Northcote Town Centre – deconstruction prior to construction

4 June 2024 - tbc

Northcote
In Progress

We’re taking a sustainable approach to redevelopment

Some old buildings in the town centre are being sustainably removed to make way for the redevelopment of Northcote's Town Centre. It’s part of our zero waste approach, to limit what we send to landfill.

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What's happening?

To enable construction of the new town centre to happen, some aging buildings in the centre are being sustainably removed.

Instead of simply demolishing the buildings, at a similar cost, the buildings are being taken apart. This means material can be reused and recycled - to limit what is sent to landfill.

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Some construction material will find new life in community projects, both locally and in the Pacific Islands, and some will be available at affordable prices from Wairau Zero Waste Hub.

This is great for the community and the planet! And, it supports Northcote’s aspiration to be an exemplary zero-waste community and Auckland Council’s goal for Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland to be zero-waste by 2040.

We’re delighted that a whopping 93.2% of the Norman King Building’s valuable construction material is being reused and recycled. This is zero waste in action – see here for more information.

What's happened so far

The old building, on the corner of Kilham Avenue and College Road (including the old Lab Test building) has been removed. This site will now be a temporary car park and storage area for our contractors, until the land is needed for redevelopment.

Here are some photos of the building being taken apart.

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Removal of 47 Pearn Place

In January 2025, what was the old Aim High Café (47 Pearn Place) building was removed. You’ll now find the Aim High Café at 17 Pearn Place, by the large elm tree.

Below are some photos of the old Aim High Café building being taken apart.

Sustainable removal of the Norman King Building

In early February 2025, Hearts & Minds and NorthArt, who were based in the Norman King Building (65 Pearn Crescent), shifted to a new temporarily community hub at 1 Ernie Mays Street. This was to enable the Norman King Building to be removed, so the extension of Ernie Mays Street can go ahead in 2026. It’s all part of the revitalisation of Northcote Town Centre.

On 13 February, there was a karakia (blessing), led by Iwi Mana Whenua, to acknowledge the work carried out in the building – see here.

From mid-February to May 2025, the material from the Norman King Building was removed for reuse and recycling, with some of it available at affordable prices from the Wairau Zero Waste Hub.

See the removal of the Norman King Building below.

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Sustainable removal of the medical centre

In October 2025, All Care Family Medical Centre and Northcote Dental Centre relocated to 26 Kawana Avenue, Northcote, to enable the aging buildings they had inhabited in the town centre to be removed.

On 21 October 2025, there was a karakia whakawātea (blessing) to say goodbye to their old buildings. The blessing was led by Zaelene Maxwell-Butler and Manawanui Tapuke-Maxwell (Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki) and attended by many in the community.

From October to December 2025, to reduce landfill waste the buildings were carefully removed so building material could be reused, repurposed, and recycled.

The removal of these buildings will enable construction vehicles to access the site for the final section of Te Ara Awataha – Northcote’s new greenway – to be go ahead, starting in early 2026. It also makes way for the future extension of Ernie Mays Street, starting in early 2027.

What’s next?

Some more aging buildings will gradually be removed over the coming years to make way for the transformation of the town centre. More information will be available closer to the time.

What disruption will there be?

Our intention is to minimise disruption, as much as possible, with work carried out within normal working hours, Monday to Friday.

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There will be some noise and vibration, within Council limits, and some dust, which may affect nearby businesses, residents, and pedestrians. We will use dust control measures, like water spray, a dust suppression agent and barriers - to minimise dust.

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