Will Auckland Pass Up Yet Another Opportunity to Transform its Waterfront

After many, many, many failures-to-launch, Auckland may finally be taking its waterfront seriously. A series of articles in The New Zealand Herald explores the waterfront's disappointing past and promising future.

1 minute read

September 30, 2012, 11:00 AM PDT

By Andrew Gorden


Waterfront redevelopment has been a hot topic for decades in urban planning and development, and recently on the pages of Planetizen (see Washington, D.C., Seattle, Toronto, Manhattan, and even Lagos). With one of the most scenic urban waterfronts in the world, Auckland is hoping to join the above list. Despite a laundry list of failed developments and propositions, the city is finally looking to take its waterfront seriously. "'The waterfront is ready. It has been forever,' said Auckland Architecture Association spokesman Adam Mercer," reports The New Zealand Herald's Michael Dickison.

"What was required to create a vibrant waterfront was a long-term directive pushing activity to the harbour edge - something Auckland has only recently started to take seriously," [Mercer] said. "Auckland must continue to find the courage to let good architecture and urban design take the stage.'"

Tuesday, September 25, 2012 in The New Zealand Herald

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

People vote in Chicago behind blue privacy screens

Chicago voters approve permanent festival grounds, penalty for vacant property owners

Currently, major summer and fall festivals take over public parks for weeks at a time, drawing criticism from nearby residents

November 5 - Block Club Chicago

Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks into a microphone. He wears a gray suit.

NYC votes to cut outdoor dining red tape, speed up permitting

New York City also voted to allow the Department of Transportation to begin work on urgent projects before notifying elected officials.

November 5 - The City Reporter

People in Los Angeles going to the polls, following a sign with an "I Voted" design

California appears to reject Prop. 45

The proposition would have expanded the projects that qualify for a streamlined environmental review, effectively paring down the California Environmental Quality Act.

November 5 - Cal Matters