Reflecting on 2024 in the city centre, we’ve compiled a list of milestones (among many) the Auckland Council group is proud to have delivered.
Here are ten big moments this calendar year:
ONE: Art that sings
Much-acclaimed new artwork Waimahara in Myers Park became interactive in July. If you sing a special waiata the artwork listens and responds, accompanying you with an awe-inspiring display of light and sound.
Created by Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Manu) and a talented team of composers and creatives, Waimahara gives visitors an immersive experience, encouraging everyone to remember the Waihorotiu steam flowing beneath. Myers Park is a city centre gem where art truly meets infrastructure.
TWO: People-prioritised street
The first section of a redesigned Victoria Street - from Elliott Street to Queen Street - opened to the public in October. It’s lighter and leafier and functions with contemporary purpose, signposting more of what’s to come.
Te Hā Noa on Victoria Street. Photo credit: Jay Farnworth.
In September, eleven mature trees were crane-lifted into terraced stone tree pits designed to reflect the volcanic geology and forms of Tāmaki Makaurau, and 900 plants created a green understory at street level. This walking and cycling prioritised street prepares for 2026 when thousands of rail and bus passengers will disembark at midtown.
More than 20 mature native trees, in total, will be planted in Te Hā Noa from Elliott Street to Albert Park, adding to the city centre’s expanding urban ngahere (forest) - providing shade and shelter, cooling the city and absorbing carbon.
THREE: Safety and community wellbeing
Auckland Council’s Regulatory and Safety Committee endorsed a comprehensive safety plan for the city centre in August. Better safety and security were central to the plan, and investment in resources for Auckland City Mission was also increased to enhance their support for the wellbeing of rough sleepers and vulnerable communities.
In November an old storage building was re-purposed into a welcoming place for people experiencing homelessness. Named Manaaki Tangata, meaning showing hospitality and care for people, this facility is a shining example of community.
FOUR: Matariki at the heart
A city centre with the most visibility of te ao Māori in its streetscapes in the world, Tāmaki Makaurau hosted the biggest city centre celebration of Matariki ever seen.
Tūrama Kaitiaki in Aotea Square. Photo credit: Auckland Live
Soaring lighting installations told stories of our place, contemporary art honoured traditional Māori games and names of our loved ones were projected on the walls of the Town Hall. Our city centre festival called Matariki ki te Manawa (at the heart), marks the Matariki star cluster rising in the north-eastern skies and celebrates the beginning of the Māori new year.
FIVE: Kupu (words) in lights
Streets, squares and the pages of a giant book became a large-scale canvas of art and light to celebrate Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori in the city centre in September.
Giant book for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori in Central City Library. Photo credit: Bryan Lowe.
With Māori language and culture our point of difference in the world, Aucklanders had the opportunity to see and hear the language within the city centre’s urbanscape, library and harbour bridge on a scale never seen before.
SIX: Vibrant Christmas
Aucklanders are enjoying a square-to-square experience this Christmas and New Year season with music, art and lighting filling our public spaces.
Christmas tree Te Manaaki brings a lightshow every ten minutes from 5pm each day to downtown’s Te Komititanga, while the celebrated pavilion (‘The Pav’) brings a toybox of colour and delight to Auckland Live’s Christmas in Aotea Square.
Te Manaaki Christmas tree. Photo credit: Sacha Stejko
The tree is delivered by Heart of the City and Precinct Properties, and like many of the activations making this 2024 ‘wrap’, Auckland Council’s contribution is from the city centre targeted rate.
SEVEN: Federal Street ‘book ends’ 2024
In a perfect balance of priorities, upper Federal Street shone in 2024.
This once reflective, quiet urban backyard, used mainly by the residents, became a living art experience in February 2024. Since Joe Sheehan’s Lost & Found – a series of eight intricately carved boulders – was installed in the street, residents and people passing through have had a front row seat to view this extraordinary work of art.
And then in November, Central Government announced a police base in the same street, a warmly-welcomed safety layer in midtown further enhancing community confidence.
EIGHT: Historic canvas for Diwali celebration
In October the Auckland Town Hall turned into a forest of flowers with tigers and elephants roaming the walls in a spectacular 3D light projection show for BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival.
Known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali signifies the triumph of light over darkness and the renewal of life. A weekend-long celebration of this time-honoured tradition was presented by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, supported by the city centre targeted rate, with more than 60,000 people attending in Aotea Centre, Queen Street and surrounds.
NINE: Auckland joins world-wide Lunar New Year party
Asian Kiwis are choosing Auckland in large numbers, stepping forward with positive energy and developing a new voice in Aotearoa.
Inspired by Asian traditions and infused with an Auckland flavour, tens of thousands of Aucklanders experienced a rich feast of colours, sounds, tastes and beats in our streets, squares and spaces. More than 6000 attended Auckland Art Gallery events and more than 30,000 attended Auckland Live’s Summer in the Square.
Lucky Cat In Darby St.
The success of our pan-Asian festival in February 2024 has become a springboard for even bigger Lunar New Year celebrations in Auckland’s city centre from 26 January 2025.
TEN: Music month in midtown
At the heart of the city centre sits midtown, an area being prepared to support the busiest train station in the country – Te Waihorotiu Station.
While City Rail Link construction, infrastructure upgrades and the renewal of streets and spaces continue to unfold, midtown street parties, music and opera lifted spirits and welcomed newcomers to this rapidly advancing station neighbourhood in 2024.
Across decades
Reflections at the end of any calendar year wouldn’t be complete without a quick look further back - across decades.
The Auckland Council group and the private sector continue to work to a clear vision - the City Centre Masterplan - delivering improved streets, lanes, spaces and the greening of the city centre.
In March we reflected on how well the city centre transformation was progressing. At that point the council group had delivered 15 projects in five years.
And in July we compiled pictures of the transition. Public spaces provide the canvas for public life. They are an important part of improving liveability, sustainability and authenticity in our city, enjoyed by a fast-growing residential population, businesses and visitors.
In 2024, commentators acknowledged that the quality of renewal and momentum of positive change in the city centre – as a collective set of transformative projects – was beginning to match the regeneration seen in other exemplary cities.
We wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas and New Year.
