Kia ora koutou,
Welcome to the latest edition of Your Waterfront.
As you’ll see below, there’s plenty happening across Auckland’s waterfront as we head into the warmer months.
In this month’s edition, we celebrate the award-winning success of Waka Moana, share updates on plans to open more of the waterfront for public access, and invite you to have your say on the future of downtown Auckland.
You’ll also find details on upcoming events, community activities, new public art experiences, and ways to support local Wynyard Quarter businesses.
Ngā mihi nui,
Your Waterfront Team
Waka Moana wins gold at the 2026 Best Design Awards. Photo credit: Jay Farnworth, Auckland Council
Waka Moana wins gold at 2026 Best Design Awards
Wynyard Quarter’s Waka Moana was one of two significant Auckland public artworks that won gold awards at the 2026 NZ Best Design Awards.
Located within the Daldy Street Linear Park, Waka Moana is a striking public art installation comprising nine six-metre-high waka hull sculptures. Adorned with pūhoro kōwhaiwhai patterns, the artwork expresses the enduring relationship between moana and whenua, a central driver of the kaupapa.
Since opening in October 2025, the installation has become a prominent cultural landmark within Wynyard Quarter, celebrating Auckland's rich maritime heritage through both Te Ao Māori and Te Ao Pākehā perspectives.
Jeanine McMullien, Manager Capital Delivery Projects for the council’s Auckland Urban Development Office says the project was built on strong partnerships and a shared vision.
“Waka Moana stands as a powerful expression of Auckland's identity, creating a lasting landmark that honours the past, enriches the present and inspires future generations.
“The project embodied whanaungatanga from the outset and was set apart by the strong relationships, shared vision and cultural partnership that underpinned its delivery.”
Find out more about the Kaupapa behind the award-winning artwork here.
Transforming Downtown Auckland – have your say
Auckland’s downtown has changed significantly over the past decade. Projects such as Quay Street and Te Komititanga have reconnected the city centre with the Waitematā Harbour, creating places where people want to spend time, not just move through. To continue this transformation, a programme of work will be delivered in stages between 2026 and 2031. It will bring together public transport and street improvements, alongside private development, to shape the next phase of the city centre.
For more information and to have your say on this transformational work programme, go to Transforming Downtown | AK Have Your Say
Engagement closes on 31 October 2026.
Getting ready to open up more of Auckland's waterfront this summer
This summer, we will be opening up a section of Auckland's waterfront that has, until now, been inaccessible to the public.
From December, Aucklanders will have access to Quay Street Promenade - the section of Quay Street between Queens and Captain Cook wharves. This is the first stage in a longer-term plan to open up the wider Central Wharves to the public. Planning is underway for a summer activation, and we'll share more details about that in next month's newsletter.
As we prepare the space for public access, there are some essential maintenance works that first need to be undertaken on parts of the historic Red Fence.
From 1 November, we will be removing two sets of gates and their corresponding lanterns’ and taking them to a workshop for essential repairs.
During this time, we will be on site undertaking maintenance work to the main columns. This will include sanding using power tools, which could generate a low level of noise. However, we will be putting mitigations in place to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.
Once the repair works are complete, the fences will be returned to site and fixed into the open position to enable public access to the space this summer.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at YourWaterfront@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Essential maintenance on parts of the historic Red Fence will get underway in November. Photo credit: Matt Hart
Haunted Wheels on Tīramarama Way
Walk or wheel to Tīramarama Way for a spooktacular Halloween event on Thursday 29 October.
Come in your best Halloween costume for your chance to win - there's a $200 local restaurant voucher for the best group costumes, plus $50 vouchers for the best two individuals.
There’ll be e-bike trials and a bike mechanic doing free bike checks, plus Northride will be there to give you all the details on how your workplace can help you get massive savings on your next bike.
Local legends, The Rolling Pin, will be there with some tasty kai, and there’ll be plenty of Halloween fun on offer, too.
Be one of the first 50 to arrive by bike and score a free coffee voucher.
When: Thursday 29 October from 4 to 6pm.
Karanga Plaza Christmas Markets
Get ready to celebrate the magic of Christmas at the Karanga Plaza Christmas Market.
Returning for the fourth year, join us for a weekend filled with festive fun and fare. With handcrafted gifts to mouth-watering treats, there’s something for everyone.
Feel the joy of the season with family-friendly activities, festive craft workshops, and enticing market stalls - it’s the perfect place to find those unique holiday treasures.
The markets will run from 10am to 6pm on Saturday 5 December and from 10am to 3pm on Sunday 6 December.
Rainbow Machine at Silo Park
Come down to Silo Park and see what you can see. It’s new and it’s fun, it’s bright like the sun… it’s Rainbow Machine and it’s for everyone.
A stupendous mix of science and art, design and engineering, Rainbow Machine will make you smile with wonder. An extraordinary invention, kids of all ages can turn the wheels to create a rainbow sensation.
Discover this brand new, bright yellow innovation, it’s better than you can imagine. It’s lots of fun and best of it all, it’s absolutely free.
Rainbow Machine works best in the sunniest situations. But there’s still fun to be had, no matter what, with this wonderful yellow creation.
Designed by Shahriar Asdollah-Zadeh, Patrick Loo and Sarosh Mulla, Rainbow Machine is a mobile artwork and part of the Auckland Council Public Art Collection.
The Rainbow Machine is at Silo Park from 22 October until 22 November.
Photo credit: Auckland Council Public Art
Red Bull Up the Mast at Viaduct Harbour
Expect cheers, jeers and lots of laughs as competitors test their speed, balance and will as Viaduct Harbour hosts Red Bull Up the Mast next month.
In a more extreme version of the classic game, competitors will put their skills to the test as they race along a slippery mast to capture a flag suspended over the water. Succeed, and they’ll be on track for the podium, fail and they’ll be thrown overboard.
To find out more information or to register to take part, visit the Red Bull Up the Mast website.
Event details: Saturday 21 November from 1:30pm at the Viaduct Harbour. Spectator entry is free.
Listening like a Tree at Silo 6
Join artist Sarah Smuts-Kennedy inside the extraordinary acoustic space of Silo 6 for Listening Like a Tree - a series of six intimate, two-hour sound activations.
Working through voice, sound, and the extraordinary architecture of the silos, each activation is created in the moment through listening and response - an intimate leap into the unknown together. These Being Withs are not performances and have no predetermined score, and Sarah will be joined by other collaborators, so no two sessions will be alike.
Together, bodies, instruments and the remarkable architecture of the silos create shared fields of resonance, exploring how collective listening might support connection and nervous-system regulation.
When: 10.30am and 7pm on Wednesday 28, Thursday 29, and Friday 30 October.
Bookings essentials, please register here.
Wynyard Quarter Neighbours’ Forum
The next Wynyard Quarter Neighbours’ Forum will be held on Wednesday 25 November at the Mott MacDonald offices in the One NZ building on Daldy Street.
Following feedback from previous forums, we are trialling a slightly later start time and shorter overall duration (arrival from 8am, with presentations from 8:30am and a 9:30am finish).
Invitations will be sent in the coming weeks. Please let us know if you’d like to be added to the list by emailing YourWaterfront@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Putting our support behind Wynyard Quarter businesses
Our new look Wynyard Quarter website is now live.
Aimed at supporting local businesses and encouraging more visitors to the waterfront, the refreshed site has a renewed focus, showcasing where people can eat, stay, shop and play.
Kidical Mass - cycling fun for the whole whānau
Grease your gears, gather your whānau and get ready for Kidical Mass - a group bike ride from Bike Hub Queens Wharf to Base Spaces this November. More information coming soon.
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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