Victoria Street West redesign opens to public...

Victoria Street West redesign opens to public

The public can now access the first segment of the renovated Victoria Street in Auckland’s central business district,

which runs from Elliott Street to Queen Street. To prepare the area for the inauguration of the City Rail Link’s (CRL)

Te Waihorotiu Station in 2026, the lighter, greener, and friendlier section of road signs more of what’s to come as

part of Auckland Council’s midtown revitalisation initiative.

“The new rail network will bring thousands more people into these streets and spaces, using more transport modes

than were previously available,” says Auckland Council Head of City Centre Programmes, Jenny Larking. “People

will arrive by rail, bus, walking or on scooters and bikes, and by car or delivery vehicle.”

This change in use and the expected increase in population supported the necessity of redesigning and reusing

several nearby roadways and areas. Heritage kerb stones have been kept on both sides of the street in addition to

new paving, and a flowing water design carved into basalt pavers on the south side of the street by artists Chris

Bailey and Sally Smith suggests a major piece of art that will be installed at the Queen Street corner in the middle of

2025.

By that time, both the CRL streetscape around the station gateway on Victoria Street and the Lorne Street to Albert

Park portion of Victoria Street are expected to be finished.

Watercare’s Midtown Wastewater Upgrades are expected to be completed in 2026, marking the opening of the

midsection of Victoria Street between Queen Street and Lorne Street.

“Te Hā Noa is a name that mana whenua has given to Victoria Street, encouraging people to take a breath and enjoy

the experience of the sights and sounds around them,” says Larking. The terracing design of the stone tree pits was

also influenced by mana whenua, which drew inspiration from Tāmaki Makaurau’s volcanic geology and shapes. In

the city’s stormwater drainage system, several tree pits carry out a sustainable function by distributing surface

rainwater from paved areas and roads into the pits, which nourish the trees and filter the water before it enters the

ocean.

The completed Victoria Street will include enlarged walkways, new seating areas, and uplit trees for visitors to enjoy.

Along with other old native trees like pūriri, taraire, and titoki, which are among the 900 plants further greening new

gardens at street level, they will also be able to experience the first flowering of pōhutukawa, which were crane-lifted

into the street in September.

Rangipuke Albert Park and Waikōkota Victoria Park, two beloved city parks, will eventually be connected by Te Hā

Noa, according to Larking.

In the Te Waihorotiu Station neighbourhood, Victoria Street is one of three east-west roadways that are undergoing

significant renovations to establish a new entryway to the city core. Victoria Street, Wellesley Street, and Mayoral

Drive were busy thoroughfares with over four lanes of automobiles, trucks, and buses prior to the midtown

revitalisation project.

“Wellesley Street will become a key central city bus interchange as part of the regeneration, and Victoria Street will

be improved to facilitate safer and easier access to the train station from walking, bicycling, and high-frequency bus

routes,” says Larking.

“We acknowledge that lovely public areas foster social interaction and a strong sense of belonging and community.

While continuing to support the operations of a bustling city core, we are constructing streets and spaces that are

genuine, secure, sustainable, and representative of our place in the world, with mana whenua-led expression

interwoven throughout.

Queen Street, upper Federal Street, and Myers Park are among the midtown areas that have already undergone

renovations. Find out more about the revitalisation of the midtown area here.