124-582: The Auckland Central Business District ( CBD ), or Auckland city centre , is the geographical and economic heart of the Auckland metropolitan area . It is the area in which Auckland was established in 1840, by William Hobson on land gifted by mana whenua hapū Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei . It is New Zealand's leading financial hub, and the centre of the country's economy ; the GDP of the Auckland Region
248-511: A 2006–2008 street upgrade (see below), Council figures showed that over 50,000 pedestrians, 40,000 public transport users and 20,000 people in private vehicles used Queen Street daily. The Council anticipated that the private car share would drop by around 15%. An editorial of The New Zealand Herald accused Council of using overestimated public transport user numbers for political purposes to support its bus lane plans. Until December 1956, trams provided public transport along Queen Street, and it
372-502: A bachelor's or higher degree, 464,022 (41.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 298,851 (26.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $ 44,600, compared with $ 41,500 nationally. 160,164 people (14.2%) earned over $ 100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 605,601 (53.5%) people were employed full-time, 132,180 (11.7%) were part-time, and 39,441 (3.5%) were unemployed. Many ethnic groups , since
496-602: A gift of fifteen works of art by New York art collectors and philanthropists Julian and Josie Robertson – including well-known paintings by Paul Cézanne , Pablo Picasso , Henri Matisse , Paul Gauguin and Piet Mondrian . This is the largest gift ever made to an art museum in Australasia. Other important art galleries include Mangere Arts Centre , Tautai Pacific Arts Trust , Te Tuhi , Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery , Gow Langsford Gallery , Michael Lett Gallery, Starkwhite, and Bergman Gallery . Auckland Domain
620-551: A growing central city. Auckland was also called the "Queen City" since before the turn of the 20th century, though that term is now overshadowed by the nickname "City of Sails". The statistical areas of Queen Street, which encompasses a full block either side of Queen Street north of Wellesley Street , and Queen Street South West, which includes the area west of Queen Street to Vincent Street and Pitt Street south of Wellesley Street, cover 0.40 km (0.15 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 4,910 as of June 2024, with
744-635: A higher share of employment in large firms than other areas in Auckland. Over half of the large firms in Auckland CBD are in office-based sectors (such as property and business services and finance and insurance) and are in the Downtown and Waterfront areas of the CBD. In 2004 Auckland CBD had 72,540 employees and 9125 businesses. 2006 Auckland CBD had 78,444 employees and 9,461 businesses. Air New Zealand
868-469: A more natural character than the surrounding city. Prehistoric earthworks and historic fortifications are in several of these parks, including Maungawhau / Mount Eden , North Head and Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill . Queen Street, Auckland Queen Street is the major commercial thoroughfare in the Auckland CBD , Auckland , New Zealand's largest city. The northern end is at Queens Wharf on
992-601: A number of 19th century structures survive. Many large corporations, insurance companies and banks had substantial buildings on Queen Street and in some cases their head offices were located here rather than in Wellington (the capital). The most significant buildings along the middle part of the street are the: Beyond the Wellesley Street intersection lies the midtown district, with its entertainment and civic focus, centred on Aotea Square . Here are located most of
1116-551: A number of other parallel-running streets. The CBD is generally considered to be bounded by the main motorways that surround all non-harbour sides, with State Highway 1 forming the southern and western boundaries, and State Highway 16 / Grafton Gully forming the eastern boundary. The CBD has an area of 433 hectares (1,070 acres), similar to the Sydney CBD , and twice as large as the CBDs of Wellington and Christchurch . The CBD
1240-711: A population density of 12,275 people per km . Queen Street had a population of 3,807 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 639 people (20.2%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 1,527 people (67.0%) since the 2006 census . There were 1,860 households, comprising 2,076 males and 1,725 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.2 males per female, with 123 people (3.2%) aged under 15 years, 1,851 (48.6%) aged 15 to 29, 1,626 (42.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 204 (5.4%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 46.3% European/ Pākehā , 5.0% Māori , 2.8% Pacific peoples , 41.4% Asian , and 9.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas
1364-614: A population of 1,402,275 in the 2023 New Zealand census , an increase of 56,442 people (4.2%) since the 2018 census , and an increase of 178,734 people (14.6%) since the 2013 census . There were 692,490 males, 704,607 females and 5,178 people of other genders in 454,239 dwellings. 4.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+ . The median age was 35.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 270,384 people (19.3%) aged under 15 years, 307,065 (21.9%) aged 15 to 29, 651,645 (46.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 173,178 (12.3%) aged 65 or older. Of those at least 15 years old, 290,814 (25.7%) people had
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#17327731001611488-564: A significant part of Auckland's education business. The Ministry of Education operates state-operated schools throughout the area. Private secondary schools within the CBD include ACG New Zealand International College , ACG Senior College , and Auckland International College . Many of Auckland's historic Christian churches are located in the CBD, although not all are the original buildings. Heritage New Zealand Category 1 Historic Place registered churches include: St Paul's Anglican Church , founded in 1841, St Patrick's Catholic Cathedral
1612-531: A strong boost to local commerce. This, and continued road building towards the south into the Waikato region, enabled Pākehā (European New Zealanders) influence to spread from Auckland. The city's population grew fairly rapidly, from 1,500 in 1841 to 3,635 in 1845, then to 12,423 by 1864. The growth occurred similarly to other mercantile -dominated cities, mainly around the port and with problems of overcrowding and pollution. Auckland's population of ex-soldiers
1736-632: A timeframe of weeks to years before cessation of activity. Future eruptive activity remains a threat to the city, and will likely occur at a new, unknown location within the field. The most recent activity occurred approximately 1450 AD at the Rangitoto Volcano . This event was witnessed by Māori occupants of the area, making it the only eruption within the Auckland Volcanic Field thus far to have been observed by humans. The Auckland Volcanic Field has contributed greatly to
