The aspirational vision for what will be the first city centre open space of scale in 100 years has been shared with the public.
Over the next ten to fifteen years, as part of the area’s long-term regeneration and aligned to Te Ara Tukutuku Plan, the northern area of award-winning Wynyard Quarter will become one of the most beautiful spaces and waterfront destinations in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Eke Panuku Board Chair Paul Majurey, says:
“We are creating a space that is distinctly Tāmaki Makaurau, and recognisably Aotearoa. This will be a space for everyone.”
Since 2022, Eke Panuku has been co-designing alongside Ngā Iwi Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau and design collective Toi Waihanga to develop the Te Ara Tukutuku vision.
The vision is to reconnect people with Te Waitematā and build connection between people and place. Five of the ten hectares will become a thriving foreshore for the land to reconnect to the sea, bringing Tangaroa (god of the sea) and Papatūānuku (earth mother) together again. Restoring and enhancing the mauri of the moana (sea) and the whenua (land) is at the centre of this vision.
The space will acknowledge the original foreshore and lost headlands that used to be located at the bottom of the city and offer interesting land formations and views across Tāmaki Makaurau. A spatial framework has been developed that identifies eight zones within the space that are unique in the world and distinctly Tāmaki Makaurau. The preliminary ideas for the zones include intertidal rock-pools, safe access to the water for waka and people, and civic space for community and cultural activities.
Mayor Wayne Brown says:
“Aucklanders have experienced the transformation of their inner-city waterfront opening it up from former port-related uses to become a world-class destination. Sharing the vision for this area is another significant milestone for the waterfront’s transformation and an example of the great regeneration work progressing around our city. I look forward to eventually progressing this to the East and in the future being able to swim near the end of Queen Street.”
Waitematā and Gulf Ward Councillor, Mike Lee (and former chair of the legacy Auckland Regional Council) says:
“In 2005 Aucklanders agreed that Wynyard Point should become waterfront public open space. The reclamation was built by hardworking Aucklanders 100 years ago, so it is gratifying to know that at last, it is being transformed into an iconic waterfront park for Aucklanders of the 21st century. It will be especially valuable for inner city residents, but also for people from across the Auckland region.”
Eke Panuku Waterfront Priority Location Director, Fiona Knox says:
“It is exciting to see years of planning translate into a more detailed framework for this space that reflects our rich cultural past, as well as consideration for the needs and interests of future generations. Although Te Ara Tukutuku Plan and process will take time, it is so important to get it right, so we create a lasting legacy for Tāmaki Makaurau.”
Ngā Iwi Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau representative, Martin Te Moni of iwi Ngaati Whanaunga says:
“What we want to do is regenerate this space, look at how can we give back to not only the whenua (land) but also to the moana (Te Waitematā), give back some of the mauri (life force) that was taken and how do we do that?”
Work is already underway
Before any development can take place, remediation needs to be completed. We are approaching this through a process of Tāmata te Mauri, Tārai, Pōhutukawa (Heal, Form and Cultivate).
Healing the whenua (land) and moana (sea) is already underway. It begins by remediating this contaminated and reclaimed former petro-chemical site to regenerate the land and restore the ecology from the site’s previous uses, towards enhancing the mauri (life essence) of the area.
Share your thoughts on Te Ara Tukutuku vision
As part of this early engagement on the project, we’re keen to hear what people think about Te Ara Tukutuku vision. We’d like to hear how you’d like to experience the space, what you might like to learn, and how you’d like to help shape this space for the future?
Share your thoughts on the vision here and read more about the project on Eke Panuku’s website here. Your thoughts will help inform the concept designs for the space to be shared in Autumn 2024.
We welcome you on this journey and will continue to share opportunities for engagement as the regeneration planning and designs develop.
