properties a better understanding of the future risk at their home and a potential opportunity for support, especially where an intolerable risk to life is identified due to the location of their property.

“There are only few more weeks for affected homeowners to register for this one-off opportunity. I strongly encourage you to get in touch, as if you’re not in the programme you will not be eligible for additional support. We are acutely aware of the stress some homeowners are still experiencing so please, if you or someone you know could benefit from this assessment and support, please share the information and deadline date.”

Desley Simpson (centre) visiting flood impacted neighbourhoods in Māngere

A one-off, limited offer

With a 30 September deadline to register for the categorisation programme, Natural and Built Environment Lead, Craig Hobbs, says just over 40% of more than 7000 properties impacted across Auckland have signed up.

“We are making a special effort to reach homeowners we think could be at high risk but haven’t heard back from many of them. Support under the categorisation programme might be the best and last option to receive local and central government support to make their home safe or move somewhere safer,” Mr Hobbs says.

“It’s a voluntary programme, but we are strongly urging high risk homeowners to consider registering. These include those that had over half a metre of flooding in their home, received a red or yellow placard (sticker), or were affected by a landslide. It’s also important owners in impacted multi-unit developments, like apartment buildings or townhouse complexes, look at registering.”

Homeowners in these high-risk situations are strongly encouraged to consider registering as soon as possible before the 30 September registration deadline. To find out more and register, visit ourauckland.nz/storms or call our Recovery Office team on 09 884 2070.

Craig Hobbs, Natural and Built Environment Lead. Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Office

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council is supporting a raft of events and activations in celebration of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori and Mahuru Māori for Aucklanders to get onboard the waka and enjoy.  

The theme for Te Wiki 2024 is ‘Ake ake ake – A Forever Language’. It represents the resilience, adaptability and endurance of te reo Māori. It also reflects the commitment New Zealanders have made to embracing and learning te reo Māori long into the future. 

Te Rawhitiroa Bosch. A Whakairo, Māori Carving. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

To whakanui (celebrate) this, Auckland Council is supporting an extensive and joyous programme across Tāmaki Makaurau, offering numerous ways to learn and experience te reo Māori and be part of its flourishing through reading, watching, listening, learning, singing and playing. 

‘Ki te hoe!’ ‘To the paddle!’ Here’s our top ten ways you and your whānau can get moving on this waka: 

1. Read a children’s book that reads along with you in te reo Māori 

Auckland Council Libraries has teamed up with global company Library Ideas in a world-first to translate and add spoken Māori to six children’s books. The books come with VOX readers attached to their front covers, which read the books aloud. Listen along to narrators such as renowned Māori actors Miriama McDowell and Kimo Houltham. They’re perfect for tamariki (children) or pakeke (adults) learning a new language to help them match the words to the sounds. 

2. Visit Auckland Central City Library’s uplifting new exhibition: Wawaia Ngā Ngutu 

Auckland Central City Library is thrilled to announce an uplifting new exhibition Waiwaia Ngā Ngutu ahead of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, celebrating the eloquence and expression of te reo Māori from the early nineteenth century to the present day.  

This free exhibition, which runs from Wednesday 4 September 2024 – 1 February 2025, provides visitors with a showcase of never-before publicly seen taonga Māori (Māori treasures) from Auckland Council Libraries Heritage Collections, accompanied by a rich soundscape that brings the written word to life and affirms the essence of te reo Māori: a language heard and spoken with eloquence.      

3. Listen to kōrero from esteemed authors and activists to enrich your reo 

In celebration of the Waiwaia Ngā Ngutu exhibition, Auckland City Central Library is hosting a conversation between award-winning authors Shilo Kino (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Maniapoto) and Hēmi Kelly (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tahu, Ngāti Whāoa) on 12 September 2024 from 6pm-7pm. Kino’s recently published novel All That We Know follows Māreikura as she works to reclaim her reo Māori, while also navigating personal relationships and a growing public profile. Shilo will be joined on stage by Hēmi Kelly, author of A Māori Word a Day, A Māori Phrase a Day, expert translator, and host of the Everyday Māori Podcast. A Māori language teacher, Hēmi started learning te reo Māori as a teenager and is a passionate advocate for the revitalisation of reo Māori. 

4. Watch Ngako, a new documentary film episode at Aotea Square 

Ngako: The Collections Talk is a documentary film series that explores the taonga held in Auckland Council Libraries Heritage Collections. This Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, a new Ngako episode will be released for Waiwaia Ngā Ngutu on the big screen at Aotea Square, taking a closer at the specially selected exhibition taonga that capture the eloquence of te reo Māori in written form.