1860-1040: A variety of cultural institutions, such as the Auckland War Memorial Museum , the Museum of Transport and Technology , and the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki . Its architectural landmarks include the Harbour Bridge , the Town Hall , the Ferry Building and the Sky Tower , which is the second-tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere after Thamrin Nine . The city is served by Auckland Airport , which handled 18.5 million passengers in 2024. Auckland
1984-768: Is 34.0 °C (93.2 °F) on 12 February 2009, while the minimum is −5.7 °C (21.7 °F) recorded at Riverhead Forest in June 1936 Snowfall is extremely rare: the most significant fall since the start of the 20th century was on 27 July 1939, when snow fell just before dawn and five centimetres (2 in) of snow reportedly lay on Mount Eden . Snowflakes were also seen on 28 July 1930 and 15 August 2011. Frosts in Auckland are infrequent and often localised. Henderson Riverpark receives an annual average of 27.4 ground frosts per year, while Auckland Airport receives an annual average of 8.7 ground frosts per year. Average sea temperature around Auckland varies throughout
2108-530: Is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand . It has an urban population of about 1,531,400 (June 2024). It is located in the greater Auckland Region , the area governed by Auckland Council , which includes outlying rural areas and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf , and which has a total population of 1,798,300 as of June 2024. It is the most populous city of New Zealand and
2232-562: Is also the largest employment centre in New Zealand, with around 65,000 jobs, representing 13% of the regional workforce, and 25% of the Auckland City workforce. Around 73,000 people enter the CBD every morning between 7 am and 9 am, 60% of these by car, while the total 'turnover' is around 270,000 people per day. In 2003 many large corporations were housed in the Auckland CBD. During the same year, an Auckland City report stated that
2356-477: Is defined by Statistics New Zealand under the Statistical Standard for Geographic Areas 2018 (SSGA18), spans 607.07 square kilometres (234.39 sq mi) and extends to Long Bay in the north, Swanson in the north-west, and Runciman in the south. Auckland's functional urban area (commuting zone) extends from just south of Warkworth in the north to Meremere in the south, incorporating
2480-555: Is fed entirely by basaltic magma sourced from the mantle at a depth of 70–90 km below the city, and is unrelated to the explosive, subduction -driven volcanism of the Taupō Volcanic Zone in the Central North Island region of Aotearoa, New Zealand, ~250 km away. The Auckland Volcanic Field is considered to be a monogenetic volcanic field , with each volcano erupting only a single time, usually over
2604-625: Is home to several notable yacht clubs and marinas, including the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Westhaven Marina , the largest of the Southern Hemisphere . The Waitematā Harbour has several swimming beaches, including Mission Bay and Kohimarama on the south side of the harbour, and Stanley Bay on the north side. On the eastern coastline of the North Shore, where the Rangitoto Channel divides
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#17327731001612728-565: Is now considered to have generally been a success, and it won the 2009 Urban Design Award of the New Zealand Institute of Architects , which commended it for creating a quality public realm and sense of place. To accommodate construction work, Auckland City Council reduced traffic lanes for vehicles to one lane in each direction in early 2007. A proposal was made for this to become permanent, with extended public transport provisions such as bus lanes and cycle lanes proposed for
2852-666: Is one of the few places in New Zealand that has skyscraper-sized buildings, such as the Vero Centre , Commercial Bay (skyscraper) , ANZ Centre or the Metropolis , with the Sky Tower rising above them. Residential high-density buildings constructed within the last decade have helped to increase the population living in the CBD to around 54,620 (2018 estimate) from an earlier 21,390 (2006 estimate), all being growth from only 1,400 in 1991. Much of this growth has been driven by immigration to New Zealand , particularly from Asia, and
2976-403: Is one of the largest parks in the city, it is close to the Auckland CBD and has a good view of the Hauraki Gulf and Rangitoto Island . Smaller parks close to the city centre are Albert Park , Myers Park , Western Park and Victoria Park . While most volcanic cones in the Auckland volcanic field have been affected by quarrying, many of the remaining cones are now within parks, and retain
3100-480: Is one of the world's most liveable cities in the world, ranking third in the 2023 Mercer Quality of Living Survey and at ninth place in a 2024 ranking of the Global Liveability Ranking by The Economist . The Auckland isthmus was settled by Māori around 1350, and was valued for its rich and fertile land. Many pā (fortified villages) were created, mainly on the volcanic peaks. By
3224-448: Is set to grow to an estimated 1.9 million inhabitants by 2031 in a medium-variant scenario. This substantial increase in population will have a huge impact on transport, housing and other infrastructure that are, particularly in the case of housing, that are considered to be under pressure already. The high-variant scenario shows the region's population growing to over two million by 2031. In July 2016, Auckland Council released, as
3348-528: Is surrounded further out by mostly suburban areas; it is bounded on the North by Waitematā Harbour , east by Parnell , southeast by Grafton , south by Mount Eden , southwest by Newton , west by Freemans Bay and northwest by Viaduct Harbour . Located on the northern shore of a narrow isthmus , the CBD extends from the Auckland waterfront on the Waitematā Harbour southwards along Queen Street and
3472-570: Is the main retail precinct of the central city, with most national store, bank and restaurant franchises having a branch on the street. Several important other local businesses, such as the Smith & Caughey's department store, have flagship branches here. The street sees very high pedestrian numbers, estimated by some as up to 10 times as high as on Broadway in Newmarket , seen as Queen Street's closest shopping street rival in Auckland. Prior to
3596-658: Is to a substantial part located on reclaimed land of the Waitematā Harbour. For a closer discussion of this aspect, see the Commercial Bay and Auckland waterfront articles. On 20 March 1840, paramount chief of the Ngāti Whātua Māori iwi (tribe) of Auckland Apihai Te Kawau , signed the Treaty of Waitangi . Ngāti Whātua sought British protection from Ngāpuhi as well as a reciprocal relationship with
