Westhaven

Westhaven Marina has a significant and fascinating history. Sail down memory lane and discover some of the ‘stories of Westhaven’ in the below video.

The largest recreational marina in the southern hemisphere, Westhaven has been at the heart of boating in the ‘City of Sails’ since the 1940s.

Situated in one of Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland’s most iconic locations, on the fringe of the city centre, Westhaven offers shared space for people from all walks of life to enjoy.

Auckland is a city built on our love of the sea, so it makes sense you’d find the southern hemisphere’s largest recreational marina in the heart of the ‘City of Sails’ on the popular stretch of central waterfront known as Westhaven.

Westhaven was originally an area used by traditional timber, tanning and fishing industries. Ships would anchor in the harbour to drop off/pick-up cargo. Nowadays, it’s bustling with boats, yacht clubs, eateries and people from all walks of life looking to soak up the beautiful surroundings.

In the 1940s, the Auckland Harbour Board formed Westhaven as a protected water-space for recreational boats. This led to the construction of four yacht clubs on reclaimed land, which saw vessels actively racing and cruising from Westhaven in the 1950s. These clubs continue to operate today and have been integral to the growth and success of Westhaven and sailing in Auckland.

At Eke Panuku, we believe that creating world-class waterfront areas means working together with the private sector and the public.

This approach is proving successful along the waterfront where Wynyard Quarter and Westhaven Marina are much-loved parts of our city.

We're leading the regeneration of Westhaven on behalf of Auckland Council. We want to:

• Increase access to the marina for Aucklanders.
• Maintain Westhaven’s position as a competitive international facility through the management of existing commercial operations.
• Add a wider range of complementary businesses.

We have a mix of commercial and public-good objectives for Westhaven and receives revenue from its marina operations.

Here is a summary of our roles. We are:

• The owner of the marina boat harbour and surrounding public space, including the marina business, assets and seabed occupation rights.
• A corporate trustee, licensor and manager of the Westhaven Trusts and berth entitlement units through our one hundred per cent holding in Westhaven Marina Limited.
• A holder of about fifty per cent of Westhaven berth entitlement units.
• An investor and developer.
• The marina operator.

Today, Westhaven is home to 1,844 recreational boats, four yacht clubs, marine businesses, hospitality establishments, and is a hub for recreational activities both on and off the water (with occasional ‘staycations’ from New Zealand celebrity Owha the leopard seal).

Management of Westhaven Marina rests with us, and we've continued to develop and open up the space for all users. The best marinas in the world invite the public in, and the goal of creating a public waterfront lies at the core of our Waterfront Plan. Other goals for Westhaven include growing as a world-class marina, remaining internationally competitive, and being a treasured asset to Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland and the marine industry.

For more information, visit the Westhaven Marina website.

Westhaven has a 30-year plan in place for how the area and marina will be developed.

The Westhaven Plan outlines regeneration both on land and over water, and has drawn on detailed consultation with both local and boating communities.

Two main themes spearhead the vision for Westhaven:

• To create an iconic destination that is vibrant, accessible and connects Aucklanders to the water's edge.
• To be the most successful marina in the southern hemisphere, which is home to a globally renowned marine industry and offers a world-class facility for the next generation of boaties.

12 key projects are outlined in the Westhaven Plan to help achieve these goals.

Find out more about the Westhaven Plan