City Centre
Our city centre is a key pou (pillar) of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
Our City Centre has always been a magnetic gathering place where people can be together, seize opportunity, do business, learn, entertain, and be entertained. We are the lead agency for the council family in the city centre with the goal of ensuring that the heart of our city is a vibrant, humming place for everyone.
City Centre Podcast
As lead agency for the council family in the city centre, we are talking to a range of people with an interest in our city. We hear their perspective on the most influential and beneficial changes that have taken place over the last 15 years and get their thoughts on what's next...
Ep 02 - Patrick Wilson
In this episode, we speak to Patrick Reynolds, Deputy Chair of the Auckland City Centre Advisory Panel, Director of Greater Auckland, and former board member of Waka Kotahi NZTA. Patrick is popularly known for his architectural photography and celebrated for his active role in urban issues especially transport in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
Patrick talks about the origin of the Auckland city centre and the role of transport in shaping our economic and cultural centre from the mid twentieth century until now. He explains that there is a critical difference between a central business district and a true city centre.
His advice to mayors and ministers is that we have begun doing many of the right things, but we need to do more to make Auckland’s economic and cultural centre internationally competitive.
Ep 01 - Simon Wilson
In this episode, Rory Palmer chats with Simon Wilson - award-winning senior writer for The Herald, and author of the 'Love This City' weekly newsletter.
This episode covers, among other things, the interplay between private and public sectors in transforming a city - the 'sweet spot' between disruption and progress - as well as Simon's favourite parts of the city. All this and much more besides. Listen here.
Priority Location Director Simon Oddie
Eke Panuku is working hard with the rest of the council family to create a thriving city centre. In this video, we meet Simon Oddie, Priority Location Director - City Centre at Eke Panuku.

About our work in the City Centre
Our city centre has the potential to become one of the most loved and beautiful harbour cities in the world. It is the heart of our city and region. Its success is crucial to the success of Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau and Aotearoa New Zealand.
We are constantly working to make it the best it can be.
Eke Panuku is the lead agency in the city centre, meaning we work with other parts of council - Auckland Transport, Auckland Council, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Watercare - and other partners to coordinate our efforts and champion the needs of the city centre and its people.
Eke Panuku also has a role leading significant projects ourselves as part of the city centre's regeneration.
Improving the experience of the city centre
The experience people have in the city centre plays an enormous role in their decision to work, live, visit or invest here. We need to get the basics right so people have a better experience of the city centre and what it can offer. This includes improving safety, making it easier to get around and do business here, and making the most of our existing attractions.
Realising the full benefits of the City Rail Link
The City Rail Link is reshaping the city centre, and our focus over the next three years will be to ensure the city centre is in a position to take full advantage of the project’s enormous benefits.
Supporting residential growth in the city centre
The benefits of a larger residential population in the city centre are well understood, and a lot of our work is directed towards lifting population numbers. In the immediate future, we will focus on supporting existing residents, as well as ensuring we have a clear plan to support residential growth in the medium to longer term.
Increasing climate resilience
Recent severe weather has driven home the urgency of making the city centre more resilient to climate change. Our focus will be on enhancing flood resilience, increasing tree cover and reducing emissions through increasing the appeal of public transport, cycling and walking over private cars.
City Centre Plans
Given Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland city centre’s importance, to both the region and the country as a whole, its regeneration is guided by several strategic plans.
These plans include:
City Centre Action Plan
City Centre projects
The City Centre Community Safety Action Plan
- City Centre
- In Progress
- Urban regeneration
Shaping the future of the downtown wharves: Central Wharves Masterplan
- City Centre
- In Progress
- Disestablished
- Complete
- In progress
- Events

- City Centre
- In Progress
Symphony Centre & Bledisloe House developments
2020 - 2028

- City Centre
- In Progress

- City Centre
- In Progress
The City Centre Action Plan
December 2023

- City Centre
- In Progress
Successful restoration of the CAB
2019 - TBC

- City Centre
- In Progress
Te Komititanga
2023 - 2024

- City Centre
- In Progress
The Cloud
2011 - ongoing

- City Centre
- In Progress
- Urban regeneration
The City Centre Community Safety Action Plan
October 2024 - Ongoing

- City Centre
- In Progress

- City Centre
Downtown Days
12/04/2025 - 03/05/2025