3720-513: Is today referred to informally as Lower Queen Street. As well as being the location of a great many multi-storey warehouses, initially the Lower Queen Street area also contained many manufacturing businesses, though many of these started to move to other areas such as Freeman's Bay, Newton and Parnell, especially if they took up a large area (such as timber yards) or created noise or pollution (such as brick yards or foundries). Up until
3844-582: The Auckland Province until the provincial system was abolished in 1876. In response to the ongoing rebellion by Hōne Heke in the mid-1840s, the government encouraged retired but fit British soldiers and their families to migrate to Auckland to form a defence line around the port settlement as garrison soldiers. By the time the first Fencibles arrived in 1848, the Northern War had concluded. Outlying defensive towns were then constructed to
Auckland CBD - Misplaced Pages Continue
3968-399: The Auckland Region , an administrative region that takes its name from the city. The region encompasses the city centre, as well as suburbs, surrounding towns, nearshore islands, and rural areas north and south of the urban area. The Auckland central business district is the most built-up area of the region. The CBD covers 433 hectares (1,070 acres) in a triangular area, and is bounded by
4092-489: The Auckland waterfront on the Waitematā Harbour and the inner-city suburbs of Ponsonby , Newton and Parnell . The central areas of the city are located on the Auckland isthmus , less than two kilometres wide at its narrowest point, between Māngere Inlet and the Tamaki River . There are two harbours surrounding this isthmus: Waitematā Harbour to the north, which extends east to the Hauraki Gulf and thence to
4216-626: The Auckland waterfront , adjacent to the Britomart Transport Centre and the Downtown Ferry Terminal . The road is close to straight, the southern end being almost three kilometres away in a south-southwesterly direction on the Karangahape Road ridge, close to the residential suburbs in the interior of the Auckland isthmus . Named after Queen Victoria , Queen Street was an early development of
4340-608: The City Rail Link . Once completed, it will connect the Waitematā railway station more directly to the Western Line in the vicinity of Maungawhau railway station by way of a tunnel running under the CBD. Two new stations are being constructed, one named Karanga-a-Hape railway station near Karangahape Road and another named Te Waihorotiu railway station near Aotea Square , and the existing stations at each end of
4464-539: The Crown and the Church . Soon after signing the treaty, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei made a strategic gift of 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) of land on the Waitematā Harbour to the new Governor of New Zealand, William Hobson , for the new capital , which Hobson named for George Eden, Earl of Auckland , then Viceroy of India . Auckland was founded on 18 September 1840 and was officially declared New Zealand's capital in 1841, and
4588-451: The Crown and the Church . Soon after signing the treaty, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei made a strategic gift of 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) of land on the Waitematā Harbour to the new Governor of New Zealand, William Hobson , for the new capital , which Hobson named for George Eden, Earl of Auckland , then Viceroy of India . Auckland was founded on 18 September 1840 and was officially declared New Zealand's capital in 1841. The town of Auckland
4712-530: The Department of Conservation , and the Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority . The Auckland urban area, as defined by Statistics New Zealand, covers 605.67 km (233.85 sq mi). The urban area has an estimated population of 1,531,400 as of June 2024, 28.7 percent of New Zealand's population . The city has a population larger than the entire South Island (1,260,000). The urban area had
4836-532: The Hibiscus Coast in the northeast, Helensville , Parakai , Muriwai , Waimauku , Kumeū - Huapai , and Riverhead in the northwest, Beachlands-Pine Harbour and Maraetai in the east, and Pukekohe , Clarks Beach , Patumāhoe , Waiuku , Tuakau and Pōkeno (the latter two in the Waikato region) in the south. Auckland forms New Zealand's largest urban area . The Auckland urban area lies within
4960-698: The Trewartha climate classification and according to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), the city's climate is classified as humid subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters (Trewartha climate classification Cfbl ). It is the warmest main centre of New Zealand. The average daily maximum temperature is 23.7 °C (74.7 °F) in February and 14.7 °C (58.5 °F) in July. The maximum recorded temperature
5084-466: The Waitematā railway station (rail and buses) and the nearby Auckland Ferry Terminal , both near the Auckland waterfront . Many bus services travel the length of the CBD along the main streets, in particular via the bus lanes on Albert Street and the Central Connector bus priority route. In 2010, around 33,000 people entered the CBD via public transport every day. Historically, much of
Auckland CBD - Misplaced Pages Continue
5208-672: The Whau local board area. Europeans formed the plurality in the Henderson-Massey , Maungakiekie-Tāmaki and Papakura local board areas, and formed the majority in the remaining 11 local board areas. Māori did not form a majority or plurality in any local board area but are in the highest concentrations in the Manurewa and Papakura local board areas. Immigration to New Zealand is heavily concentrated towards Auckland (partly for job market reasons). This strong focus on Auckland has led
5332-486: The fifth largest city in Oceania. While Europeans continue to make up the plurality of Auckland's population, the city became multicultural and cosmopolitan in the late-20th century, with Asians accounting for 34.9% of the city's population in 2023. Auckland has the fourth largest foreign-born population in the world, with 39% of its residents born overseas. With its sizable population of Pasifika New Zealanders ,
5456-475: The 1740s onwards, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei became the major influential force on the Auckland isthmus. The Māori population in the area is estimated to have been about 20,000 before the arrival of Europeans. The introduction of firearms at the end of the eighteenth century, which began in Northland , upset the balance of power and led to devastating intertribal warfare beginning in 1807, causing iwi who lacked
5580-503: The 1990s, only a token population of around 1,400 was still residing within the CBD, though this was to grow substantially with a boom of new apartment buildings around the turn of the millennium. More recently, in the early 21st century the CBD has seen a resurgence with strong population growth. As at 2010 there were around 24,000 apartment units. The CBD of Auckland has been the leading centre of New Zealand's business and economic development for nearly two centuries. The area of today's CBD
