38-831: Waihorotiu (from the Māori Wai Horotiu ), sometimes called the Waihorotiu Stream and the 'Queen Street River', is a stream that ran down the Queen Street gully in the Auckland CBD , New Zealand, into the Waitemata Harbour . It has long since been covered over and put underground by the urbanisation of the area. Originally this was an open stream that was one of the tributaries of the Waitemata River, now submerged by rising sea levels in
76-511: 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
114-489: A few place to cross (sometimes just plank walkways), resulting in people and carriages periodically tumbling into the river. The river was used as a source for well water, however had become heavily polluted by the mid-1860s. Around the middle of the century the Surveyor General Charles Ligar attempted to regulate the stream by building sound walls to constrict its waters (this was referred to as
152-601: 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
190-534: Is carved into the piece, which discusses the Waihorotiu Stream. In 2011, a local artist proposed that, as part of the Council's city centre masterplan, the stream be uncovered and become a centrepiece of a more people-friendly inner city. 36°51′16″S 174°45′43″E / 36.854351°S 174.762054°E / -36.854351; 174.762054 Queen Street, Auckland Queen Street
228-565: 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
266-626: 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
304-682: Is the major commercial thoroughfare in the Auckland CBD , Auckland , New Zealand's largest city. The northern end is at Queens Wharf on 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
342-484: 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
380-528: The Albert Park Volcano blocked the flow of the Waihorotiu Stream approximately 145,000 years ago. From here, it flowed northwards between Queen and Elliot Streets until the vicinity of Victoria Street , where, emerging behind the Courthouse, it flowed down into what is now the lower part of Queen Street. It entered the harbour at what is now called Fort Street but in the early colonial period
418-438: The ' Ligar Canal '). This canal was culverted beneath the street from the 1870s onward, allowing for further development of 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
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#1732782624465456-553: The Ligar Canal). This proved inadequate (being called "an abomination, a pestiferous ditch, and the receptacle of every imaginable filth") and eventually the stream was bricked over in the form of a sewer – water percolating through the soil under Myers Park still runs into the old drain under Queen Street to the sea, discharging under the Ferry Building. A sewer east of the canal began construction in 1854, however progress
494-561: 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,
532-649: The Waitematā Harbour. The Waihorotiu carved out the Queen Street valley millions of years ago. The upper part of that valley now forms Myers Park . The references to a spring feeding the stream in the area of the Baptist Tabernacle in Myers Park are problematic (no historical document references this and if a spring existed it is unlikely it would have been built over). The stream ran through a swampy area (now Aotea Square ), formed when lava flows from
570-425: 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 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
608-514: 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
646-629: The central area tended to be on the Shortland Street rise and the Albert Park Hill area. However, as the population grew the Queen Street valley began to fill up with buildings, partly due to a big fire in the Shortland Street area. An open stream in the centre of the road created problems especially in a period before any sewerage system was in operation. The sides of the stream crumbled in wet weather and there were only
684-488: 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
722-506: The first European colonists of Auckland, although the still existing Spring just to the north of Waterloo Quadrant (later utilised by the Grey & Menzies Mineral Water Company) may have been preferred as more reliable. The stream flowed into Horotiu Bay (called Commercial Bay after European settlement). In Māori mythology, the stream is the home of Horotiu, a taniwha (roughly speaking, a local nature spirit). Initially European settlement of
760-606: 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
798-447: The greater Auckland area, mostly in suburbs that were separate towns before being absorbed by 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
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#1732782624465836-496: 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
874-419: 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
912-478: 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
950-424: 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
988-451: 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
1026-564: 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
1064-437: The residential suburbs in the interior of the Auckland isthmus . Named after Queen Victoria , Queen Street was an early development of 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
1102-575: 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
1140-644: The street is called Upper Queen Street, and it crosses the eastern part of the Central Motorway Junction , the largest interchange on the New Zealand state highway network . 36°50′59″S 174°45′54″E / 36.849784°S 174.764972°E / -36.849784; 174.764972 Auckland CBD Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include
1178-562: 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
Waihorotiu Stream - Misplaced Pages Continue
1216-409: 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
1254-458: 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
1292-481: Was called Fore Street, a shortened form of Foreshore. The lower reaches of the stream above the Fort Street will have been tidal; doubtless pre-European Māori fished in this area. The swampy area now occupied by Aotea Square was probably used to trap birds and possibly eels. A side tributary (occupying the gully between Wellesley and Airedale Streets) possibly provided drinking water for both Māori villages and
1330-445: 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
1368-441: Was slow, and eventually it was completed in 1873. Citizens of Auckland were unhappy with sewage being delivered directly into the ports of Auckland, and by March 1914 a sewage plant at Ōkahu Bay in Ōrākei was opened, directing the city's sewage further east along the Waitematā Harbour. In 1990, artist Selwyn Muru unveiled Waharoa , a sculptural gateway at the entrance of Aotea Square in Auckland. A haiku by poet Hone Tuwhare
1406-425: 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
1444-499: 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
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