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Restoring the Huatoki

Huatoki Daylighting

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City Centre core amenity upgrades Huatoki Plaza Sir Victor Davies Park Pedestrian and cycle priority to the city centre

Daylighting the Huatoki under and along the Metro Plaza site is planned alongside the redevelopment on adjacent sites on Devon and Brougham streets, with work set to begin in early 2026. 

We are partnering with KDH, which owns the developments on either side of the Huatoki, and Ngāti Te Whiti Hapū in our first-ever public-private partnership to create a sustainable city centre, while supporting businesses. 

By partnering and moving quickly, we can reduce duplication, streamline construction, and ultimately deliver savings for our ratepayers.

The plan includes an interface between this site and the Downtown Car Park, and a new pedestrian connection across Devon Street that traces and reinforces the Huatoki alignment across to the Huatoki Plaza.

Impact compass

Huatoki Daylighting

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Working together

  • Ngāti Te Whiti
  • Adjacent landowners and developers

Next steps

Step 1

Goals and principles have been set for the daylighting portion of the Huatoki in partnership with Ngāti Te Whiti. This was done in consultation with adjacent landowners to ensure an awa (river/stream)-centric approach.

Step 3

Detailed design of the public paths and spaces is underway. Concurrent development by adjacent landowners ties into this work.

Step 2 

Plans to demolish the Metro Plaza and develop adjacent properties have be submitted for consent, including edge activation and upgrades that will restore the natural environment of the awa.

Step 4

Construction of a new commercial area is expected to begin later in 2026, followed by public decks and spaces.  This is scheduled to take around two years to finish.

Page last updated: 12:09pm Wed 05 November 2025

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