The transforming city centre

Queens Arcade is undergoing a luxury transformation

For nearly a century, Queens Arcade has been a quiet constant in the lower Queen Street area. The arcade is now entering a new chapter, closing temporarily to undergo a major transformation, set to re-emerge as a luxury retail and wellness destination in November 2026.

The Arcade will create a new precinct showcasing boutique luxury brands, with an elevated and refined edge. As the building transforms, the story of the previous Queens Arcade's retailers continues elsewhere. Many long-standing businesses have closed their doors at the arcade for the final time choosing to establish new homes across the city center, carrying experience, and their offerings into new precincts!

Explore our guide to the stores who have relocated from Queens Arcade.

NZICC Opens, and St James Restoration Takes Shape

Just steps from the entrance of Te Waihorotiu Station, the New Zealand International Convention Centre is now open, with more than 120 events already booked for its first year. Alongside major conferences, the NZICC will host exhibitions, concerts and community events, all within easy reach of your train, favourite café or go‑to shopping spot. You can keep up to date with what is on here.

In 2025, news that the restoration of the St James Theatre was finally moving ahead was met with huge excitement across Auckland. The theatre is not only a beautiful example of Art Deco architecture, it also played host to countless unforgettable nights out before closing in 2016.

When it reopens, it will become a centrepiece of Midtown’s resurgence: a carefully restored landmark and a renewed home for theatre, music and major cultural moments.

Together with the opening of the NZICC and the arrival of the City Rail Link, it signals a confident new era for the city centre’s arts scene. Once complete, the refurbished theatre will seat up to 1800 people and accommodate everything from opera and theatre productions to rock concerts.

Major restoration and strengthening work is currently underway to bring this grand dame back to life. Anyone interested in watching the restoration unfold can follow the project’s progress via once_upon_a_rebuild on Instagram

A new era of ease: City Rail Link is expected to open in 2026            

The City Rail Link (CRL) is due to open later this year, and trains are now being tested along the full length of the tunnel network. This is an exciting milestone, marking the shift from construction to the final phase of preparing a fully functioning railway system. Testing will continue until the CRL officially opens. You can watch footage of the first test train making its maiden trip here.

Recent photos from inside Te Waihorotiu highlights the striking design of what’s tipped to become the busiest train station in the country. Seven skylights have been installed along Albert Street to represent the seven stars of Matariki. From the platforms, visitors can see cultural elements of Tāmaki Makaurau engraved into black panels, along with a dramatic x‑shaped cross beam suspended above a set of escalators. Albert Street has now reopened, marking another major step forward.

The CRL will provide faster, more efficient travel across Auckland. Commuters will be able to get from the city centre to Mt Eden, via Karangahape Road, in about six minutes. The project will also double the number of Aucklanders who live within a 30‑minute train journey of the city. You can follow progress on the CRL Facebook Page.

Te Waihorotiu Station sits within the Aotea Arts Quarter and will be home to the new Symphony Centre. This mixed‑use development will feature new retail options, while the neighbouring Bledisloe House is being transformed. Between the two buildings will be The Lanes, a lively new laneway precinct. Whether it is coffee on the way to work or a drink after a night at SkyCity, there will be many reasons to visit. We love the energy that laneways bring to the city centre, and these promise to be no exception.

The Waitematā Train Station neighbourhood was the first CRL area to be completed in January 2026. This milestone was marked by the opening of the Waitematā Station Plaza and the eastern glasshouse entrance. The new plaza is the perfect place to have an al fresco coffee or lunch under the native trees or large seating area.

The CRL will transform how people access and experience central Auckland. Te Waihorotiu Station will be only moments from Queen Street shops, cafés, galleries and iconic theatres. Waitematā Station (Britomart) will offer an easy walk to waterfront dining, bars, ferries, events and Commercial Bay.

Enjoying the Wynyard Quarter  

Wynyard Quarter, once an industrial and marine area, has undergone an impressive transformation. The marine industry still proudly calls this home, but there’s now fantastic restaurants, cafes, playgrounds, a theatre and even a basketball court. And there’s plenty more planned!   

From swimming in restored bays to new waterfront dining experiences, there will be even more new ways to enjoy the area within the next decade or so. Ten hectares of industrial land is planned to be transformed into Te Ara Tukutuku a new public park. 

If you’re looking to head to the area, walk over the Wynard Quarter Bridge or you can take a stroll around the Viaduct Basin. 

Te Ara Tukutuku's Transformation

Over the next 10-15 years, the northern end of  Wynyard Quarter (Wynyard Point) will be transformed into one of the most beautiful open spaces and waterfront destinations in Tāmaki Makaurau.  

The Te Ara Tukutuku vision is to enjoy, explore, connect with community, engage in nature, and interact with whenua (land) and wai (water) environments. 

