Onehunga Wharf

The Onehunga Wharf was transferred from Ports of Auckland Limited (POAL) to Auckland Council in 2018, with a view to open it up over time for public use, as well as investigating its potential for development. 

The wharf is currently not open to the public as large parts of the land are commercially leased areas with large machinery operating.

Parts of the wharf land are subject to the NZ Transport Authority Waka Kotahi (NZTA) project, the East West Link. The project has been identified as a Road of National Significance with an announcement on their plans and timings made in October 2025. The next 12-months will see NZTA work to develop, refine and route protect the preferred (revised) corridor, whilst looking at ways to stage sections of the project with a focus on Stage 1, Galway Link. NZTA will be engaging with local stakeholders, landowners and businesses in the coming weeks and months, and undertaking ground and environmental investigations to help inform this work.

The Auckland Urban Development Office have been investigating several projects to enable public access to the area. These plans are about reconnecting people with the area and creating better connections between the wharf and the Onehunga town centre. These projects seek to improve public access, provide environmental restoration, and create a new public realm and activation space at the Onehunga Wharf; whilst providing opportunity for the community to feedback on what is desired for the area long-term.

Now that we have confirmation of NZTA's plans and timings for the East West Link, we are working through our plans for the wharf area and will update the community with details as soon as we can.

Why is it taking so long for anything to happen at the wharf?
The wharf came under Council ownership, after being transferred from Ports of Auckland, in 2018. Auckland Council wanted to retain the wharf within the council group and open it up over time for public use, as well as investigating mixed-use development. Since then, work has been underway on the planning for the area both short-term and long-term.

However, parts of the wharf are subject to the NZTA project the East West Link. Until confirmation of this project and its area of impact were clear, plans for the wharf have been difficult to be completed and able to be implemented.

In the meantime, we have continued to operate the wharf site on a commercial basis on behalf of Auckland Council, providing value for the city and the regional economy. We have continued to investigate the ongoing cost of the protection of character and amenity at the site, to ensure appropriate value is achieved for tenants and Auckland Council.

When will it be announced whether the East West Link is going to happen?
There have been a variety of announcements, updates, and changes to the East West Link project over the past 10 years. The project has most recently been identified in the draft Government Policy Statement on land transport (GPS 2024) as a Road of National Significance with an announcement on plans and timings in October 2025. 

The next 12-months will see NZTA work to develop, refine and route protect the preferred (revised) corridor, whilst looking at ways to stage sections of the project with a focus on Stage 1, Galway Link. 

NZTA will be engaging with local stakeholders, landowners and businesses in the coming weeks and months, and undertaking ground and environmental investigations to help inform this work.

For more information and updates, please refer to the NZTA project page.
www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/east-west-link

Who currently has access to the wharf?
The wharf is currently a commercially leased area and is not open to the public. It is used by several commercial clients, fishing boats, and the coastguard.

Why can’t the public access the wharf area now?
The wharf is the site of commercially leased properties, which sees large machinery operating, with extensive health and safety requirements for anyone on site. Auckland Urban Development Office is working to open parts of the wharf in stages over an extended period, collaborating with mana whenua and the community to understand what is desired for the area long term.

Is there any reclamation planned for the wharf area?
Reclamation of land is not currently being considered. Reclamation of any area would need to be considered carefully and engagement required with Mana Whenua Iwi o Tāmaki Makaurau and relevant stakeholders as part of the consideration of the long-term redevelopment of the wharf area.

Why did Council apply for a Coastal Consent for the wharf for another 35-years?
The recent Coastal consent application, that was publicly notified, is not a lease extension and does not signal that the wharf will continue to be a commercial wharf for the next 35-years. The coastal permit that was applied for allows for activities to occur in the water space next to the wharf, with the current consent allowing this expiring in 2026. Without this coastal consent any activities or operations in the water space area next to the wharf are no longer permitted. This consent does not hinder or preclude future public access to the wharf area. This consent allows for activities to occur in the water space.