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| One story with many voices |
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Auckland really has just one story and it’s a big one – GROWTH. We have the amazing stories from City Rail Link of the massive dig and one of the largest projects the city has ever seen; Auckland Transport’s story about new cycleways, bus lanes, electric trains and improved walkability – shaping the options for people to move in different ways. Panuku is evolving the Wynyard Quarter and making it as dynamic as ever and a popular destination point for anyone visiting the City Centre.
The key is TOGETHER - the private and public sectors - are building our Auckland and identifying, planning and facilitating more choices for everyone. We are making our city more accessible, vibrant, innovative and internationally acclaimed – all with a distinctly Kiwi flavour.
We will continue to keep our ears and eyes open and bring you updates to our changing city. Email us at: citycentrenews@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Sign up for the City Centre newsletter at: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz at E-Newsletters – Auckland City Centre Newsletter. |
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| Auckland’s early treasures uncovered by CRL digging |
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Images: Ginger beer bottle from the 1840s uncovered on the corner of Fort Lane and Customs Street East; and two stoneware preserve bottles and a sherd of earthenware ceramic from a serving platter found in Galway Street.
Digging up city streets provides a great opportunity to investigate the city’s below-ground history.
The City Rail Link (CRL) project employs an archaeologist to document, and where appropriate preserve, archaeological finds.
Although excavations to date have been relatively limited, they have already unearthed some of Auckland’s early utilities, providing a glimpse into how infrastructure was built in the past.
In the last few weeks, some interesting historical artefacts have been be found during CRL excavation works.
Two stoneware preserve bottles and a shard of earthenware ceramic from a serving platter with the decorative Willow design have been recovered from a services trench being dug in Galway Street. These sorts of items commonly date back to the mid to late 1800s and are estimated to be at least 150 years old.
Workers installing a manhole and backflow valve as part of utility works around Lower Queen Street also found a large rear horse shoe and a grey hand-thrown stoneware ginger beer bottle about three metres underground.
The bottle, stamped with the name ‘Fowler’, is thought to be made by Irish immigrant and well-known potter Enoch Fowler, who arrived in Auckland in 1836.
Fowler, from Tyrone, Ireland employed a man and four boys to make ginger beer bottles and kitchenware around the Queen Street area. The bottle is likely to pre-date 1865, and could possibly date to as early as the 1840s.
This early date range is consistent with the 1859-61 date of the historic reclamation between Fort Street and Customs Street East – the first major reclamation to be undertaken in Auckland.
As excavations continue it is likely that more remnants from the city’s history will be uncovered, particularly around Britomart, which is on reclaimed land that could contain anything from discarded Victorian refuse to the remains of wharves and sunken vessels.
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| Catch the Games at Britomart |
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| Missed out on tickets? No sweat. These four Britomart spots are screening the tour we've all been waiting for. |
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Rugby? Check. Beer? Check. Burgers? Check.
Sports fans will go mad for this very special event happening on New Zealand shores. Though tickets were hard to come by, there’s no excuse to not get clad in all black and support our team. Gather your mates and choose your Britomart game-base, because it’s try time, baby!
NORTHERN STEAMSHIP CO. BREWBAR
The Northern Steamship Co. Brewbar will screen all games live on four screens. With no entry fee, this bar is a great place to park up before, during and after the game with a great menu to accompany your brews and satisfy your bros. There’s also a Steinlager bucket special for $32.
BREW ON QUAY
This convivial haunt features a wide selection of craft brews and an eclectic food menu. Brew on Quay will screen all matches. Look out for its ever-evolving beer list, where you could try a new drop as your watch each and every game.
BRITOMART COUNTRY CLUB
Britomart Country Club’s cool and casual vibe will set the mood just right for game day. BCC will screen all games, with $10 pizzas during match time. It’s sure to fill up fast here, so come early and snag your seat before kick-off.
SEAFARERS MEMBERS’ CLUB
Crank it up a classy notch at Seafarers Members’ Club Level 5 where all matches will be screened live. The game space will be open an hour before each game for pre-drinks, but if you decide to head in earlier, then the rooftop with its killer view is just the place. There’s no entry fee but bookings are essential. (mailto: hosts@seafarers.co.nz)
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| Employment in the City Centre is growing |
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Source: Infometrics’ Regional Industry Employment Model (RIEM)
We are collecting key information on trends across environmental, social, economic and cultural aspects of the City Centre so that we can understand the impact and respond to the unprecedented level of development and growth occurring. These facts and figures are indicators of how the city is performing.