5704-562: The 2023 census, where people could identify as more than one ethnicity, the results were 44.0% European ( Pākehā ); 12.2% Māori ; 18.7% Pasifika ; 34.9% Asian ; 2.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 91.5%, Māori language by 2.7%, Samoan by 5.3% and other languages by 32.0%. No language could be spoken by 2.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language
5828-479: The Asian population had reached 18.0 per cent in Auckland, and 36.2 per cent in the central city. New arrivals from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea gave a distinctive character to the areas where they clustered, while a range of other immigrants introduced mosques, Hindu temples, halal butchers and ethnic restaurants to the suburbs. The boundaries of Auckland are imprecisely defined. The Auckland urban area , as it
5952-454: The Auckland CBD undertaken in 2005, most visitors and locals feel safe visiting and living in the CBD. Police and the Council have in part ascribed these positive feelings to over a dozen safety initiatives undertaken by authorities (from alcohol bans in parts of the CBD to CCTV surveillance and street lighting measures). However, in spite of the general perception of the CBD being safe, there
6076-615: The Auckland CBD, compared to several central business districts in Australia, had "a broader and more dominant role in its regional economy" compared to the economies of the Australian central business districts. The CBD remains attractive to shops, partially due to the very high pedestrian numbers on the main shopping streets like Queen Street, where footfalls are estimated to be up to 10 times as high as on Broadway in Newmarket , seen as Queen Street's closest rival. Auckland CBD has
6200-468: The CBD is the area in New Zealand with the highest percentage share (32%) of the Asian ethnic group in New Zealand. Also striking is the high number of students (both tertiary education and overseas students studying English in one of the many institutes), making up 27% of all residents (2001 Census) and contributing to the relative youth of the city residents. With increasing population, available services have also changed – from only about one superette in
6324-645: The Elliott Stables Foodcourt. The Victoria Park Market was established as a shopping centre in an unused heritage building in 1983. It was extensively renovated between 2008 and 2013. The centre currently features 74 stores, and 194 carparks. Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki has been operating in Auckland CBD in 1888. Since then, several other galleries have also opened in the CBD. Artspace Aotearoa opened in 1987. Gus Fisher Gallery opened in 2001. St Paul St Gallery opened in 2004. The Dalmatian Archives and Museum, opened in 1989, features
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#17327731001616448-400: The North Shore. Residential numbers in the inner city (including the inner suburbs) were also declining in the 20th century. In the two-mile zone surrounding the CBD, there were approximately 70,000 people in 1926, with only around 50,000 in 1966 – a change made even more marked by the development of the remainder of Auckland's population, which grew more than fourfold in the same timeframe. In
6572-726: The Pacific Ocean, and Manukau Harbour to the south, which opens west to the Tasman Sea . Bridges span parts of both harbours, notably the Auckland Harbour Bridge crossing the Waitematā Harbour west of the central business district. The Māngere Bridge and the Upper Harbour Bridge span the upper reaches of the Manukau and Waitematā Harbours, respectively. In earlier times, portages crossed
6696-561: The Queen Street area between Wellesley Street West and Grey Street (today Greys Avenue). The fires, amongst other things, led to the establishment of the Auckland Volunteer Fire Service. In the 1880s, the first horse-drawn buses began connecting Queen Street with areas such as Ponsonby Road and Remuera . In 1900, the first motorcar was admired on the street, and in 1902 the street was finally asphalted,
6820-531: The Royal New Zealand Navy , and the Museum of Transport and Technology . The Auckland Art Gallery is the largest stand-alone gallery in New Zealand with a collection of over 17,000 artworks, including prominent New Zealand and Pacific Island artists, as well as international painting, sculpture and print collections ranging in date from 1376 to the present day. In 2009, the Gallery was promised
6944-541: The Second World War, the city's transport system and urban form became increasingly dominated by the motor vehicle. Arterial roads and motorways became both defining and geographically dividing features of the urban landscape. They also allowed further massive expansion that resulted in the growth of suburban areas such as the North Shore (especially after the construction of the Auckland Harbour Bridge in
7068-488: The associated lack of international migration. At the 2018 Census, in the local board areas of Upper Harbour, Waitematā, Puketāpapa and Howick, overseas-born residents outnumbered those born in New Zealand. The most common birthplaces of overseas-born residents were mainland China (6.2%), India (4.6%), England (4.4%), Fiji (2.9%), Samoa (2.5%), South Africa (2.4%), Philippines (2.0%), Australia (1.4%), South Korea (1.4%), and Tonga (1.3%). A study from 2016 showed Auckland has
7192-463: The blowout. While Council noted in June 2007 that progress had often been quicker than expected, the cost overruns, and the long duration of the construction works – which substantially affected pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic as well as retail sales – made the upgrade unpopular in public, at least during the duration. It also became a problem issue for Dick Hubbard in his failed campaign for re-election to Mayor of Auckland in 2007. The upgrade
7316-463: The census question. Recent immigration from Asia has added to the religious diversity of the city, increasing the number of people affiliating with Buddhism , Hinduism , Islam and Sikhism , although there are no figures on religious attendance. There is also a small, long-established Jewish community. Auckland is experiencing substantial population growth via immigration (two-thirds of growth) and natural population increases (one-third), and
7440-622: The city is also home to the largest ethnic Polynesian population in the world. The Māori-language name for Auckland is Tāmaki Makaurau , meaning "Tāmaki desired by many", in reference to the desirability of its natural resources and geography. Auckland lies between the Hauraki Gulf to the east, the Hunua Ranges to the south-east, the Manukau Harbour to the south-west, and the Waitākere Ranges and smaller ranges to
7564-888: The city's cultural diversity include the Pasifika Festival , Polyfest, and the Auckland Lantern Festival , all of which are the largest of their kind in New Zealand. Additionally, Auckland regularly hosts the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Royal New Zealand Ballet . Auckland is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the category of music. Important institutions include the Auckland Art Gallery , Auckland War Memorial Museum , New Zealand Maritime Museum , National Museum of
