Auckland City, New Zealand a Billion Dollar Transformation Plan

Auckland's central population has doubled to 50,000 and it's time to change the city's focus.
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Shane Jones fumes at 'Soviet' Ports of Auckland waterfront carpark. No funds for a waterfront stadium in Auckland Council's budget.
"We've got to turn this city into a city that's focused on people not cars", he told Newshub Nation on Saturday.
The changes would see Quay Street turn into a waterfront boulevard with new bus stops and a downtown park by the Ferry Building.
Lower Queen Street outside Britomart will become a civic square - catering to the 50 per cent increase in foot traffic since 2012.
But not everyone is a fan of the focus on pedestrians over vehicles.
"If you want a whole lot of people, who go shopping, to not come to the CBD then make it car-free," said National Infrastructure Spokesperson Judith Collins.
The biggest changes are being driven by upcoming America's Cup - which MBIE estimates could boost New Zealand’s economy by more than $600 million.
The changes would see the Viaduct becoming more pedestrian friendly and a new bridge replacing the crossing toward Wynyard Quarter.
In September, the Environment Court approved wharf extensions for America's Cup village and several bases, to be built in time for the 2021 event.
The industrial buildings that currently occupy Wynyard Quarter would make way for new apartments, while the tank farm on Wynyard Point would be replaced with more housing, office space and parkland.
That parkland would create a green link between the waterfront and Victoria Park, and then on to Albert Park in the City Centre thanks to the transformation of Victoria Street into a Linear Park.
But the green link won't stop at Albert Park if developer Bill Reid gets his way.
For the past 30 years he has championed the construction of Te Ara Tomo - The Subterranean City, which would open up the old air-raid tunnels under the park, dug to shelter Aucklanders during World War Two.
Two elevator portals at Princes Street and Symonds Street will connect students to AUT and the University of Auckland.
In the other tunnels, there are plans for cafes, wine and cheese boutiques, a museum, and even a glow-worm cave.
Reid says the construction will be privately funded, with users paying a toll to pass through.
The tunnels are not officially recognised by Council planners yet but are expected to be included in the updated City Centre Masterplan.
The tunnels will make it easier for cyclists and pedestrians coming from Parnell to access the City Rail Link, set to be opened by 2024.
The underground rail loop will see the addition of Aotea Station and Karangahape Station and a major upgrade of Mount Eden Station.
The City Rail Link will also transform Britomart from a dead-end to a through station, more than doubling the number of trains able to use the rail network.
Source: Newshub
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[@hudsonquay]

Judith Collins statement is so disingenuous. A car journey is 30 minutes without no traffic, which unless you're travelling in the middle of the night won't happen. Also as the population increases and more and more cars are on the road traffic will get even worse. Every major city in the world has a public transport link from the airport to the city centre. To say it is a really dopey idea to have a dedicated public transport link to an international airport and advocate continuing down the dead end of the motorcar is extremely short sighted. To assess the merits on journey time alone is wilful ignorance.

[@eriklakeland3857]

Perhaps, if anything, stop consolidation and better transit signal priority could be considered to make the service more useful to Auckland.

[@johnmcmillan5114]

Auckland needs more heavy train lines. 1 from Panmure to Pakuranga to Botany onto Manukau. 1 from Onehunga to the airport onto Puhinui. 2 lines to the North Shore, 1 to Devonport onto Takapuna connecting to the 2nd line from Britomart to Ponsonby to the Nth Shore over the current bus route. Add a few light rail lines and a few electric buses

[@nomaddownunder2837]

Agree with port in Manukau. South Auckland is positioned to be the gateway to the triangle(Tauranga and Hamilton) and the world over with the international airport close by too.

[@karl-nb9ut]

ok genius how do they get over the manukau bar which can be very dangerous

[@rp7784]

They can't do that unfortunately, too shallow, constant sand bed shifts would be to dangerous to build a port on and it's just too dangerous for ships to pass through as well as the hassle and logistical complications of shifting all trade routes to the other side of the country

[@Skybar23]

the ports should be moved near the airport. I live in Sydney and its very efficent having the biggest port in Australia next to the airport. We have a major motorway next to the airport and port connecting it to the rest of sydney.This include an only freight railway wa. Im not sure what the water depths are like near the airpirt but logistically it makes sense. Land is cheaper and population and traffic is only going to get worse in the city centre.

