On the Waterfront

Sitting in motorway traffic or listening to the hissing of summer lawns in south Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau, it’s hard to believe that the whole city owes its heritage to the harbour. Some Kiwi settlements were built on beef, some on wool, some on coal and some on gold, but the City of Sails owes its very existence to the harbour that brought tall ships and trade to the fledgling colony and that fed its growth with cargo and containers and cruise ships. Simply put, without the Auckland waterfront, Auckland would be a very different place.

That we have forgotten the vital role the waterfront played in the city and the country is partly because waterfronts are not pretty places; they are noisy and smelly with brutalist architecture, and the ‘wharfies’ who worked them were a tough lot who didn’t really welcome visitors. They - and the waterfront itself - played a crucial role in our national economy, so much so that in the 1951 Waterfront Dispute the government declared a national emergency and sent in troops to load ships and keep the country running. But the wharfies - and again the waterfront - were not celebrated or championed; they were avoided and overlooked.

Now that is changing and the Auckland waterfront is getting the love, recognition and resourcing it deserves. The Viaduct has been up and running for some time, Wynyard Quarter has been redeveloped into a vibrant place to be - and you ain’t seen nothing yet, there are even bigger plans to reconnect the city and its harbour that are just around the corner after years in the making.

“What a lot of people may not realise is that the wider regeneration of this part of our city has been underway since the early 2000’s,” says Frith Walker, Head of Placemaking at Eke Panuku Development Auckland.

“At that time, city leaders were very keen to realise the opportunities presented by the waterfront and wanted to rejuvenate the area but knew that you also had to look after all the marine industries that are vital to the city – if that could be done it would create a jewel in Auckland’s crown.”

“Re-establishing public access to the water was crucial. You’ve seen it happen in many cities all around the world that have come to the realisation that they have turned their backs on the waterfront, or the waterfronts have been taken over by industrial zones – and of course industry is really important, but is there a way to incorporate public spaces into that? The thinking in Wynyard Quarter was focused on mixed use; how do you make sure you have enough diverse users to make the space really thrive? And that kick-started this transformation - one of the largest urban regenerations in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

The jewel in the crown was starting out as a jewel in the rough, however.

“The site previously housed a tank farm,” says Frith, “with huge containment tanks that stored and processed all sorts of things that were crucial to the Auckland economy and relocating that was a really gnarly conversation.

One of the largest urban regenerations in Aotearoa New Zealand.

“The space is heavily contaminated reclaimed land, and a lot of work continues around making sure all the nasty bits are properly removed or contained and of course relocating the industrial sites.

“We’ve been very fortunate to be able to work with some incredible, clever, dedicated people attached to this project who believed in its potential and worked really hard to find solutions. It’s been a pretty inspirational thing to be a part of.”

As new homes and businesses have arrived, activation of the public spaces has been key to support this growing neighbourhood. While home to many major events over the years, such as the America’s Cup, World Rally Championships, boat shows and more recently Sail GP, the Wynyard Quarter has come into its own as an interesting and unique family-oriented place. Regular community-oriented activities, such as the hugely popular Silo Cinema outdoor movies have become firm favourites for whānau from across the region, along with the interactive play spaces, new Manu platform and outdoor pool, and even a book swap library. There is always something new to discover.

The best is yet to come, however. Over the next 10 to 15 years, the regeneration of the headland (formerly known as Wynyard Point) will draw on learnings across the past 25 years of work to create a mix of thoughtful development and new public spaces.

While home to many major events over the years, Wynyard Quarter has come into its own as an interesting and unique family-oriented place.

“We’re working together with Mana Whenua on the Te Ara Tukutuku project so it’s going to be something special. I think for most people the real attraction will be the park, which will basically be the most democratic way in town to get out on the harbour! Walking out to the tip of the headland will feel like you are on the Waitemata. There is a long way to go yet but this park will be the first significant piece of public space to be built in Auckland for 100 years – so it’s pretty exciting and we think Aucklanders and Kiwis everywhere are going to love it”.