Shaping the future of the downtown wharves: Central Wharves Masterplan
2024 - 2028
- City Centre
- In Progress
We’re planning to open the central wharves in downtown Auckland for more public use.
Come along to DOWNTOWN DAYS - a family-friendly engagement session on Queens Wharf on Saturday 3 May.
Developing a Central Wharves Masterplan
In 2024, Auckland Council endorsed the Port Precinct Framework Plan. This indicative plan considered options for the future of the whole port precinct.
Now is the opportunity to test the Framework Plan ideas specific to the central wharves and the surrounding waterspace.
The next step will be to use your feedback to develop a draft masterplan for further testing.
The intention behind this work is to:
- improve the health and mauri of the waterfront environment
- provide improved public spaces and areas for events
- deliver a more suitable base for cruise ships
- separate cruise ship operations from ferry activities
- create a new promenade area along the water’s edge
- celebrate our unique heritage and culture
- investigate opportunities for quality commercial developments where these make sense.
“A world-class destination that excites the senses and celebrates our sea-loving Pacific culture and maritime history. It supports commercially successful and innovative businesses and is a place for all people, an area rich in character and activities that link people to the city and the sea.”
The waterfront vision
Where are the central wharves
The central wharves are Queens, Captain Cook and Marsden wharves, the Hobson Wharf Extension and the promenade area along the water’s edge (known as the breastworks).
What you've told us already
Aucklanders want the following for the city centre waterfront:
- improved waterfront environment, water quality and marine biodiversity
- public access to and along the waterfront and out to Te Waitematā
- protection of the working waterfront character, including the existing marine and fishing industries
- improved accessibility and safety
- places and activities that showcase our unique heritage and culture.
With your help, plans for the central wharves will help deliver these outcomes.
The Framework Plan summarised
The Framework Plan laid out a potential role and function for each of the central wharves.
The spaces will work together to deliver a mix of recreation, public access, hospitality, commercial and maritime uses, including ferries and the cruise industry.
Click the magnifier to enlarge the below image.
Potential role and function of each wharf
Queens Wharf
- Public and heritage focus
- Potentially move the cruise function
- Free up space for cultural activities
- Remove the Cloud and develop a refreshed future for Shed 10
- Potential to reinstate the heritage Shed 11
Queens Wharf and promenade
Queens Wharf has served a range of uses over time, both as a working wharf and a gathering point for Aucklanders. It is a public space, events space, transport hub, base for our ferry fleet and cruise ship facility.
This mix of uses is not always complementary, which is one of the opportunities the masterplan aims to address.
Queens Wharf and Shed 10 have important heritage value that need to be protected and respected.
We also need to consider a future without the Cloud, while still providing space for events on the waterfront.
Queens Wharf is a place of welcome to many people and is a connection point between the land and Te Waitematā. We need to consider how to better provide manaaki (hospitality) to Aucklanders and our visitors.
Next Steps
Help us develop a masterplan.
- What do you think of the potential role and function of each of the central wharves outlined in the Framework Plan?
- What would you like to see and experience in each of these spaces?
- What else should we consider as part of our planning?
Have your say below.
Project milestones
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