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#17327731001617688-406: The country's container trade in 2015. The face of urban Auckland changed when the government's immigration policy began allowing immigrants from Asia in 1986. This has led to Auckland becoming a multicultural city, with people of all ethnic backgrounds. According to the 1961 census data, Māori and Pacific Islanders comprised 5 per cent of Auckland's population; Asians less than 1 per cent. By 2006,
7812-455: The country. Some commentators have noted that the recent decades have not been kind to the aesthetics and the community values of the inner city. The demolishing of many older buildings, often the prerequisite for low-quality or uninspired new office and residential developments, is considered by them to be due to a combination of developers uninterested in long-term outcomes and council planning direction being too weak. In an attempt to reverse
7936-460: The cultivation of crops, such as kūmara . Following European arrival, many of the maunga were transformed into quarries to supply the growing city with aggregate and building materials, and as a result were severely damaged or entirely destroyed. A number of the smaller maar craters and tuff rings were also removed during earthworks. Most of the remaining volcanic centres are now preserved within recreational reserves administered by Auckland Council ,
8060-424: The decline of aesthetics in the CBD, previous Auckland City Councils and the current unitary Auckland Council have instigated several urban regeneration schemes. These include the recent redevelopment of Aotea Square in 2010 and the upgrade of Saint Patrick's Square in 2009. The area east of the Waitematā railway station is currently undergoing major changes, with the development of new commercial buildings,
8184-426: The early 1700s, Te Waiohua , a confederation of tribes such as Ngā Oho , Ngā Riki and Ngā Iwi, became the main influential force on the Auckland isthmus, with major pā located at Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill , Māngere Mountain and Maungataketake . The confederation came to an end around 1741, when paramount chief Kiwi Tāmaki was killed in battle by Ngāti Whātua hapū Te Taoū chief Te Waha-akiaki. From
8308-488: The early 2000s was that Queen Street had lost some of its good reputation in the previous decades, with a rundown and uncoordinated streetscape and the loss of several prestigious retailers cited as either causes or effects. Auckland City Council decided to address the issue of the 'tired' Queen Street through a major redevelopment of the street. This involved the widening and relaying of footpaths with basalt kerbstones and paving. Granite insets, designed in consultation with
8432-501: The early 2000s, this has ballooned to one supermarket and 38 superettes by 2011. In early 2012, two major supermarket chains opened a branch in the city centre, with Countdown opening on Victoria Street in January and New World opening a branch on Queen Street in early March. However, the population remains highly focused on ethnically diverse, mostly young and childless residents. According to an in-depth study of security perception in
8556-407: The first street in New Zealand. The same year the first electric trams also arrived, to provide services until 1956. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw a large number of imposing buildings constructed, such as the Smith & Caughey's building, the Auckland Town Hall and the General Post Office at the waterfront, later to become the Britomart Transport Centre . By that time, the street
8680-442: The fourth largest foreign-born population in the world, only behind Dubai , Toronto and Brussels , with 39% of its residents born overseas. Religious affiliations in the 2023 census were 35.7% Christian , 6.1% Hindu , 3.3% Islam , 0.9% Māori religious beliefs , 2.1% Buddhist , 0.3% New Age , 0.2% Jewish , and 2.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 42.7%, and 6.0% of people did not answer
8804-412: The growth and prosperity of the Auckland Region since the area was settled by humans. Initially, the maunga (scoria cones) were occupied and established as pā (fortified settlements) by Māori due to the strategic advantage their elevation provided in controlling resources and key portages between the Waitematā and Manukau harbours. The rich volcanic soils found in these areas also proved ideal for
8928-592: The history of Croatian New Zealanders . The New Zealand Maritime Museum , opened in 1993, features the maritime history of the Waitematā Harbour . There are significant educational institutions located in the Auckland CBD, notably the University of Auckland and the Auckland University of Technology . The CBD also has many of the English language schools for non-native English speakers which form
9052-455: The immigration services to award extra points towards immigration visa requirements for people intending to move to other parts of New Zealand. Immigration from overseas into Auckland is partially offset by the net emigration of people from Auckland to other regions of New Zealand. In 2021 and 2022, Auckland recorded its only decreases in population, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic and
9176-496: The important civic buildings, including the: Further up Queen Street beyond Mayoral Drive is the uptown district, centred on Myers Park . This is often referred to as Upper Queen Street, although that name actually refers to a separate continuation of Queen Street on the other side of the K'Road ridge. The most significant buildings in this area are the: Beyond the Karangahape Road ridge the southernmost 500 metres of
9300-464: The inner Hauraki Gulf islands from the mainland, there are popular swimming beaches at Cheltenham and Narrow Neck in Devonport , Takapuna , Milford , and the various beaches further north in the area known as East Coast Bays. The west coast has popular surf beaches such as Piha , Muriwai and Te Henga (Bethells Beach) . The Whangaparāoa Peninsula , Orewa , Ōmaha and Pākiri , to the north of
9424-401: The lack of good public transport, and increasing housing costs have been cited by many Aucklanders as among the strongest negative factors of living there, together with crime that has been rising in recent years. Nonetheless, Auckland ranked third in a survey of the quality of life of 215 major cities of the world (2015 data). One of Auckland's nicknames, the "City of Sails", is derived from
9548-409: The largest group at 250, and other groups of note being 150 agricultural labourers, 100 shopkeepers, 100 domestic servants, and 125 "upper class members". During the remainder of the 19th century, Commercial Bay was progressively filled in, allowing a northward extension of Queen Street and the creation of Fort Street, Customs Street , and Quay Street . The part of Queen Street north of Customs Street
