Shaping the future of High Street

Ongoing

City Centre
In Progress
Urban regeneration

High Street, one of the busiest laneways in our city centre, is brimming with potential.

With neighbouring streets and community places enjoying relatively recent upgrades, it’s now time for High Street to be transformed for the future.

About the project

Guided by our City Centre Masterplan (CCMP), Auckland Council is building on the great advantages and opportunities the opening of City Rail Link brings and investing in transformational projects to ensure that we have a thriving city centre well into the future.

The High Street Improvement project is part of a wider suite of upgrades across midtown designed to rejuvenate the heart of our city centre, future-proof infrastructure and bring new energy to public spaces.

Hearing the views and aspirations of residents, businesses, shoppers, visitors and people travelling on High Street, is helping us determine how High Street will operate as we move forward. We want to continue making High Street a place people choose to locate their businesses, shops and cafes, walk through on their way to work or home, relax, shop and socialise.

The Pilot

In 2019, Auckland Council explored ways to create a more people-focused High Street.

The pilot began with changes including a boardwalk to widen the footpath and improving the use of loading and servicing spaces. This gave the community and users of High Street an opportunity to experience a different layout before anything more permanent was decided.

Community engagement

We’ve been working closely with the community to help shape the future of High Street through a staged engagement process. Early engagement in 2024 focused on understanding people’s experiences, ideas and aspirations for the street.

Click here to view a summary of the July-October 2024 engagement.

This work informed the development of three design ideas, similar to a concept plan, which responded to the Community Aspirations and reflected different ways the street could function. Included in this was a proposal to restrict vehicle access between 11am-2pm on weekdays when pedestrian activity is highest.

Engagement with businesses, residents, property owners and visitors to High Street took place in March, and July to August 2025.

Click here to read the summary engagement report 2025.

Partnering with mana whenua

We’re working in partnership with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Te Ākitai Waiohua and Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua.

They have provided matawhanui (broad vision) and four uara (values) for the project that have informed ideation process and continue to guide the project’s approach.

Next steps

Work is nearly completed to confirm a recommended design idea. A final decision will be made by the Policy, Planning and Development Committee.

There will be further opportunities for the community to provide feedback as the project progresses.

More information

You can stay updated about how to have your say by signing up here.

If you would like to know more about our work, you can contact us on email at: highst@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.

Delivered by

This project is being delivered by Auckland Council and is funded by the city centre targeted rate, a special rate which is paid by city centre commercial and residential property owners and used to help fund the development and revitalisation of the city centre. The programme of works funded by the rate aims to enhance the city centre as a place to work, live, visit and do business.