Search

Restaurant teams made the most of the city's celebration of their industry with enticing and informative social media content promoting their Restaurant Month involvement. Odettes Eatery were recognised for sharing the most mouthwatering visual...

Five new hotels are due to open in Auckland’s city centre by the end of next year, with a further eight set to come online in the next few years. These developments are further to the openings of refurbished and rebranded sites we’ve seen recently: ...

At the Heart of the City AGM last week, Murray Crane and Celia Hay were elected to the Heart of the City Executive Committee - we welcome them warmly.  Murray Crane has worked for 30 years in the High Street District, the last 20 spent steering his...

Our AGM last week officially closed the book on the 2016/17 year, so we have been reflecting on the work we have done and the results delivered on behalf of our members and the city centre community. We are pleased to share these highlight...

For the Love of Bees – A City Bee Collaboration, a community artwork and environmental project that imagines Auckland as the safest city in the world for bees, is opening its doors to city centre workers as the perfect team building exercise. Their...

We promote the city centre year-round through our extensive channels and run a series of annual marketing campaigns and events that profile the key reasons people visit the city centre - retail, dining, arts and culture. Next up after Christmas...

Christmas is an important time for business, so each year we decorate the city to create a festive environment and run a marketing campaign promoting the city centre as the best place for gift shopping and Christmas celebrations. Get...

This piece by Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck was published in the NZ Herald on 6 November 2017. Plans released by Ports of Auckland last week respond to issues that have been raised by the public, which on one level is positive. They have served...

Below is a link to a short survey (it will only take around 8 minutes of your time) asking questions about your views on the city centre and how you use it during this time of rapid change. We would like to hear from a range of people who spend time in...

Many city centre businesses, property owners and their suppliers face challenges with loading and servicing, a critical part of doing business and maintaining a successful city centre. In a recent survey undertaken with the support...

Lime scooters and shared electric vehicles may be having a moment, but nothing beats a good old bicycle as an easy, affordable and eco friendly way to get around - especially when it comes to traveling to and from work.  More people cycling to work...

Our waterfront is one of Auckland's best assets, its potential is significant. We're really concerned that we don't yet have a fully joined up plan for the wider waterfront, and we highlighted this in the NZ Herald recently. We believe...

Designs have been released for the upgrade of Federal Street between Wellesley Street and Mayoral Drive, and you can give feedback on the plans until 10 December. This second stage of the Federal Street upgrade project follows on from the...

On 23 November, Auckland Council considered the proposed locations for the America's Cup on the city centre waterfront. Our CEO, Viv Beck presented in public forum, asking Councillors to ensure the event will create a great legacy for our...

Works on the initial stages of the City Rail Link are well underway at Britomart Station, Commercial Bay and in Albert Street, with works progressing up towards the future Aotea Station next year as the project works towards its target completion...

This summer brings a number of exciting local and international events to Auckland's city centre and surrounds.  Events bring visitors to the city and create benefits for businesses and the wider city. Our city's Major Events Strategy, administered...

In the past year, the number of businesses in the heart of Auckland city has grown by 2.2%, bringing the total to almost 12,0001. Why have all of these businesses chosen to be here? Although factors in this decision will be as varied as the...

As part of the process to adopt Auckland's new Long Term Plan, council's ten-year budget for 2018 - 2028, last week Phil Goff released his Mayoral Proposal, which outlines his priority areas for the budget. What are the key features of...

This piece by Simon Wilson was published on The Spinoff on 12 December 2017, and was made possible by Heart of the City. This month, Auckland Council discusses the priorities for spending from 2018 – 2018 ahead of public consultation early in 2018 and...

As we head into the summer and festive season, ensuring the city centre remains a vibrant, enjoyable and safe place for people is top of mind. Here’s a reminder about who to contact if you have any concerns about safety in the city this summer.  If...

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...

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...

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...

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,...