9672-463: The late 1950s), and Manukau City in the south. Economic deregulation in the mid-1980s led to very dramatic changes to Auckland's economy, and many companies relocated their head offices from Wellington to Auckland. The region was now the nerve centre of the entire national economy. Auckland also benefited from a surge in tourism, which brought 75 per cent of New Zealand's international visitors through its airport. Auckland's port handled 31 per cent of
9796-407: The late 20th century, have had an increasing presence in Auckland, making it by far the country's most cosmopolitan city. Historically, Auckland's population has been of majority European origin, though the proportion of those of Asian or other non-European origins has increased in recent decades due to the removal of restrictions directly or indirectly based on race . Europeans continue to make up
9920-435: The link, Waitematā and Maungawhau, are receiving substantial upgrades. The main street of the CBD is Queen Street , which was upgraded between 2006 and 2008 to modernise it and make it more pedestrian friendly. In 2009, the former Auckland City Council proposed the redevelopment of several CBD streets into shared spaces , with the goal of improving pedestrian and cyclist amenity by slowing down vehicle traffic while retaining
10044-419: The local Māori ( Ngati Whatua iwi), as well as recycled redchip pavers from the existing footpath, were used to denote special areas – such as those related to the existence of the old Waihorotiu Stream. New street furniture (such as multi-purpose poles for lighting, signage and pennants) and new trees and other landscaping were added to create a 'boulevard effect'. The liquidambars and Nīkau Palms chosen for
10168-573: The main urban area, are also nearby. Many Auckland beaches are patrolled by surf lifesaving clubs, such as Piha Surf Life Saving Club the home of Piha Rescue . All surf lifesaving clubs are part of the Surf Life Saving Northern Region . Queen Street , Britomart , Ponsonby Road , Karangahape Road , Newmarket and Parnell are major retail areas. Major markets include those held in Ōtara and Avondale on weekend mornings. A number of shopping centres are located in
10292-482: The middle of the 20th century the centre of town still contained a large number of small factories including clothing manufacturers. The relocation of industries to outlying suburbs became especially pronounced in the 1950s, partly due to incentives made by council planners to create industrial areas in Penrose and Rosebank Road (amongst others) and thus rid the inner city area of noise, pollution and heavy traffic. This
10416-859: The middle- and outer-suburbs, with Westfield Newmarket , Sylvia Park , Botany Town Centre and Westfield Albany being the largest. A number of arts events are held in Auckland, including the Auckland Festival , the Auckland Triennial, the New Zealand International Comedy Festival , and the New Zealand International Film Festival . The Auckland Philharmonia is the city and region's resident full-time symphony orchestra, performing its own series of concerts and accompanying opera and ballet. Events celebrating
10540-668: The morning and dies down again in the evening. The early morning calm on the isthmus during settled weather, before the sea breeze rises, was described as early as 1853: "In all seasons, the beauty of the day is in the early morning. At that time, generally, a solemn stillness holds, and a perfect calm prevails...". Fog is a common occurrence for Auckland, especially in autumn and winter. Whenuapai Airport experiences an average of 44 fog days per year. Auckland occasionally suffers from air pollution due to fine particle emissions. There are also occasional breaches of guideline levels of carbon monoxide . While maritime winds normally disperse
10664-478: The most expensive square in the New Zealand version of Monopoly and to a somewhat disrespectful description of business people with rural investment interests (but lacking farming expertise): ' Queen Street farmers '. The street was immortalised by The Front Lawn with their song (It started on) Queen Street . The street has been the site of numerous parades, marches and other events of political, cultural or sporting nature. Together with adjacent High Street, it
10788-674: The narrowest sections of the isthmus. Several islands of the Hauraki Gulf are administered as part of the Auckland Region, though they are not part of the Auckland urban area. Parts of Waiheke Island effectively function as Auckland suburbs, while various smaller islands near Auckland are mostly zoned 'recreational open space' or are nature sanctuaries. Under the Köppen climate classification , Auckland has an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb ). However, under
10912-503: The new capital. Hobson named the area after George Eden, Earl of Auckland , British First Lord of the Admiralty . Māori–European conflict over land in the region led to war in the mid-19th century. In 1865, Auckland was replaced by Wellington as the capital, but continued to grow, initially because of its port and the logging and gold-mining activities in its hinterland, and later because of pastoral farming (especially dairy farming) in
11036-424: The new design touched off heated public discussion in 2006 as their inclusion came at the destruction of previous, established trees (which were not native flora of New Zealand, and thus not retained in the new landscaping plan). The 2006–2008 project repeatedly increased in cost, from NZ$ 23 million to around NZ$ 43.5 million, with some aspects (such as an improved entrance to Myers Park) falling victim to
11160-489: The new town of Auckland (founded in 1840), although initially the main street was intended to be Shortland Street , running parallel to the shore of Commercial Bay . The early route of Queen Street led up the middle of a gully following the bank of the Waihorotiu Stream (later bounded in as the ' Ligar Canal '). This canal was culverted beneath the street from the 1870s onward, allowing for further development of
11284-424: The new weapons to seek refuge in areas less exposed to coastal raids. As a result, the region had relatively low numbers of Māori when settlement by European New Zealanders began. On 20 March 1840 in the Manukau Harbour area where Ngāti Whātua farmed, paramount chief Apihai Te Kawau signed the Treaty of Waitangi . Ngāti Whātua sought British protection from Ngāpuhi as well as a reciprocal relationship with
11408-451: The northern end of Queen Street occurred, resulting in the deaths of three people, including the shooter. At the northern (waterfront) end of Queen Street are several significant buildings. These include: Between Customs Street and Wellesley Street, Queen Street is lined with retail and office buildings. This section of the street is where the majority of the high-rise buildings are located. These are mostly 20th century in origin, although
11532-446: The outcome of a three-year study and public hearings, its Unitary Plan for Auckland. The plan aims to free up to 30 percent more land for housing and allows for greater intensification of the existing urban area, creating 422,000 new dwellings in the next 30 years. Positive aspects of Auckland life are its mild climate, plentiful employment and educational opportunities, as well as numerous leisure facilities. Meanwhile, traffic problems,