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The number of filled jobs in the city has grown by 24% since 2006, growing from 92,379 in 2006 to 114,264 in 2016. This is quicker than Auckland region, which grew by 13% in the same time period.Now one in seven Auckland jobs are in the City Centre.
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Employment growth is important as it provides opportunities for the area’s population to increase their contact with others and the sense of self-worth or satisfaction it can give people. The jobs created provide new opportunities for the population to earn an income, contribute to the local economy and increase the options available for how they live their lives.
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Employment is measured here as an average of the four quarters making up each year. Regional employment numbers are from RIEM, which differs from data from Business Demography in that it is a quarterly series (BD is annual) and it includes both employees and self-employed, whereas BD only includes employees.
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3 Census Area Units (CAU) refers to the 3 CAU’s that sit inside the highway ring that surrounds Auckland’s City Centre. Auckland Central East, Auckland Central West and Auckland Central Harbourside.
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| Civic Tours are a huge hit |
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The Civic Tours, recently launched by Auckland Live, are a smashing success and have sold out but the good news is that July tickets go on sale 7 June. Get in early so you don’t miss out on this iconic tour of a part of Auckland’s history.
The 45-minute tour offers an intimate behind-the-scenes look at The Civic’s iconic architecture, decor and colourful 88-year history, much of which intersects with some of Auckland’s most seismic moments of the 20th Century.
Built in just eight months as an atmospheric cinema, The Civic opened in 1929 and provided a glamorous experience for patrons attending the ‘talkies’ during The Great Depression.
An instant sensation, with its exotic interiors including seated Buddha, twisted columns and domed ceilings, the main auditorium caused gasps of astonishment with its Indian temple lobby, Moorish golden minarets, spires and giant Abyssinian panther statues.
Visitors to The Civic over the decades have included some of the biggest names in show business including Bette Davis and The Rolling Stones, and dignitaries such as Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and the Dalai Lama.
Today The Civic is one of the few intact remaining atmospheric theatres in the world, with an Auckland Council A and Category 1 Heritage NZ listing.
Auckland Live director, Robbie Macrae, says demand for regular tours of The Civic has been steadily growing and he’s delighted the new tours are now part of Auckland Live’s permanent programme.
“We always knew The Civic was much-loved by Aucklanders, but one-off tours last summer showed the public’s interest in The Civic was overwhelming,” says Robbie Macrae.
“The Civic has been a part of some of the city’s most exciting and defining moments, and to be able to share such a rich resource with residents and visitors alike is a privilege,” he says.
“We are looking forward to programming future tours on a regular basis, and plans include themed tours for the likes of Halloween and Christmas, accessibility tours and children’s tours.”
The Civic Tours are an Auckland Live Experience.
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| Sweet As |
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Auckland Live’s busy bees have been working hard since they landed on the fifth floor roof of the Aotea Centre last October, producing a whopping 75 kg of honey over the summer.
The bumper harvest caught everyone by surprise, as the average mature NZ hive produces around 35 kg of honey a year.
Recently bottled and labelled, the first batch of liquid gold made its debut at a recent staff gathering, where for a koha donation, staff got their own 250g jar of delicious Auckland Live honey to call their own.
An Easter raffle brought in further proceeds, which will be put towards the purchase of an additional bee-keeping suit and extra hive boxes which will give the bees plenty of room to expand next summer.
With winter fast approaching, the hives have now been ‘shut down’ for the colder months, to prevent other bees hungry for honey, and wasps from raiding the hives. New mite strips in the hives will also ensure the bees are kept happy and healthy.
Did you know? Studies show urban bees are tougher than their country cousins, due to the greater diversity of nutrients in city pollen.
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| Lightpath cycleway to close briefly for resurfacing |
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The Canada Street Bridge is getting a refresh to match it to the rest of the newly brightened Lightpath Cycleway.
The magenta surface of the Lightpath was UV protected in February to help protect it from the elements and make its colour more vibrant. Now it’s the Canada Street Bridge’s turn which means the entire Lightpath will be closed from Tuesday 6 June. The work is expected to take 8 days.
“The marine grade UV coating will make the surface of the bridge more resistant to the elements and make it more fade resistant,” says Paul Glucina, the NZ Transport Agency’s Acting Auckland Highway Manager.
All of the Lightpath needs to be closed to ensure the new surface has time to bond properly and because the surface will be very slippery until all the work has been finished.