[@rp7784]

They can't do that, it's too shallow and dangerous for ships to pass through, the sea bed there is too unstable to build on and having to shift the entire Auckland trade and shipment route to literally the other side of the country would be too complex

[@gordosomewhere816]

Looks like Vancouver's urban planners had some influence...Walking, cycling, public transit, density with amenities, livability, less cars...great job Auckland.

[@redwater4778]

They call Vancouver, Hongcouver now.

[@gordosomewhere816]

@@redwater4778 No...You call it Hongcouver now.

[@redwater4778]

@@gordosomewhere816 Real Vancouverites started from scratch. Hongcouverites came after it was built.

[@englishkiwi3051]

Id say more Melbourne than Vancouver....

[@hudsonquay]

Auckland has the natural assets to to be a world class city. I think the suggestions presented in this video are a step towards achieving that. I prefer Archimedia's vision for the port as it will be more accessible as a civic social space. The stadium design looks impressive, but when the stadium is not in use the space would be redundant.

[@Maxim.Sherstobitov]

The only thing Auckland city ​has to do is look at the Sydney harbour with its opera house and make it even better!

[@hudsonquay]

@@Maxim.Sherstobitov Yes I agree. Sydney is a fantastic example of making the most of their natural assets, it is a world class city and Auckland should follow suit whilst learning from their mistakes. Auckland will get there eventually.

[@karl-nb9ut]

@@Maxim.Sherstobitov they still dont have beaches by the cbd though

[@casey3294]

Auckland should consider adding a waterfront Ferris Wheel/Observation Wheel (Like Singapore or London for example)

[@Maxim.Sherstobitov]

Auckland port terminal would be a good location for it.

[@Lollol-ci7mc]

@@Maxim.Sherstobitov sir is it waterfront a cricket stadium

[@Maxim.Sherstobitov]

Waterfront

[@Lollol-ci7mc]

@@Maxim.Sherstobitov in which year it ended

[@Lollol-ci7mc]

@@Maxim.Sherstobitov will the auckland city become a big building city like new York city

[@marcozolo3536]

All these ideas are nice, but I have to side with the guy saying a sunken stadium would not be a good idea. I think being that close to the heart of the city is a mistake that Auckland would come to realise later when real estate is at a premium when it goes beyond 3 or 4 million people. You should also consider raising density in the inner city to bring more residents into the CBD and liven up businesses and an after hours night life. You don't want Auckland to be a ghost town after 6pm. Sydney brought in high rise residential to the CBD in the mid 90s and look at it now.

[@Maxim.Sherstobitov]

True, Auckland needs something that can be used and available 24/7 in the heart of the city.

[@shaungordon9737]

I really like the tunnel thing

[@Maxim.Sherstobitov]

Would be a ​unique attraction in the whole Asia region. I'd be happy to chip in some money and become an investor in such a cool project.

[@-DHR4870]

These look like very unique and exciting plans for Auckland, we don't need to copy other cities or make AK look like them. Assuming these are real plans that will come to fruition, it will be amazing. The tunnels idea is genius. 👍

[@Maxim.Sherstobitov]

Let's hope it won't be just an idea but become a reality!

[@karl-nb9ut]

@@Maxim.Sherstobitov i dont especially the one with a park going down victoria street or the light rail which i think has flunked now anyway

[@user-xu3cz7vp2j]

if both Auckland and Dunedin had some better connection to the waterfront the two cities would be far better

[@DS-fk7ed]

I visited Auckland from the UK about 10 years ago. Getting from the airport to the city center was by bu, which was mostly caught up in traffic. Seeing the plans for a tram link; In my opinion this would greatly improve the arrival experience into Auckland for tourists and allow the city project a cosmopolitan image. As for the port; surely move it close to the airport? Flying in to the airport i noticed plenty of room along the coast in that area.

[@jamescrozier6424]

the water is way to shallow around the airport

[@cheetaih]

There is a heavy rail tracks at South Auckland could link to the Airport but no politician like this idea.

[@svenfrontin-rollet8469]

The AKL council is afraid of letting go of its cash cow , the port. Central Government will need to sort that. Northland is a land of opportunity

[@svenfrontin-rollet8469]

The northern busway can be converted to rail

[@TheRyadrian]

Make it happen baby! YEEAAH

[@davidparada1307]

Curious question: So what has the Auckland decided to do?

