Kia ora koutou,
Nau mai, haere mai to the November/December 2025 edition of Your Waterfront News.
Summer is settling in, and the waterfront is beginning to hum with the energy of the season ahead. As the days grow longer, our public spaces are filling with the colour, creativity, and community spirit that make this place so special.
From bold feats on the water by kiwi acting legend Bruce Hopkins, who will celebrate his 70th birthday with an incredible 70 backward somersaults off the Karanga Plaza Harbour Pool platform, to festive markets, the buzz of the summer and all the fun that goes with it is here!
“Ka rere te rā, ka puāwai te raumati.”
As the sun rises, summer blossoms.
Ngā mihi nui,
Your Waterfront Team
🌊 Seventy Somersault Splash Fundraiser💦
Get ready for an unforgettable afternoon on the waterfront as beloved Kiwi actor Bruce Hopkins celebrates his 70th birthday with his boldest challenge yet, 70 backward somersaults off the Karanga Plaza Harbour Pool platform!
From flipping 67 times off his local Herne Bay wharf to leaping from the Red Bull Cliff Diving platform, Bruce has turned his birthdays into a force for good. This year’s epic 2.5-hour effort continues his mission to raise funds for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren NZ, supporting whānau who step in during life’s toughest moments.
Come along on 29 November, 12–3pm, cheer Bruce on, and enjoy a fun afternoon marking Water Safety Month. Try “Have a Throw” with Drowning Prevention Aotearoa, cool off with a free ice block, or get creative with sea-creature colouring for kids.
A great cause, a great challenge and a great day on the waterfront.
🎄 Karanga Plaza Christmas Market Returns to the Waterfront🎄
Get ready to soak up the magic of the season as the Karanga Plaza Christmas Market returns to Wynyard Quarter, bringing festive sparkle to the waterfront.
Across one joyful weekend, Auckland Council and Park Hyatt Auckland are teaming up to deliver a charming artisan market filled with handcrafted gifts, delicious seasonal treats, and plenty of Christmas cheer.
Enjoy family-friendly activities throughout the day, from festive craft workshops to adorable pet photography sessions, all set against the shimmering backdrop of the harbour.
Round up your loved ones and join us at Karanga Plaza on 6 and 7 of December, from 10am – 4pm, for a weekend of seaside sparkle, creativity, and festive fun. The holiday season starts here! ✨
More info here.
🌳Te Ara Tukutuku: Progress Taking Shape at Wynyard Point 🌳
The enabling works continue to take form on site at Wynyard Point. These works are specific to addressing rain water entering into Te Waitematā, and an important first step on our journey towards the Te Ara Tukutuku Kaupapa of healing the land.
Meanwhile back in the office the Toi Waihanga design consortium has been working closely with Auckland Council technical experts to further refine elements of the design. This is an important step in assessing different ways of constructing the new spaces. A fresh set of project images will soon be released, offering a glimpse of this new development that will one day connect city and sea.
The project has also received international recognition, winning the Future Projects: Urban Design category at the World Architecture Festival last week. It’s a remarkable acknowledgement of the collective mahi, creativity, and partnership guiding this once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape our waterfront.
As excitement builds, you may notice a short pause in construction from mid-December as preparations begin for SailGP. Once the event wraps up, enabling works will resume in March 2026.
Te Ara Tukutuku is steadily unfolding a transformative new heart for the waterfront.
Learn more about the project here and keep an eye on our socials for the new images!
🎨Explore the Story Behind Waka Moana with Artist Graham Tipene🎤
Waka Moana has quickly become a striking new heartbeat along Daldy Street, but the story behind this powerful mahi toi runs even deeper. In a new podcast episode, renowned artist Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Manu) shares the whakapapa, inspiration, and vision that shaped this extraordinary work.
Living in Ōrākei, where he and his tūpuna were born, Graham brings an intimate connection to the whenua and moana of Tāmaki Makaurau. His artistry, from small to large-scale public installations, has helped weave the city’s history, culture, and identity into its evolving urban landscape.
In this kōrero, the ideas behind some of the city’s most striking recent public artworks is explored and how they reflect Auckland’s growing confidence as the leading city of Polynesia.
Listen here.
🥇Winners announced: 2025 New Zealand Architecture Awards🏆
The Karanga Plaza Changing sheds, that won the Auckland Architecture Awards, have just been awarded the winner of the New Zealand Architecture Awards in the ‘Small Project Architecture’ category.
The judges said: “An elegant response to a minimal brief. These changing sheds bring theatrical delight to Auckland’s waterfront while championing sustainable design principles. Assembled with the care and precision of fine joinery, the sheds are constructed using pre-consumer waste materials and recycled ocean plastic panels.
The sheds not only provide vibrancy and fun for users, but their requirement to perform within the public realm demanded inherent consideration to long-term resilience and safety.”
This project exemplifies the AUDO’s commitment to ensuring that the regeneration of council-owned land, often in collaboration with development partners, is not only functional and sustainable, but beautiful and, in this case, award-winning
More info here.
Neighbourhood Forum ☕
The Neighbourhood Forum is returning on the morning of December 2 from 7.30am to 9.30am and Beca have kindly offered to host us. Come along and enjoy some breakfast, meet your neighbours and learn about our current and upcoming projects and activations in the Wynyard Quarter. Representatives from SailGP and Tātaki Auckland Unlimited will also join us to talk about what’s in store for an exciting summer ahead.
Please RSVP to Yourwaterfront@Aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Daldy Street Gardens end of year gathering
Join the Daldy Street Gardeners on Wednesday 10 December from 4.30pm-7pm to learn about gardening but also to meet your neighbours and enjoy some light music.
Our spring edition was a great sucsess with people stopping by to learn about edible plants, have some kai and converse with their neighbour.
Alice in Wonderland
Journey through a magical Alice in Wonderland ballet & The Sound of Cinema, showcasing jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, musical theatre and tap.
This is the perfect family Christmas treat – a celebration of music, dance and storytelling for audiences of all ages. Shows run 6-7 December at the ASB Waterfront Theatre.
Book tickets here.
Nate Jackson: Big Dog
Nate Jackson is one of the fastest-rising stars in comedy, with over 4 million TikTok followers and 600 million global views. Known for his viral content and electric stage presence, after selling out theaters across the U.S. Nate will kick off his BIG DOG TOUR In Australia and New Zealand this December.
Performing one night only on 8 December at the ASB Theatre, grab you tickets here.
Oceania: Journey to the Centre | Film screening with Q&A
Join for a special screening of OCEANIA, co-written and produced by Tekinati Ruta, who will be travelling from Kiribati to attend. The film is a reflective call to action as the Pacific Island nation of Kiribati faces rising sea levels and predictions that it will be uninhabitable by 2030.
Following the 75-minute screening, Tekinati will take part in a Q&A, sharing insights into the making of the film and the realities facing Kiribati.
Screening takes place on 29 November, 2pm-4pm. Grab your free tickets here.
Wynyard Quarter: Discover more with every visit.
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Auckland Urban Development Office
135 Albert Street, Auckland 1010
PO Box 90343, Victoria Street West,
Auckland 1142, New Zealand
Ph: 09 336 8820
