Opening Up Auckland's Waterfront

While much work has already been done to steadily transform the wider waterfront into a welcoming space for Aucklanders and visitors to gather and connect, the Central Wharves have until now been largely inaccessible; but that’s about to change. 

Work is underway to prepare Quay Street Promenade – the area along Quay Street between Queens and Captain Cook wharves – to open to the public this December. The space will be brought to life through temporary activities, designed to entice people to visit the area while helping to inform long-term planning for the wharves.

Preparing the site for public use

To enable the transition from port use to a new public space, the site is currently undergoing some minor remedial works, including essential maintenance on parts of the historic Red Fence. 

From 1 November 2026, three sets of gates and their corresponding lanterns will be removed from site and taken to a workshop where repairs will be made to rusted areas and missing steel plates will be replaced. They will then be sandblasted and primed, before a top coat epoxy matching the original colour is applied. The lanterns’ glass and electrics will also be replaced.

While the gates and lanterns are in the workshop, council contractors will be on site undertaking maintenance works on the main columns. Once the repair works are complete, the fences will be returned to site and fastened into an “open” position.

The Red Fence was originally built to enclose Queens Wharf, then known as Queen Street Wharf. Construction on the fence got underway in 1913 but was halted by the waterfront strike that began that same year. Construction was eventually completed in 1923. 

The fence, along with its ornamental gates and lanterns are now designated as a category A Heritage Object by Auckland Council. 

The council has worked closely with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga to ensure the works are undertaken in a manner that respects and preserves the heritage values and integrity of the site.

Planning for the future

Opening Quay Street Promenade is the first stage in a longer-term programme of work underway to redevelop this part of the waterfront, helping to further strengthen the connection between the City Centre and Te Waitematā Harbour.

Before permanent development occurs, the trial opening of Quay Street Promenade will be used to inform the Central Wharves Masterplan which is currently being developed by Auckland Council in partnership with mana whenua. The Masterplan will consider the future use of Marsden, Captain Cook, and Queens wharves, the Hobson Wharf Extension and the Quay Street Promenade.