Come and journey with narrators who illustrate how documentary heritage collections help us understand our past and our present and show us potential paths into our future. Check this out on the digital stage at Aotea Square during Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori. 

5. Learn te reo Māori from your local library or Maunga 

“Kia ora, ko wai koe? Kei te pēhea koe?” (“Hello, who are you? How are you?”) Auckland Council Libraries offer te reo Māori classes across Tāmaki Makaurau to Aucklanders with any level of ability, an entry point to learn the language of Aotearoa and enrich your understanding of Māori culture.

As Auckland Council Libraries kaiako (teacher) Yvonne Te Wanihi Edwards says, “The more you use the conversation, the more you hear it, the easier it becomes.”

We encourage everyone to give it a go and ako i te reo (learn the language). 

Alternatively, you can head over to Love Your Maunga Facebook and Instagram pages for an audio pronunciation guide of ‘Ngā Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau’ (the ancestral mountains of Auckland). Look out for our ‘Te Reo o Te Taiao’ phrasebook and connect with the beauty of our Maunga. Give it a go, karawhiua! 

6. Take on a challenge for Mahuru Māori 

Mahuru Māori is a reo Māori challenge that came about as a personal social experiment by language revitalisation expert and activist Paraone Gloyne in 2014 as a way of broadcasting te reo and normalising it in everyday interactions. The challenge is to consciously use as much reo Māori as you can during the month of Mahuru. Regardless of whom you speak to, where you speak it, and how long you speak it for – you’ll speak only in te reo Māori. Mahuru Māori is a great opportunity for everyone to speak te reo Māori. It doesn’t matter what your current level of Māori language may be, we encourage you to take up the challenge! Check out some challenge ideas and register here. 

7. Play a giant game of Kupurori (Māori scrabble) 

Auckland City Central Library is hosting a series of ‘Kupurori’, Māori scrabble using a giant board and pū (letters) throughout Mahuru Māori. Come along on the 12, 19, or 26 September 2024 and join the Merge Community and some of our street whānau to a game taking turns to form kupu Māori (words) and test your reo. Kupurori is a project designed by whānau, for whānau, and prototyped by the Merge Community team, through Lifewise. 

8. Put on your own event, learn te reo or spark up a kōrero i te reo Māori  

Head along to the website Te Wiki o te Reo Māori to download their free resources which include Māori wordlists, zoom backgrounds, question prompts, pronunciation posters, event hosting guides, and more! They’re all designed to awhi (help) you to do something for te reo, no matter how big or small.

9. Watch the Vector Lights on Auckland Harbour Bridge light up for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori 

15-19 September, 6:30pm to midnight 

Vector Lights on the Auckland Harbour Bridge will be shining bright during Te Wiki, drawing on the iconic ‘Kia Kaha te reo Māori’ heitiki (logo) and the colours of the arero (tongue).

The colours represent the rākau (cuisenaire rods) used in teaching the Ataarangi language method, familiar now to decades of school children and adults in the revitalisation of te reo Māori. 

Photo credit: Brett Phibbs

10. See Auckland city centre’s Te Wiki o te Reo Māori large-scale activations 

Light installations, a wall of 28 posters, a park, and the pages of a giant book are all celebrating Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori in Auckland’s city centre.

From the changing lights of Whai, an artwork on the Victoria Street East carpark inspired by the traditional Māori string game that reflects the red of a teacher’s pen, to a giant book by Peter Gossage ‘How Māui Slowed the Sun’ that takes two or three children to turn each page at Auckland Central City Library, to a fun new way to learn waiata at Myers Park’s Waimahara where a soundtrack and light effects burst into song with you, there’s plenty to check out in our city centre. 

For a full programme of city centre experiences learn more here: City centre turns a new page for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori and Mahuru Māori.

Source: Auckland Council

In 2026, New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project, City Rail Link (CRL), will be complete. Auckland will have an underground rail system that will transform the way people travel. 

Before we can enjoy this momentous occasion, we need to prepare our city centre for this important addition and the expected influx of people that will come with it.

Some of the most significant work is happening in midtown, surrounding CRL’s Te Waihorotiu Station, which is expected to be New Zealand’s busiest train station.

In 2026, alongside a new train station, midtown will also have:

• A dedicated bus interchange outside Te Waihorotiu Station, enabling better connections between bus and train.

