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We have an interest in growing a vibrant night time experience in Auckland's city centre - so we asked Simon Wilson of The Spinoff to write about it. Here he sets out ten ideas for a bigger, stronger and more rewarding night-time economy...

Auckland Anniversary Weekend brings a host of events to the waterfront and wider city centre. Monday 29 January is a public holiday for Auckland Anniversary day. Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival 27 – 29 January  ANZ Viaduct Events Centre and...

St Jerome's Laneway Festival returns to the grass and trees of Albert Park on Auckland Anniversary Day, with local and international acts, food and art. See Auckland Transport website for road closure details.

Auckland's Viaduct Harbour becomes a vibrant Race Village for the Stopover with the Viaduct Events Centre acting as Race HQ. Key elements include the display of the Volvo Ocean 65 boats on the dock, the team base pit-lane, the Volvo pavilion, the...

New Zealand’s largest fun run and walk begins on the city centre's waterfront at Quay Street, with over 30,000 participants making their way along Tāmaki Drive towards the Eastern Bays to complete the race. See the Auckland Transport website for road...

Auckland Arts Festival returns in March 2018 with an exciting programme of performances and events from New Zealand and across the world, bringing the best of culture, creativity and cool to venues across the city centre. For our top Auckland Arts...

This piece by Viv Beck was published in the 'Project Auckland' section of the New Zealand Herald on 15 December 2017. She looks at the 'Auckland disease'; how, despite good ideas, plans and talented people, we are not getting the best...

The number of people walking in Auckland’s city centre continues to grow, with our pedestrian count figures from the last quarter of 2017 showing 4.8% more walking trips than the same time the year before. A closer look at the results shows that...

New on-street parking payment technology being rolled out by Auckland Transport means no more paper pay and display tickets, an option for electronic receipts and a new way to manage short stay business parking for staff or customers. New...

Auckland Council's ten year budget and will be released for public comment at the end of February. It will set out the priorities for spending over the next decade - including what upgrade projects are planned for the city centre...

We saw increases in several of the areas we measure over the Christmas period last year. Consumer spending, transactions and pedestrian counts were all up compared to the previous year. Spending was up 5.3% to $235.3m over the period from...

A group of tourism and transport experts want to see the tunnels under Albert Park, sealed since the end of WWI, opened for public access. Long-time tunnel champion Bill Reid, Waitomo Caves' Nick Andreef and strategic transport planner Nicolas...

Our mayor recently made a bold step to declare his support for allocating more money for the Auckland Art Gallery - Toi o Tāmaki in Council’s long-term plan.  Bold - because it seems he listened to views that differed from his own and changed his...

Just over two years in to the planned eight year build of the City Rail Link, we're seeing significant progress being made, getting us closer to the future of quick and easy public transport to and from Auckland’s city centre. In recent weeks...

Heart of the City gave the following feedback to Auckland Transport on the draft design for the Federal Street Stage 2 upgrade project. Feedback closed on 10 December 2017. A flexible approach to management of the space There is increasing pressure...

Click here to see all of the menus and events for American Express Restaurant Month 2018 Restaurants - join us for American Express Restaurant Month, returning to the Heart of the City from 1 - 31 August 2018 Auckland's biggest dining event...

We’ve seen a laneway renaissance in downtown Auckland over the last few years, with property owners turning under-used ground floors and carparks into vibrant areas for bars, cafes, and most importantly, people. Following in the footsteps of Imperial...

A new Rongoā garden brings traditional Māori healing knowledge, growing techniques and culture into the city centre at Griffiths Garden, with a guiding metaphor of ‘Te Puawai o te Kakano’, or a ‘blossoming seed’. The garden is a shared vision between...

The marquee fashion moment for the city centre is here again; we've curated four days of dynamic retail experiences and highlight events from 21 - 24 March. 4 Days of Fashion in the City shines a light on fashion stores and...

A new interim cycleway and temporary improvements for pedestrians will be installed on Federal Street between Victoria Street and Fanshawe Street in March by Auckland Transport in partnership with the Auckland Design Office. These changes will make...

In the city centre we are visibly reminded of the chronic levels of homelessness that Auckland faces, and this is often challenging for business and for the city centre environment. We’d like to invite you to hear from Moira Lawler, CEO of Lifewise, and...

Next week we'll be sending you detailed information about Auckland Council's priorities for the next ten years under their proposed Long Term Plan, and we will let you know how to give feedback to us and Council. Between now and then, we'll be wading...

Auckland's city centre retailers to celebrate fashion with four days of diverse experiences Auckland city centre's marquee fashion moment is here again with four days of creative retail experiences in the heart of Auckland City. Now into its 7th year,...

Council's priorities for the next 10 years Auckland Council is asking for feedback on their draft Long Term Plan (LTP) which sets out its priorities for investment for the next ten years, including addressing challenges around ...

The daily presence of rubbish on our city's streets waiting to be collected is one of the big issues affecting what people think about the city. Whilst it's arguably a necessary part of city life, we think that there are ...

Over the next few years, several infrastructure projects are planned for the downtown area as part of the continuing revitalisation of the Auckland city centre in the lead up to the hosting of the 36th America’s Cup in 2021.  The projects are...

Barkers' Jamie Whiting looks at how technology has changed bricks and mortar retail and talks about how their experiential High Street store creates a community and a destination.  This is one of a four part series by The Spinoff with city...

Just over a decade ago, only 20,000 people called the city centre home. Since then, the number has skyrocketed to 45,000, growing six times faster than the Auckland population as a whole1. To meet the population boom, developers have 7,000 new city...

Thanks to: Andrew Stringer | Senior Managing Director | CBRE New Zealand Bruce Ross | Jason Books Donna Hutchins | Head of Operations, Auckland | Mojo Coffee Giapo Graziolo | Giapo Ice Cream Peter Kerridge | Partner | Kerridge...

Pat Menzies talks about selling generations of Aucklanders their first pair of Doc Martens, traditions and staying relevant. We're loving reading people's memories of their first Docs purchase at Pat Menzies over on The Spinoff's facebook page...

Ingrid Starnes' Simon Pound talks about the charms of the High Street District and why it's so important that events like 4 Days of Fashion in the City take place.  This is one of a four part series by The Spinoff with city centre...

NZ Fashion Museum's Doris de Pont talks about Bruce Papas - an iconic figure in Auckland fashion history - ahead of an exhibition of his garments and sketches at Smith & Caughey's.  This is one of a four part series by The Spinoff ...

To: Auckland Council Application Number: BUN60313877 Name of Submitter: Heart of the City Inc (“HOTC”) Submitter Details: Name Viv Beck, Chief Executive on behalf of Heart of the City Inc. Physical address Level 5, QVE Building, 125 Queen...

The 36th America's Cup will be held in Auckland's Wynyard Quarter, with bases and public viewing areas spread across Wynyard Point, Halsey Street wharf and Hobson Wharf. Mayor Phil Goff has announced the plans and an in-principle agreement between...

You might have seen the city's streets coming out in spots lately, first on Shortland Street and more recently on Federal Street. Not just decorative, they’re an example of the growing global trend of tactical urbanism. We talked to Claire Davis, a...

Video: Auckland Council America's Cup bases and more public access to the waterfront, a transformed Quay Street, more public space next to the Ferry Terminal and a new square for Lower Queen Street are all coming to the waterfront...