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    The Ovation of the Seas will arrive on our shores on 27 December. It will carry around 6,400 guests and crew-- nearly double the capacity of standard cruise ships.   Cruise ships come in almost daily during summer. Auckland...

  Griffiths Gardens located on the corner of Wellesley and Albert Streets is an inviting and cheerful backyard designed to make all members of the public feel welcome. Funded by the City Centre targeted rate, the pop-up garden was created to keep...

Recently we presented at a resource consent hearing to highlight concerns about the adverse effect of CRL construction on business. In our view a more proactive and co-ordinated approach is required. We appreciate that a project of this scale will have...

The International Buskers Festival attracts top notch street performers from all over the world. Acts are located near city centre transportation hubs and puts a welcoming face to the city in summer. But did you know that busking outside the dates of...

  StoreWatch is a communication network of more than 150+ city centre retailers and the NZ Police. It enables its members to alert the network about incidents of theft and suspicious behaviour.   We’ve invited Auckland Police Constable,...

Since early January, O’Connell and Chancery Streets and Courthouse Lane have been closed to through traffic as works progress at Freyberg Place. Taking advantage of the temporary pedestrian only space, a pop up park has been installed alongside musical...

CRL midtown scoping works will include digging test holes onsite to locate underground utilities and ensure the continuity of service in the area as the work progresses. Some noise and traffic impacts are expected. Auckland Transport will...

Retail NZ’s Topshop awards are back this year, showcasing the best of New Zealand retail. The awards give Heart of the City retailers the chance to test themselves against other Auckland and national retailers in various categories including customer...

A survey that we’ve recently undertaken tells us that Aucklanders still feel positive about visiting the city centre, despite the significant transformation that is underway. They told us they still want to visit, that they agree that the city centre is...

Heart of the City has been advocating actively to end homelessness in Auckland’s city centre.  As such we were proud to sponsor the Auckland Conversation on Homelessness on Thursday 23rd March, following the launch of the Housing First Auckland...

Look at us Kiwis, a bunch of risk-taking, rule-bending, fresh-thinking suck-it-and-see adventurers, right? Who wouldn’t want to be one? So if we really do think that’s who we are, how come our transport planning isn’t keeping up with the ideas now...

Auckland is now well on the road to becoming a "worldclass harbour city", says Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck. She says the city is now going through the most significant change in its history. For evidence, look up at the cranes on the...

Join us for Restaurant Month, returning to the Heart of the City from 1 - 31 August 2017 Auckland's biggest dining event is back for its seventh year and will once again showcase the best of the city centre’s restaurant scene across 31...

To: Auckland Council Governing Body and Waitemāta Local Board Auckland Council Private Bag 92300 Auckland 1142   SUBMISSION TO THE DRAFT ANNUAL BUDGET 2017/18   Introduction   Heart of the City Business Association welcomes the...

Auckland’s Business Improvement Districts (or ‘BIDs’) are 48 areas across the region where local businesses have agreed to work together, with support from Auckland Council, to improve their business environment and attract new businesses and customers....

Last month, Auckland Council consulted on their 2017/2018 annual budget.  The Council’s consultation document focused on five issues - rates increases, rating stability, paying for tourism promotion, paying for housing infrastructure and paying...

Recent meetings with Auckland Central MP Hon Nikki Kaye and Minister of Transport Hon Simon Bridges have been very positive and both Ministers are keen to ensure SkyPath is delivered soon.    Auckland Council has allocated up to $7.2 million...

We know that getting around Auckland’s CBD can be an issue for businesses operating in the city centre.  While action is being taken to address congestion and traffic issues in the city by organisations like Auckland Council and Auckland Transport...

Heart of the City has been an active advocate to end homelessness in Auckland.  As such we were proud to sponsor the Auckland Conversation on Homelessness on Thursday 23rd March, following the launch of the Housing First Auckland initiative by Hon...

Heart of the City Submission - Midtown Bus Route Heart of the City has been advocating strongly for a holistic and integrated approach to transport planning in the city centre that has great place making front of mind. We are heartened to see recent...

Finally, some good news about traffic in Auckland. Simon Wilson sings the praises of the new spots in Shortland St. Credit where it’s due. The council has put big beige spots on Shortland St at the intersections with High St and O’Connell St and it’s...

If you operate a business that targets international tourism markets, you may be interested in Auckland Airport’s Tourism Development Grants.  The initiative provides seed funding for new international tourism products. This year there are two $50,...

We know that begging is an issue that many people have strong opinions about and we would like to know more about what you think. So, we are about to undertake some research with our members about begging in the city centre and how it is...

Recent construction in the city centre has affected some Heart of the City members and we have a key role in seeking action to minimise the negative effects of construction on business. Last week we sent members a link to a survey to help us assess the...

Heart of the City is very pleased that the City Rail Link team has established a new role intended to bring fresh thinking and a creative approach to looking after Albert St during CRL construction.  Catherine Edmeades has been appointed the new...

Heart of the City is calling on Auckland Council not to treat business rate payers as easy targets in its drive to save costs. In 2013, Auckland Council decided to reduce the rates differential between businesses and residential properties over a period...

We know that begging is an issue that many people have strong opinions about and we would like to know more about what you think. So, we are undertaking some research with our members about begging in the city centre and how it is affecting business....

Heart of the City continued to raise concerns about the Council’s proposals to pause the reduction in the business rate and to introduce a targeted rate on accommodation providers right up until Council made its final decision on its draft annual plan on...

The government and Auckland Council have announced a two-year study of congestion charging. OK, but why aren’t they trying to fix the city’s transport crisis right now? It’s not that hard, you know, writes Simon Wilson. The government and council have...

Freyberg Place and Ellen Melville Centre have re-opened to the public in September 2017 after undergoing extensive refurbishment, resuming their role as a community hub for the High Street District. The outdoor square and Ellen Melville Centre's indoor...

Auckland Transport and Auckland Council are continuing in their efforts to create an ever more vibrant city centre, with more improvements planned for Federal Street.   There are two distinct but connected projects afoot; firstly some...

Concepts have been released for the new square for Lower Queen Street in front of Britomart train station, which will be completed as part of the City Rail Link works.   Attractive public spaces like this are essential in making ...

The results are in for this year's Restaurant Month, and we are happy to report that once again it was a success for the city and for the businesses involved. Spending at participating restaurants, over a 100, was up $1.5 million compared...

An international social leadership programme with over 200,000 participants in 54 countries is coming to Auckland. Splice is inviting city centre business owners and workers to join this movement with intercultural dialogue and community-led social...

Take a look at this inspiring new video outlining the renewed vision for the City Centre and waterfront. The vision draws on the many and varied ways the city centre is quite so important for people in the rest of Auckland and New Zealand -...

We’ve seen really positive results for the city centre over the past few months in the key performance areas we measure, showing that the city economy is performing well and that people continue to be attracted by what the city has to offer. Our own...