[@BernardoPatino]

+

[@cosmichappening1712]

I can't believe I heard former mayor Phil Goff say that the height of skyscrapers in the CBD should be restricted to give everyone a view of Rangitoto Island: WTF? What is NZ'ders obsession with having a “view” to the detriment of everything else? Views are a privilege, not a right. With NZ’s housing shortage and Auckland’s population expected to grow to 2 million by 2030, it is completely insane and counter-intuitive to be restricting the height of residential high-rises in the CBD when we should be making maximum use of the limited land that is available and build residential high-rises as tall as possible to house as many people as practicable. As long as allowance is made for space between the buildings to let light through, I don’t see anything wrong with it. Building 4 to 7 storey life-style low rises in the CBD is just taking up and wasting valuable space while housing relatively few people: They belong in the suburbs, not in the CBD. His comment reminded me of a similar sentiment made by a resident of Queenstown in the South Island in an online article who complained that the exotic pines growing on the mountainsides of the township were blocking the view of the tussock grass: WTF! Who the hell is going to want to come halfway around the world, let alone from across the ditch, to look at tussock grass and miles of monotonous, treeless landscapes and mountainsides? The exotic pines are what makes Queenstown: This is what draws tourists to the region: Take the pines away, and there is nothing much to look at even with the tree-less mountains and lakes in the region. Another example of this self-sabotaging and limiting mentality is demonstrated by the fact that a Malaysian company who wants to build a residential high-rise next to Aotea square were granted resource consent by Auckland council on the proviso that the height of the building be restricted so as not to cast a shadow over the square: WTF! The shadow would provide welcome shade for people relaxing in the square from NZ’s well known scorching summer sun, besides which shadows do not stay in the same spot the whole day but move as the sun moves. Think of the juxtaposition of tall skyscrapers in the background of Aotea square as seen from the vantage point of Queen street: That would be a sight to behold and one well worth photographing for tourists, especially in winter when the square could be turned into an ice-rink. Instead of being forward thinking and proactive, the mentality of Kiwi’s is stuck in the past and lacking in imagination. As always we keep sabotaging ourselves and our full potential by putting limits on everything we do to the detriment of everything else - because we believe we are entitled to a view (“You can’t build or plant that there because it will block my view of Rangitoto Island and the tussock grass”), only to then wake up one day and find ourselves 50 years behind the times and the rest of the world in terms of infrastructure such as housing, roads, and public transport; and as a result, everything stays the same; nothing changes or improves; and so instead of planning ahead and being proactive, we are reactive and are forced to catch up. With everything being within walking distance - cafes, restaurants, shops, Ferries, the seafront, and the Britomart and Aotea train stations without the need of a car, more and more people are going to want to live in the CBD which will of course provide more customers for local businesses. I hope the new mayor scraps the height restrictions on highrises in the CBD, otherwise Auckland is in danger of becoming not a real city, but a pretend city of low rises rather than a true international city of highrises taller than 200 meters and continue to be left behind by the cities of our cousins over the ditch like Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane: We have all the natural assets to be just as good or even better: And as far as Skytower goes; it does not have a monopoly to be the tallest structure in the Auckland CBD forever.

[@dallasfrost1996]

Absolutely agree! AKL needs large skyscrapers for quite a few obvious and logical reasons. I too don't understand our obsession with needing to have these so called "great" views everywhere we're looking at. Most of NZ already offers those types of views anyways... Why does our single biggest city need to then be restricted by this? It makes no sense. AKL has potential to become a proper awesome city, but it's stupid things like this stopping that from happening. I personally think having a nice skyline full of skyscrapers would also make for some great views too. It definitely would break up the same old (in my opinion) empty, and dare I say "boring" look else where in NZ. Variety is always welcome. Let AKL become what AKL should be.

[@MrRasZee]

make 1 hour electric train ride to Wellsford it will expand Auckland..get all slow freight off the line when the passenger express train comes through

[@natesilver2443]

So are there any update about this project?

[@MaximSherstobitov]

I would say it is on hold during COVID-19

[@constructionsecrets]

Niceeee 💯

[@devilsadvocate2656]

4 years after this vid came online and Auckland's port is still stuck right where it always was. Part of the issue is that it would be a huge expense to move it and the council really doesn't want to give up a resource that earns it huge dividends for no outlay. There is no green space up Victoria St East and the incoming National govt has canned the light rail idea. Large portions of Queen St are reserved purely for Goods & Service Vehicles making it harder & less attractive as a pedestrian. They did make a number of improvements to Quay St making it more pedestrian friendly and the City Rail Loop is nearing completion (2025 I think that they said). Unfortunately, the CBD never really recovered after the Covid lockdowns, so I'd hardly consider it a destination unless you work in one of the many offices.