• Wider streets with seating options and trees to seek shade under.

• Separated bike lanes.

• Stunning Māori artwork and design integrated into the new streets and spaces.

• An improved wastewater network to support more inner-city growth and jobs.

• More private developments, bringing more homes, shops, entertainment and workplaces to midtown.

Jenny Larking, Auckland Council Head of City Centre Programmes, describes the midtown that Aucklanders and visitors can expect and the work ahead to get midtown humming.

“It is hard to imagine what this new midtown will look and feel like, just as it was hard for us to imagine a Quay Street that wasn’t dotted with cones and fences a couple of years back. But look at Quay Street and our new waterfront now, they are world-class destinations, and midtown will be no different.

Quay Street mid-construction (photo credit Patrick Reynolds) and the finished street.

“Towards the end of this year, we will begin to see more construction fences coming down and spaces being opened back up for Aucklanders to enjoy.

“However, a number of focused construction areas will remain safely fenced off for a while longer on Victoria Street, Wellesley Street, and Mayoral Drive. Next month – that’s October – Watercare will also begin their upgrade of the wastewater network below Queen Street.”

“We recognise there’s a lot of work happening in midtown, but coordinating the projects means less disruption overall, and we avoid having to come back to do more work in completed spaces.”

“While construction will always be part of any modern city centre, we are getting a lot of the upgrades done now, so when CRL opens we can enjoy a regenerated midtown, free from significant public construction,” says Larking.

Map showing the projects in midtown.

Over the next 18 months the Auckland Council Group, Vector and City Rail Link Ltd will continue to work together to transform midtown, with exciting milestones to look forward to along the way:

October 2024

• Victoria Street will have 11 new native trees greening the fringes of the redesigned street, including: pōhutukawa, pūriri, taiaire and titoki, along with 900 new plants creating vibrant understories beneath the canopies. Find out more here.

• Watercare will begin their upgrade of the city centre wastewater network, under Queen St between Mayoral Drive and Victoria Street. This upgrade will unlock city centre growth to more homes and jobs and reduce the risk of overflows into the Waitematā. Read more about this work here.

End of 2024

• Victoria Street West between Elliott Street and Queen Street will open to the public, with widened footpaths and new places to sit.

Early 2025

• Victoria Street East between Kitchener Street and High Street will open to the public, with widened footpaths and new places to sit.

• The northern side of Wellesley Street West between Albert Street and Queen Street will be upgraded and open to the public.

Mid 2025

• Another critical cycle link on Victoria Street will be added, meaning people can safely cycle from the bottom of College Hill in Freemans Bay to Queen Street adding to the expanding cycling network in Auckland.

• A completely upgraded Albert Street from downtown to Mayoral Drive.

End of 2025

• Watercare finishes upgrading a critical part of the city centre’s wastewater network, under Queen Street.

• With the wastewater upgrades complete on Queen Street, Auckland Council will begin upgrading the last section of Te Hā Noa on Victoria Street East between Queen Street and High Street.

• Wellesley Street West will have four new bus shelters, wider footpaths, safer pedestrian crossings, and more places to sit, from Queen Street to Albert Street.

• Construction will be complete on Te Waihorotiu Station and the surrounding streetscape. Auckland Transport and City Rail Link will carry out the last of the required testing before they open the turnstiles on the new train system.

In 2026

• Our world-class underground rail system will be ready to welcome passengers for the first time.

• Te Waihorotiu Station will be open, welcoming people by train right into the heart of our city centre.

• Victoria Street will have an uninterrupted cycleway on Victoria Street, all the way from the bottom of College Hill to Albert Park.

• Victoria Street will be a tree-lined oasis with wide footpaths, relaxing lunch spots, and an entrance to Te Waihorotiu Station.

• Wellesley Street will be an important centre city transport interchange, providing people with a seamless connection between trains and buses.

Jenny Larking describes the work Auckland Council does to support midtown businesses and residents during construction.

“While there is a lot to look forward to, we do want to acknowledge that this level of construction is challenging for neighbouring businesses and residents, on top of a tough economic environment.

“We will continue to work with businesses and residents to ensure midtown feels safe, clean and welcoming throughout construction, and provide clear wayfinding and business signage for people to get around as easily as possible.

“We will also continue our programme of events and activations in midtown, to keep bringing people to the area during construction,” says Larking.

Find out more about the midtown programme by visiting ProgressAKL/midtown.