High Street Improvements Project

About the project

High Street is one of the busiest laneways in the city centre. It’s a place people come to shop, dine, commute and meet friends. It also connects into a growing network of upgraded laneways like O’Connell Street, Jean Batten Place and Freyberg Place.

In 2020, we made some improvements to make the street more welcoming and easier to get around. These updates helped shape how people use High Street today. 

Now, as we plan for more people to live, work and visit the city centre, we’re building on that foundation to plan for High Street’s future.

Funded by the city centre targeted rate, this project is part of a wider transformation happening across midtown and supports the City Centre Masterplan vision of a vibrant, connected and people-focussed city centre.

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What we heard during initial engagement

View a summary of the July - October 2024 engagement here.

Engagement report on three design ideas now available

We’ve been working closely with the community to help shape the future of High Street through a staged engagement process. Earlier engagement focused on understanding people’s experiences, ideas and aspirations for the street. This informed the development of three design ideas - what we asked for feedback on from July to August 2025.

March 2025

We spoke to a range of people on High Street to understand loading and servicing requirements. These insights helped shape design ideation. 

July to August 2025

We engaged the High Street community on three Design Ideas for the street’s future.

Each idea:

• responded to the Community Aspirations - what we’ve heard from businesses, residents and visitors to High Street
• reflected different ways the street could support how people live, move, shop, dine and connect
• presented a different level of change – from a lighter upgrade to a larger transformation
• varied in cost and approach to construction
• included a proposal to restrict vehicle access on High Street between 11am-2pm on weekdays, when pedestrian activity is highest

We wanted to understand:

• How well each design idea supports the Community Aspirations
• What works well and what needs further thought
• Whether construction impacts are manageable
• How well each idea balances Community Aspirations, cost and construction impact
• How timed vehicle access ( restrictions between 11am to 2pm weekdays) supports the Community Aspirations
• Whether timed access should be considered at other times

View the three design ideas

Learn more about the engagement at AK Have Your Say

Read the engagement report for Phase 3  

Partnering with mana whenua

We’re working in partnership with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Te Ākitai Waiohua and Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua.

They have provided a matawhānui (broad vision) and four uara (values) for the project that have informed the ideation process and continue to guide the project’s approach.

You can read more at AK have your say. 

What happens next

Community feedback is an important input into the decision making and business case process.

The engagement report will be considered alongside technical advice, economic analysis, mana whenua values, and the project’s objectives to understand both the potential benefits and impacts of the project.

We expect to share an update on the recommended design direction in Mid 2026, following engagement with the Waitematā Local Board. A final decision will be made by the Policy, Planning and Development Committee.

There will be further opportunities for the community to provide feedback as the project progresses.

You can stay updated about how to have your say by signing up here. 

Why are we doing this?

Guided by our City Centre Masterplan (CCMP), Auckland Council is investing in transformational projects to ensure that we have a thriving city centre well into the future. Determining how High Street will look and feel in the future is one of these important transformational projects.

Delivered by

This project is being delivered by Auckland Council and is funded by the city centre targeted rate, a special rate which is paid by city centre commercial and residential property owners and used to help fund the development and revitalisation of the city centre. The programme of works funded by the rate aims to enhance the city centre as a place to work, live, visit and do business.