11656-564: The outer lanes. Also proposed was a 30 km/h speed limit. Committee discussions and public consultation resulted in four physical lanes being retained, mainly to safeguard the street layout for future public transport options such as light rail . The changes included further improvements to pedestrian facilities, with the total footpath area increasing by 20% to almost 14,000 m , and longer traffic signal phases for pedestrians, while three new signalised pedestrian crossings were introduced mid-block, at accident 'black spots'. Also undertaken
11780-449: The plurality of the city's population, but no longer constitute a majority after decreasing in proportion from 54.6% to 48.1% between the 2013 and 2018 censuses. Asians now form the second-largest ethnic group, making up nearly one-third of the population. Auckland is home to the largest ethnic Polynesian population of any city in the world, with a sizeable population of Pacific Islanders ( Pasifika ) and indigenous Māori people . In
11904-483: The pollution relatively quickly it can sometimes become visible as smog, especially on calm winter days. The city of Auckland straddles the Auckland Volcanic Field , an area which in the past, produced at least 53 small volcanic centres over the last ~193,000 years, represented by a range of surface features including maars (explosion craters), tuff rings , scoria cones, and lava flows. It
12028-405: The popularity of sailing in the region. 135,000 yachts and launches are registered in Auckland, and around 60,500 of the country's 149,900 registered yachtsmen are from Auckland, with about one in three Auckland households owning a boat. The Viaduct Basin , on the western edge of the CBD, hosted three America's Cup challenges ( 2000 Cup , 2003 Cup and 2021 Cup ). The Waitematā Harbour
12152-607: The possibility for car access – compared to a pedestrian mall which allows no motor vehicles. Auckland Council is continuing this project. Darby Street, Lorne Street, Fort Street, Jean Batten Place, and Fort Lane have been converted into shared spaces since 2011. The portion of Federal Street between Wellesley Street West and Victoria Street West has also been made shared space. 36°50′49″S 174°45′54″E / 36.847°S 174.765°E / -36.847; 174.765 Auckland Auckland ( / ˈ ɔː k l ə n d / AWK -lənd ; Māori : Tāmaki Makaurau )
12276-486: The restoration of several heritage buildings and development of public spaces, including a new public square named Te Komititanga which opened in 2020. The downtown ferry precinct called Te Wanaga opened in 2021. Another major regeneration scheme currently underway is the redevelopment of Wynyard Quarter , which involves replacing industrial facilities covering a large portion of the CBD waterfront with residential or commercial buildings and public spaces. The Auckland CBD
12400-513: The richer people built houses. Shortland Street tended to be the location of the more important businesses and most of the 'luxury' shops of the mid 19th century. The 1850s onwards saw an increasing number of businesses, and especially retail, locating further south along Queen Street , which still to this day forms the 'spine' of the area. In 1841, one year after the European founding, the census counted approximately 2,000 people, with "mechanics"
12524-480: The south, stretching in a line from the port village of Onehunga in the west to Howick in the east. Each of the four settlements had about 800 settlers; the men were fully armed in case of emergency, but spent nearly all their time breaking in the land and establishing roads. In the early 1860s, Auckland became a base against the Māori King Movement , and the 12,000 Imperial soldiers stationed there led to
12648-575: The stream. After a fire in 1858 destroyed around 50 buildings in High Street and Shortland Street, the commercial district began to shift towards Queen Street instead, and the first brick and plaster buildings of the 1860s started to cement this move, with the Bank of New Zealand building (only the façade extant today) being one of the first examples. Fires however still continued to plague the new town, with one in 1873 wiping out another 54 buildings in
12772-408: The street to be undertaken. The course of the stream is still reflected today in the slight bend of lower Queen Street. From north of Shortland Street, Queen Street is built on land reclaimed from the sea in the late 19th century (see Auckland waterfront article). There are several other 'Queen Streets' in the greater Auckland area, mostly in suburbs that were separate towns before being absorbed by
12896-432: The surrounding area, and manufacturing in the city itself. It has been the nation's largest city throughout most of its history. Today, Auckland's central business district is New Zealand's leading economic hub. The University of Auckland , founded in 1883, is the largest university in New Zealand. The city's significant tourist attractions include national historic sites, festivals, performing arts, sports activities and
13020-514: The transfer of the administration from Russell (now Old Russell ) in the Bay of Islands was completed in 1842. However, even in 1840 Port Nicholson (later renamed Wellington ) was seen as a better choice for an administrative capital because of its proximity to the South Island , and Wellington became the capital in 1865. After losing its status as capital, Auckland remained the principal city of
13144-481: The transport to and around the CBD post-1950s was by private vehicles, partly because the CBD provides numerous parking buildings and parking spaces associated with office buildings, and is almost totally surrounded (and easily accessible) by motorways, administered by Waka Kotahi . Auckland Council , the New Zealand Government, Auckland Transport and KiwiRail have begun the construction phase of
13268-533: The west and north-west. The surrounding hills are covered in rainforest and the landscape is dotted with 53 volcanic centres that make up the Auckland Volcanic Field . The central part of the urban area occupies a narrow isthmus between the Manukau Harbour on the Tasman Sea and the Waitematā Harbour on the Pacific Ocean. Auckland is one of the few cities in the world to have a harbour on each of two separate major bodies of water. The Auckland isthmus
13392-487: The year. The water temperature is warmest in February when it averages 21 °C (70 °F), while in August, the water temperature is at its coolest, averaging 14 °C (57 °F). Prevailing winds in Auckland are predominantly from the southwest. The mean annual wind speed for Auckland Airport is 18 kilometres per hour (11 mph). During the summer months there is often a sea breeze in Auckland which starts in
