Waterfront transformed from wasteland to thriving CBD

Auckland’s downtown waterfront has always played a significant role in the city’s story. And as the dark cloud of climate change looms, it’s being future-proofed to ensure its survival.

Nearly 20,000 Aucklanders in eight harbour-edge communities face a future flood risk under projected sea level rises.

Most of the scenarios are based on one-in-100-year storm surges, combined with the 1m rise in sea levels forecast by 2100. The city’s thriving waterfront business district is at the centre of the atrisk zone, but Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck said steps are already being taken to adapt.

‘‘Climate change is a key priority for business,’’ Beck said.

‘‘It’s been interesting to see the design of Te Wananga, the new public space being built on the waterfront, which has been designed to adapt to sea level rise. It’s going to be a key part of planning in the future.’’

In the past 10 to 15 years, downtown Auckland has been transformed from little more than a wasteland for the Ports of Auckland, with people cut off from the harbour by giant steel gates and fences, unable to access harbour views that now act as the city’s shop window to the world.

‘‘Places like Wynyard Quarter have gone from an industrial and marine precinct with storage tanks everywhere, to a place that people call home,’’ Beck said.

‘‘Nowadays it’s a place where families flock to at the weekend, with great businesses – but still strong links to its past. It’s remarkable to think about the radical change that’s ... stimulated business activity and created new places that stand out as destinations in their own right.’’

The America’s Cup was the catalyst for the waterfront’s first facelift, after San Diego in 1995. By 2000, the area had become a tourist hot spot.

It reflected the change in how people viewed the waterfront, New Zealand Maritime Museum director Vincent Lipanovich said, changing from a working space to somewhere people wanted to spend time.

As the museum director of five years and a lifelong Aucklander, he’s seen the shift of waterfront land epitomised by Wynward Quarter. ‘‘A major industrial area might not be what we want to have on beautiful waterfront land now, but it was in the 50s and 60s.’’

Even in the past five years, Lipanovich has seen the area become ‘‘much more lively’’.

He’s also occupied by how the museum will adapt in response to rising sea levels. Climate change is an ‘‘incontrovertible fact’’, he said, and it factors into the museum’s long-term planning for collection management.

‘‘We’re on the wharf so it is vulnerable by definition.’’

Climate change is also shaping what’s on the inside of the museum, with a greater focus on water quality, ecology and humans’ relationship with the sea.

Covid-19 has dampened the buzz around the America’s Cup somewhat, but anticipation is still building, Beck said.

‘‘Going out to watch the America’s Cup racing was fabulous, with the new city centre skyline in full view.

‘‘There’s still some work to do

‘‘Places like Wynyard Quarter have gone from an industrial and marine precinct with storage tanks everywhere, to a place that people call home.’’ Viv Beck, right

with long term thinking needed about the future of the land occupied by the port and some major redevelopment to still happen in Wynyard Quarter – but we’re very happy to proudly show it off over the summer months, particularly whilst the racing is on.’’

There’s a noticeable shift in the atmosphere around the area too, with a major international event in town there’s a distinct buzz in the air, Beck said.

‘‘If I think back to 10 years ago it was an exciting time for this part of the city because preparations were underway for the Rugby World Cup.

‘‘There was an energy and anticipation about getting things finished, and the city was starting to see some amazing new places open up for people, a bit like the Viaduct had experienced years earlier with the America’s Cup (2000).

‘‘Businesses and customers alike have adapted to the various alert levels this year but the spirit of this area remains intact.’’