“We understand closing Lightpath will be frustrating for the many people who are now using it and thank everyone for their patience while we carry out this work to ensure it’s well maintained and that the public remain safe during the resurfacing.”
The following alternative cycling and walking routes are recommended while the Lightpath is closed:
For people going to or from the waterfront we suggest you use the Grafton Gully Cycleway.
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| Events |
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Figure drawing class at Auckland Art Gallery. Photo: David St George
Life drawing, film, talks and an Open Late continue The Body Laid Bare’s vibrant visitor programme
A comprehensive programme of events, many of them free, complements the Auckland Art Gallery’s celebrated exhibition The Body Laid Bare: Masterpieces from Tate, with something for every art-lover to enjoy.
Some programme highlights include life-drawing classes with Auckland artist Paris Kirby, free art films and curator talks. A one-off live performance by artist Julia Holden will be a unique experience at the Open Late on Tuesday 13 June, Holden will transform fellow artist Audrey Baldwin into a three-dimensional painting based on Henri Matisse’s Draped Nude 1936 as seen in The Body Laid Bare, followed by DJ sets by local producers k2k and Hugo Jay.
The Body Laid Bare is beautiful, sensual and at times provocative, more than 100 artworks from Tate, London, tell the story of the nude and trace artists’ captivation with the human body over the last two centuries.
Journeying through time, from the classical, biblical and literary subjects of the 1800s to the body politics of contemporary art, The Body Laid Bare brings together masterpieces by renowned artists including JMW Turner, Auguste Rodin, Pierre Bonnard, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Louise Bourgeois, Cindy Sherman, Sarah Lucas and many more. Open until Sunday 16 July.
For full visitor programme details visit www.aucklandartgallery.com
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| Events |
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Image: Janine Williams, Ngati Paua, Matariki 2016
The sighting of Matariki marks the dawning of the Māori New Year. It is a time to be with family and friends, to reflect on the past, to commemorate those who are not with us anymore and prepare for the year ahead.
2017 is the year to partner with Ngāti Manuhiri to discover the rich history, culture and the values that connect us to place, whakakapapa and whanaungatanga.
Whetu Marama is a visual projection of the past, present and future. It is dedicated to the loving memory and the visual legacy left by Peter and Josephine Gossage and other dearly beloved kaumatua and kuia who have recently passed.
Led by Olivia Haddon Ngāti Manuhiri, Specialist - Maori Design Auckland Design Office it is a multi-dimentional, light and art projection.
A moving image will be projected onto the side of the Town Hall facing Aotea Square. A specially composed waiata will play to the movement; creating a breath taking experience.
All are welcome to the launch at 6.30pm on Saturday 10 June.
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| Events |
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Between 10 June and 2 July Auckland Council and host iwi Ngāti Manuhiri will be celebrating Māori New Year through the Matariki festivities across the region.
For three weeks, Aucklanders can revel in and learn about Te Ao Māori with their friends and whanau through events which include films, lectures, visual arts, nature, workshops, performances and theatre. Of the five free signature events, two are happening in Auckland Central.
Te Korakora on Federal - Thursday 22 June 5pm-10pm - will fuse traditional and contemporary Māori kai, dance and art in a one night Māori street carnival.
Come midday 1 July, The Cloud will rock with the fierce sound of Te Taumata Kapa Haka. Fresh from Matatini 2017 the best teams in the country on stage at the Lions Fanzone ahead of the 2nd All Black test. Not to be missed.
For more information about the Matariki Events happening in your area, go to www.matarikifestival.org.nz
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| Event Dates |
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3 June: Queens Birthday on Queens Wharf. Come and enjoy the best of British culture this Queens’s Birthday weekend with interactive games, kid’s workshops, classic cars and heaps more.
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10 June - 2 July: Matariki Festival
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Midday 1 July: The Cloud will rock with the fierce sound of Te Taumata Kapa Haka
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22 June, 5pm-10pm: Te Korakora on Federal
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23 June - 9th July: DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017
- June is full of activity at Studio One Toi Tū with highlights including the Auckland Festival of Photography and Matariki exhibitions.
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Emerging Auckland has material on what is going on behind the various CRL construction hoardings and below ground, so has a new ‘City Rail Link’ section. This includes a ‘CRL Timeline’, a factual chronological timeline of the project from its historic inception to date and beyond, and so you can see for yourself how construction progresses, with a ‘City Rail Link photo gallery’ to showcase each package of construction as it advances over the coming few years.
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