Partnering with mana whenua to deliver regeneration & development
27 May 2026
- Mana Whenua
- Urban regeneration
Engagement and partnership with mana whenua is fundamental to council planning and action.
It is foundational to how regeneration and urban development are approached.
Introduction
The Auckland Urban Development Office (AUDO) leads Auckland Council’s urban regeneration programme, partnering across the public and private sectors to invest in infrastructure and public amenities, enabling residential and commercial development, and shaping priority areas across the region.
Genuine engagement and partnership with mana whenua is a priority for council. For the AUDO, this goes far beyond cultural expression. It is the foundation of how regeneration and urban development are approached. It influences how projects are planned, designed, delivered, funded, and contracted.
Funding for regeneration projects is typically a mix of council investment, private sector capital, and increasingly, direct investment from mana whenua. The AUDO plays a key role in enabling these partnerships by de-risking initial stages through infrastructure investment, supporting procurement pathways, and facilitating joint ventures that enable iwi and hapū to participate as commercial partners.
Mana whenua are recognised not only as kaitiaki (guardians), but also as commercial development partners. They bring a long-term ambition to invest in places with intergenerational assets that benefit iwi, hapū, and Aucklanders.
The Opportunity
AUDO is uniquely placed to work with mana whenua on urban development and regeneration through genuine, relationship-based partnerships that endure over time. Rather than engaging on an ad hoc basis, mana whenua participate in long-term planning, helping to shape place identity, environmental restoration and flood resilience, cultural narratives, design, governance, and sustainable development. This approach also supports greater participation of iwi and hapū in the property development sector through capability building and pathways to investment aligned with intergenerational goals.
For developers, AUDO facilitates engagement with mana whenua to build strong commercial and cultural partnerships, while providing support throughout the development process.
For mana whenua, this approach opens greater access to the development sector, creating opportunities to gain commercial capability and participate in development in ways that support long-term, intergenerational outcomes for iwi and hapū.
It also enables direct involvement in improving environmental outcomes and in shaping infrastructure and public spaces that strengthen communities and the wider region.
For Aucklanders, the result is not only increased investment in high-quality development that supports economic growth, but also the creation of places with a distinctive identity rooted in the stories, culture, and values of Tāmaki Makaurau, which communities can recognise and take pride in.
The Outcome
This approach is contributing to stronger development outcomes and deeper partnerships across Auckland. It supports high-quality commercial results while creating places with stronger cultural identity, greater authenticity, and deeper community connection.
Early engagement with mana whenua has shaped cultural narratives and design outcomes in prominent public spaces such as Waiwharariki Anzac Square, where cultural values and stories are embedded in the public realm.
In the development space, incorporating Māori outcomes into development agreements and supporting partnerships between iwi and private sector developers has enabled earlier and more meaningful collaboration. Examples include Pikotoetoe, a partnership between Te Ākitai Waiohua and Avant Group in Papatoetoe, and the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Stride Property partnership to redevelop North Wharf in Wynyard Quarter.
Beyond individual projects, social procurement and support for Māori-owned businesses are contributing to longer-term economic outcomes for Māori, although this remains an area of ongoing growth. Projects such as Waka Moana and Manu-kau Noa Iho Hayman Park provide tangible examples of how cultural, design, and economic outcomes can be delivered through partnership. Together, these initiatives support mana whenua aspirations to build prosperous, enduring legacies for iwi and hapū, and to see their culture and values reflected in the built and natural environment of Tāmaki Makaurau.
Completed projects including Waiwharariki Anzac Square; Waka Moana in Wynyard Quarter; the Wynyard Quarter Innovation Precinct, Waitematā Station Plaza; and Te Ara Awataha (Northcote’s new greenway) demonstrate how mana whenua partnerships are being embedded across the public realm, land development, and commercial agreements, highlighting the value of early engagement and enduring relationships.
Looking ahead, regeneration and development opportunities such as the Maungawhau Station Precinct and projects along the Eastern Busway corridor will continue to evolve this approach, reinforcing the delivery of long-term value for Tāmaki Makaurau by embracing the long-term commitment and aspirations of mana whenua as a core strength and point of difference.