[@svenfrontin-rollet8469]

Two years to move the Port to Marsden Point

[@jaquelinebertola7108]

I love Auckland

[@newzealandvideos3206]

Y’all should add something like san ammonia pier on the water front

[@Maxim.Sherstobitov]

Anything is better than parked used cars.

[@Andy_M986]

San ammonia?,stop smoking crack bro.

[@TheRyadrian]

Oh Yea

[@Zergcerebrates]

All that project for just a billion?! Please use the light rail trains like those of Sydney.

[@swann3374]

Nah I can't see it being just a billion . Whoever estimated that job would probably have to go over it again . That's a lot of ground to cover and it only looks like a price that only covers the layout . I can see a few hiccups that will cost a bit on the water fronts east bend of the design . I think it's a great design but very little thought into managing trafficing whilst in build . So many contractors back to back and movement of material everywhere . It's gonna be a big task taking this job on but worth it if it all pays off in their favour

[@Swede.from.Boston]

More like 20 billion dollar.

[@whitifisher3318]

I would love the Sports stadium next to the waterfront it would be iconic and would bring in tourist like the Sydney opera house. It will bring kiwis together with Rugby.

[@PositiveVibes-es9of]

Love it 😍

[@NoDrNo]

Moving the port to Marsden Point is a foolish idea as it would overload the already overburdened Northern Motorway and would have all freight moving through the entirety of NZ's busiest city on roads alone. The best solution would be working with Ports of Tauranga to expand their port, they have rail infrastructure that can take all the cargo out to the inland port in Hamilton, which, because of its central location, can distribute it more effectively.

[@lukemading5890]

Do you think this will affect the house market in Auckland?

[@Maxim.Sherstobitov]

Yes because it will attract more skilled migrant thus creating extra demand.

[@lukemading5890]

Thanks for the information.

[@KiedisHaze]

A lot of housing prices are on their way down at the moment though!

[@Maxim.Sherstobitov]

small towns and the regions are going up aka halo effect. Auckland is flat or going down.@@KiedisHaze

[@lundpita6377]

@@Maxim.Sherstobitov build houses for homeless and help kids who are depending on schools for foods wat will you gain from building those things theirs a saying rich people will get rich while poor people will get poor while rich people will invest their money in harming nature while poor people will help poor

[@svenfrontin-rollet8469]

Marsden Point will replace Auckland Port

[@shauncummings2361]

Well - you got that wrong

[@coopers-aquariums]

Nothing heading out east Auckland Thats what needs to be sorted

[@jackgibbons6013]

Ameti?

[@natesnautical]

Don't do light rail, do it as intercity rail, will be much faster. Look at South Africa's gautrain, build to run at 160 km'h and also has a urban feel to it, with close proximity stations like, Johannesburg, Rosebank, Sandton, suburbs all connected underground. Light rail, is too slow! And South Africa's Gautrain, also runs north to it's capital Pretoria, and to the International Airport. You can do it!

[@johnmcmillan5114]

We need real heavy rail network

[@norwegianzound]

A billion dollars! Dublin built a couple of tram lines for that amount. Pennies in the grand scheme.

[@peto1986]

Everything is far more pricey here in NZ for some reason.

[@jeringatai3156]

@@peto1986 greed

[@rp7784]

@@peto1986 because our GDP isn't as high as Ireland's, our economy isn't as whealthy so taxes are higher, prices are higher, to make sure the economy stays stable

[@Lollol-ci7mc]

@@rp7784 hey rp lol then increase your country per capita income. Earn more money and reduce your country's taxes

[@Lollol-ci7mc]

@@rp7784 do not sit at home and do more work. Don't be lazy rp lol

[@Andy_M986]

Shut the CBD down from 5 blocks out,in all directions,only allowing goods and services vehicles,buses and taxis in,and supply cheap buses or light rail into the CBD. Of course that would be too easy,and by now,far too late to set up. Trouble with NZ over the decades,we haven't had any town planners with a clue what to do. Perth in Western Australia,left massive roadside areas alongside their freeways and highways,to allow for expansion in the future,it's not rocket surgery. In Vancouver,they build up due to land being too expansive,of course they don't have earthquakes like we do,but they make it work because they have vision.A sunken stadium is a stupid idea,with the polar ice caps melting,and with no sight of it ending anytime soon,that idea will sink with the stadium. I'm happy to see some work is being done underground,i hope to be moving home in a few years,i love Auckland,best city in my eyes,and i love the ideas coming out in this video,except for the odd couple.