13516-562: Was 73.6, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.5% had no religion, 27.0% were Christian , 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs , 5.0% were Hindu , 3.5% were Muslim , 2.8% were Buddhist and 2.8% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 1,329 (36.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 162 (4.4%) people had no formal qualifications. 591 people (16.0%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
13640-403: Was NZD$ 139 billion in the year ending September 2023. The CBD is one of the most densely developed places in New Zealand, with many commercial and some residential developments packed into a space of only 433 hectares (1,070 acres). The area is made up of the city's largest concentration of skyscrapers and businesses. Bounded by several major motorways and by the harbour coastline in the north, it
13764-403: Was a feeling that crime had risen somewhat in the last five years (whereas in fact numbers had declined). This was considered to be mostly due to a media-driven public image. With 8,500 businesses, the CBD accounts for 18% of all businesses in Auckland City, with the largest being Ports of Auckland , and the largest employment sectors being financial services, business and ICT services. The CBD
13888-409: Was a reduction of on-street parking spaces from 81 to 51, part of the prioritisation for pedestrians. The remaining spaces became dedicated short-term parking (i.e. drop-offs, loading). Not included in the design were dedicated bus bays, noted as a serious oversight by some critics, causing potential delays on the proposed bus lanes. On 20 July 2023, a mass shooting involving a construction site on
14012-526: Was believed to live in the stream. In 1841 colonial settlers built a number of wooden buildings along the western side, following the general path of the Waihorotiu Stream according to the plans set out by surveyor Felton Mathew . While the street was metalled in 1843 ('metal' is a New Zealand term for gravel road ), the natural stream still often overflowed its banks, and the area was still swampy. This led to canalisation and later covering-over of
14136-498: Was created in 1840 with the first European colonisation of the area, marked by an official ceremony on the now non-existent Point Britomart . The initial centre of the new town was focused on what is now the corner of Shortland and Queen Street, which was at the shoreline of Commercial Bay. From approximately their junction, the main wharf ran north off the end of Queen Street, with Shortland Street leading up to St Paul's Church , Fort Britomart and Government House, around which many of
14260-426: Was far greater than that of other settlements: about 50 per cent of the population was Irish, which contrasted heavily with the majority English settlers in Wellington, Christchurch or New Plymouth . The majority of settlers in the early period were assisted by receiving cheap passage to New Zealand. Trams and railway lines shaped Auckland's rapid expansion in the early first half of the 20th century. However, after
14384-417: Was first settled c. 1350 and was valued for its rich and fertile land. The Māori population in the area is estimated to have peaked at 20,000 before the arrival of Europeans. After a British colony was established in New Zealand in 1840, William Hobson , then Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand, chose Auckland as its new capital . Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei made a strategic gift of land to Hobson for
14508-715: Was formerly headquartered in Auckland CBD. In 2006, from late September to early October, the airline moved employees out of the four buildings it occupied in Auckland CBD and relocated them to the new headquarters in the Wynyard Quarter . In September 2003 Air New Zealand was the only one of the very largest corporations in New Zealand to have its headquarters within the Auckland CBD. The CBD's main shopping mall, Commercial Bay , opened in 2020. It features 18,000 m of lettable real estate space, made up of 120 shops including H&M . The Atrium on Elliott has 736 carparks and 23 stores, including The Warehouse , Rebel Sport and
14632-565: Was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 44.9, compared with 28.8% nationally. At the 2023 census the Pasifika population formed the majority in the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu local board area and the plurality in the Ōtara-Papatoetoe and Manurewa local board areas. The Asian population formed the majority in the Howick and Puketāpapa local board areas and the plurality in
14756-443: Was mirrored by the development of suburban shopping malls which enticed retailers to vacate the inner city as well. Attempts by the council to halt this pattern by constructing numerous public car parking buildings met with varying success. The rise of suburban supermarket and mall shopping that was created in places such as Pakuranga from 1965 onwards has been added to by the appearance of Big Box retailers in places such as Botany and
14880-459: Was originally built in 1843, St Stephen's Anglican Chapel was originally built in 1844, St Andrew's First Presbyterian Church was built in 1850, Auckland Baptist Tabernacle , founded 1855 and St Matthew's Anglican Church was founded in 1902. The CBD, with its substantial employment, and increasing number of residents, contains the main public transport hubs of the city, administered by Auckland Transport . These services are concentrated around
15004-445: Was popular for events such as parades and festivities, as well as for political activities such as the strike demonstrations of 1913. Queen Street riots occurred after a 1932 unemployment march and broke out again in the adjacent Aotea Square in late 1984. During the second half of the 20th century, many of the older buildings on Queen Street were demolished to make space for larger office buildings. Queen Street gives its name to
15128-425: Was that 1,953 (53.0%) people were employed full-time, 630 (17.1%) were part-time, and 204 (5.5%) were unemployed. Māori settlements in the Queen Street area were along the local stream; Te Wai Horotiu (The water of Horotiu) or Waihorotiu Stream . The stream as a food source and for other purposes. It ran from the ridge along Karagahape Road towards the sea. Horotiu is the name of a taniwha (guardian spirit) which
15252-499: Was the only street in New Zealand with grand unions , double-track to double-track junctions, where trams could go to all directions from all directions. These junctions were at the intersections with Customs Street and Wellesley Street. Since the closure of Auckland's tram network, Balaclava Junction on Melbourne 's tram network has been the sole grand union left in the Southern Hemisphere. Public perception in
15376-409: Was the site of the original European settlement of Auckland, oriented along the coastline and then Queen Street, in a southward direction. From those origins, it has grown progressively, and become much more densely built-up, now being an area of high-rise buildings mainly used for commercial and retail uses. It has the highest concentration of arts, culture and higher education institutions and venues in
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