Development on the up in downtown Auckland

Auckland, New Zealand’s most populous city, is undergoing a major transformation of its waterfront area in the lead up to the America’s Cup in 2021.

The Downtown Programme is already underway with the aim of creating a generous and welcoming destination for residents and visitors alike. Several key developments and infrastructure changes have been planned to make the area safer for pedestrians, with more space for Auckland’s growing population.

Councillor Chris Darby, who chairs the Planning Committee said, “We’re creating a variety of distinctive, engaging public spaces that celebrate the confluence of people, land and sea. Our new downtown will be a series of destinations, thriving with life and enticing people to the water’s edge.

“The design of the dramatic changes afoot will reflect our unique Auckland identity and celebrate our place in the world,” says Mr Darby.

Key projects within the programme include:

•    Transforming Quay Street with a revitalised waterfront, wider footpaths, easier navigation, new street furniture, trees, and greater opportunity for business and events.
•    The development of two downtown bus interchanges. A traffic-calmed Quay Street will integrate different modes of transport and improve connections between trains, buses and ferries.
•    A new Downtown Public Space (interim name) will be under construction to accommodate growing numbers of people in the city centre who need more space to move, rest and play.
•    The construction of the mooring dolphin at the end of Queens Wharf, allowing newer and larger cruise ships to dock in central Auckland.
•    The redevelopment of the ferry basin, creating six new berths on the west side of Queen’s Wharf. This is the first step towards a modern ferry terminal that is suitable for the city’s growing transport needs, with further development planned post-2021.

Watch this short video to see how Auckland’s waterfront area will be transformed over the next ten years.

AC36 to set sail in 2021

Auckland will be hosting the 36th America’s Cup (AC36) in March 2021. After Emirates Team New Zealand won the Cup in Bermuda in 2017, Auckland will take centre-stage as the Kiwi team competes to retain the oldest trophy in international sport.

Estimates suggest the event will deliver around $1 billion in value to New Zealand’s economy, while at the same time helping to create a better waterfront infrastructure, grow global tourism interest and forge new business links across the country and around the world.

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