[@LureThosePixels]

The light rail is so awesome

[@rapatel1642]

A billion dollars flushed down the toilet

[@gucyulook]

Wat the hell not everyone wonts to catch train if there's a emergency we've got to jump in the train by the time you get to the emergency Yul b a hour late

[@desmondcrosland7884]

Isn’t it sad looking back. It’s a slum of homeless people, petty crime and dirty streets. The cup was won but they won’t fund defence, canning most projects mentioned, and focusing on only the centre of a very large city.

[@richardsingh5827]

I like the tunnels idea, mole people is the way to go

[@Skybar23]

so this means more one way streets

[@jaminesonymorgan8428]

that's how it was in the 70s when i was just a toddler.

[@rp7784]

Yep sure does, and I'm all for it

[@svenfrontin-rollet8469]

Train tunnel under the harbour

[@bythegraceofadoni]

3 years later and auckland is still a shit hole, infact its worse. High crime rates, shootings, home burglary, car break ins, overwhelming ram raids, the CBD is terribly run down. There isn't 1 good suburb left in the entire city and the remaining "good area" which is north shore is now getting state homes, so that's gone. I cannot wait to escape this hell and I do not recommend coming to here to live. Holiday maybe.

[@kadenawarlord2700]

but but sir, it's coof19s fault, right? Auckland had potential to expand/develop thoroughly pre 2012, yet chose a quick pump n dump in it's housing pyramid scheme. Going for a holiday? What see some fkn right scum of the earth intimidate you? Nah fk that, better off going to a 3rd world country for a holiday than AKL. It'll only continue to become a dumping ground for the undesirables, as MSD describes "more potential in AKL for them, than elsehwere" ,

[@dallasfrost1996]

Yup, sad to see..

[@sebastientumahai9560]

New Zealand solution to congestion: make roads smaller

[@peto1986]

Cars should not need to be in those particular places in the first place. This is not NZ solution btw. It's been working decades like that in Europe and everybody's happy

[@jackgibbons6013]

I don’t know if your joking but this is essentially the best solution. Provided you do other things to complement it. Re allocating space to vehicles that can carry significantly more people per meter squared is how you reduce congestion effects. I assume car congestion will be just as bad, but significantly less people would be effected by it. Which is the goal.

[@rp7784]

You know that actually works, making roads wider you're just giving people even more of an excuse to drive. But by restricting road access, implementing tolls and no car zone's, basically giving less of a reason to drive, and then promoting the use of public transport, making fares cheaper, trains and buses more convenient it'll really work to get people off roads

[@bjgeorge214]

You walk down Auckland there's allways someone in the way there's just to much people and no dam fucking room

[@MrRasZee]

From northland..its a BIG YES..DO IT !! from me

[@mdyousuf6030]

Thousands of congratulations to the Honorable Prime Minister. Request you to improve the standard of your education like USA.

[@lundpita6377]

Use that money to help homeless get a roof and poor people get some businesses one billion is enough for people who are poor life is not perminant here

[@mike70377]

Shane Jones loves Whangarei eh? Is he from Northland or something?

[@johnmcmillan5114]

Trying to buy votes

[@DavidjohnLockerbie-ni9hp]

Yes, yes look at now, presently we have a hold , of the people ,!Housing city transformers, the transports and technogie, ?give more time

[@itsmebronny6175]

It’s easy saying we need a billion dollars but where is it come from? Well just a heads up it’s tax money

[@peto1986]

I have no problem with that. 1/3 population of NZ lives in Auckland, they should get that amount of money to make their city more livable

[@rufs6468]

@@peto1986 funny that cause we don't even get to keep all the money auckland brings into the country. And yet people complain when they see auckland developing and their regional roads not.

[@vidortbazu3238]

Keep things old school, adding more - buildings - will only attract more problems! The underground stuff is okay, also the aqua project stuff

[@svenfrontin-rollet8469]

More rail lines to the north

[@louisbarningham]

It needs rails to the north shore

[@fleurdavey9785]

No houses Auckland Harbour doesn't need them

[@edineujunior]

And then covid hit