Transforming Downtown Auckland

City Centre
In Progress
Urban regeneration
Development

The transformation of Downtown Auckland has steadily progressed over the past decade.

From the waterfront and Quay Street to Te Komititanga and Britomart, it has become one of New Zealand’s leading destinations for events, art, food, and culture.

Precinct Downtown Development City Elevated Aug26 WEB

A vibrant future takes shape

Once dominated by traffic and cut off from the rest of the city, Downtown Auckland is being reimagined and regenerated as a vibrant place for people, shaped by bold thinking, thoughtful design, and a thriving urban ngahere. At its heart lies the city centre waterfront - a magnetic gathering place, rich in history and energy.

And there is more to come. Significant public and private investment continues to shape the future of this dynamic and vibrant part of our city centre.

Auckland Council is planning a coordinated programme of work to be delivered in stages between 2026 and 2031.

It brings together public transport and street improvements, public-space opportunities and private development around the Downtown Car Park so these changes can be planned as one.

Planning the area in this way will help strengthen connections between the city centre and the Waitematā Harbour, improve access and transport choices, and create streets and spaces that are safer, greener, more comfortable and welcoming.

We are working in partnership with mana whenua so that changes reflect the area's layered history, its relationship with the Waitematā Harbour and the distinctive character of downtown.

The programme helps deliver the City Centre Masterplan and its Access for Everyone approach, as well as the next stage of the City Centre Bus Plan.

What this means for you:

Stronger connections between the city centre and the waterfront.
Better public transport and simpler connections between different ways of getting around.
Improved streets and opportunities for more welcoming public spaces.
A working downtown that supports businesses, servicing, loading, pick-up and drop-off and local access.

Help shape the next stage of downtown

Early research with people who travel through, work and live downtown is helping us understand what matters most. People tell us they want reliable, easy journeys from start to finish, good access to the places they need to reach, and streets that feel safe, comfortable and welcoming.

We want to hear from you about how downtown works today, what feels difficult and what could be improved. Please read through the project background information below and click this button to have your say.

Transforming Downtown - Have Your Say

Building on the downtown transformation

Projects such as Quay Street, Te Komititanga, the Downtown Ferry Terminal and Te Wānanga have reconnected the city centre with the Waitematā Harbour, creating places where people want to spend time, not just move through.

It has become one of New Zealand’s leading destinations for events, art, food, and culture.

Greener streets, urban parks and public spaces have helped to make the area more comfortable and welcoming, while supporting biodiversity and creating places for people to pause, gather and connect.

Today, downtown needs to work as a transport hub, a working city centre, a neighbourhood, a waterfront destination and a place for everyday life. As more people live, work, study and spend time here, our streets, public spaces and transport connections need to keep pace while continuing to support businesses and local access.

An indicative render of the future Precinct development.

Getting to and through downtown

Downtown Auckland is one of the busiest bus hubs in the country, carrying thousands of people in and out of the city each day. But as the city has grown, so has the pressure on the bus network.

A single east-west bus corridor is planned along Fanshawe Street, Customs Street and Beach Road. Bringing multiple bus routes onto this corridor is intended to make journeys simpler and more reliable and is the next stage of the City Centre Bus Plan.

This means:

faster, more reliable travel for bus passengers
fewer buses on smaller, inner-city streets, freeing them up for local activity
safer and easier transfers between buses and other ways of getting around.

At the same time, changes to surrounding streets are being planned so public transport, general traffic, walking and cycling, servicing, deliveries and local access can work together more effectively.

Find detailed information about the transport and street changes on the Auckland Transport website.

Transforming Lower Hobson Street

We are planning changes to strengthen waterfront connections, improve local access and create greener, more inviting streets and open spaces.

Removing the flyover will open up Lower Hobson and Sturdee streets and create space for public use. It will make room for wider footpaths, a clearer street-level intersection and easier movement between the city centre, the Viaduct and the waterfront.

These changes will create more welcoming local streets for people to move through and spend time.

To support these changes, part of the retaining wall along Fanshawe Street will shift northward to enable two-way traffic on Fanshawe Street. Sturdee Street will also become two-way, improving access and circulation.

Changes to the surrounding streets and access connections will be planned together, with the supporting street network in place before the flyover is removed.

Downtown Car Park redevelopment

The future redevelopment of the Downtown Car Park will expand the thriving Commercial Bay precinct.

Led by Precinct Properties in partnership with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, and working alongside Auckland Council, this project will turn a former through-route into a vibrant, connected, mixed use destination.

This six-year project will bring thousands of people into the city centre, increasing the momentum for a more people-centred, connected downtown.

We are planning our improvements alongside this future redevelopment, so that public transport, streets, public spaces and infrastructure work together with private development and maximise the opportunities it will bring.

The Downtown Car Park will remain in use until development commences.

Precinct Downtown Development View From Lower Hobson Aug26 WEB

An indicative render of the future Precinct development.

A coordinated approach to transformation

The programme is currently in the business-case phase, investigating and testing options before a preferred way forward is confirmed. Planning and delivery will be staged between 2026 and 2031, with more detail about proposed street changes expected to be shared in 2027.

Construction will be carefully planned and staged so access to businesses, homes, public transport and key destinations can be maintained and downtown can remain open and moving.

Upgrading underground utilities

From October, we’re undertaking utility investigations across all streets within the Programme. This work will help pinpoint the location of underground services, such as gas, communications and electrical cables. It will assess the condition of existing infrastructure, including stormwater drains.

The findings will help inform future street changes, such as the placement of trees, streetlights and underground services.

Find out more.

What’s next

Work is under way to confirm funding and delivery timing through a detailed business case process for these projects, which brings together all project packages.

As detailed designs are developed and key milestones, like resource consents, are reached - there will be opportunities for the public to provide feedback on the projects to help shape the future of Downtown West.

We’re committed to working with the community, mana whenua, and local stakeholders to ensure the area reflects the values, needs, and aspirations of those who use it.