The draft concept, shaped by public feedback, introduces unique features such as nature immersion, marine interaction, cultural connection, and community events. Visitors can explore coastal ngahere, engage with marine life, learn about Te Ao Māori, and participate in or watch community-led events. While scenic lookouts will offer 360-degree views of the city, harbour, waka ramp and marine restoration. The project was named as a finalist in the Unbuilt Landscape category in the global Architizer A+ Awards 2025. 

Initial work has already begun to rejuvenate the land.

Streets made for Wandering: Te Hā Noa (Victoria Street): 

It’s not just what’s opening, it’s how the city feels. 

Upgraded streets, widened footpaths, new planting and improved lighting are transforming areas across Midtown and lower Queen Street. The result is a city centre that feels more walkable, from slipping into a gallery to catching a show, greener throughout, and designed for people to linger over a coffee or lunch.

Te Hā Noa has a number of sections now complete, and it's a great to get a glimpse into what the finished project will look like, with plenty of lush native trees and plants, places to sit, beautifully carved pavers, public artwork and a drinking fountain. It’s a wonderful place to relax and unwind after shopping on Queen Street and home to lots of fabulous eateries - including  Scarecrow , Cinnamon Squared and  Scrunchy Millers on Victoria Street.  Te Hā Noa covers the length of Victoria Street from Federal Street to Albert Park, centred around the new Te Waihorotiu CRL station. When the final section between Queen Street and Lorne Street is completed later this year, it will be fully open as a lively linear park for everyone to enjoy.

From 6 metre-high-waka to interactive moments, explore the city centre through public art

We’ve got public art in spades across the heart of the city.

Wynyard Quarter is now home to Waka Moana, a stunning new piece of public artwork created in partnership with mana whenua and designed by lead artist Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Manu).

The artwork, crafted using both traditional and contemporary techniques, consists of nine six‑metre‑high waka positioned along the Daldy Street Linear Park. Together, they symbolise the strong connection between Auckland’s waterfront, its maritime history and the cultural heritage of mana whenua.

There’s a stunning portrait of Israel Adesanya on Victoria Street West, by internationally recognised New Zealand artist Owen Dippie, with the support of Heart of the City. There’s also Margarita Vovna’s  Japanese-inspired mural on 25 Victoria Street West.  

Over in Myers Park, Waimahara has been integrated into the landscape of the Mayoral Drive underpass. Created by Graham Tipene  (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Manu) in collaboration with others, it’s a truly unique piece of art designed to change with the weather and visitor interaction. It uses light and sound to honour Te Waihorotiu, the ancient river that flows underneath this inner-city valley.  
 
Federal Street (south) is the home of Lost and Found by Joe Sheehan. Eight large boulders from all around New Zealand have been intricately hand-carved with everyday objects including sneakers, sunglasses and a baseball cap to encourage a sense of community and togetherness.  

Between Tangihua Street to Tapora Lane are the six artworks that make up the Te Tōangaroa Mural Collection. Each of them is rich with symbolism that celebrates the connection Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei has with the environment and the importance of diversity.  A pocket art guide showcasing toi Māori in the city centre can be found here. 

Refined new retail and accommodation options are opening on Queen Street.

Local luxury retailer Faradays is transforming the historic Milne & Choyce building at 131 Queen Street into a flagship department store. Beautifully curated fashion, lifestyle and beauty brands will be showcased across a stunningly reimagined three-level space.

Just a short stroll away, Queens Arcade is set to become an elegant boutique retail and wellness destination by November 2026. Expect refined, intimate and design-led shopping experiences inspired by Europe’s most iconic arcades.

With several internationally acclaimed flagship stores announcing their arrival on Queen Street, there is plenty to look forward to in the coming months.

It is not just retail making waves. By mid‑2026, 280 Queen Street will also be home to Auckland’s largest open-air rooftop bar, perched above the first Radisson RED Hotel in Australasia, which is already open.

Easy Breezy Access: Getting in and around the city centre will be a whole lot easier 

If you’ve visited the city centre recently, you will have seen a lot of construction happening around the Midtown area – but what is it all about?  Soon you’ll be able to get a train to the Aotea Arts Quarter, better bus connections, brand-new public spaces, and best of all, new retail and hospitality spots. 

(Top left: Victoria Street ramp entrance, top right and bottom: Waihorotiu Station) 

Let us break it down:  

Te Hā Noa will transform Victoria Street into an accessible, green space for Aucklanders and visitors to fully enjoy. 
 
Victoria Street will host one of the entrances for  Te Waihorotiu Station, It will be a breeze to head to one of our much-loved venues including The Civic, Auckland Town Hall and Q Theatre. It is also a stone’s throw from heaps of dining options, like Gorilla Kitchen or icons Elliott Stables and Tony’s Steakhouse.    

Wellesley Street is also undergoing a makeover and by the end of this year, this will be an even better place to catch the bus thanks to the Wellesley Street Bus improvements. It will be near TEM and Coffee Corner if you are looking for a pick-me-up.  

As well as a new train station, midtown is expected to have an improved wastewater network by 2026. Work is currently underway near Mayoral Drive, Wellesley and Victoria Streets to install a new wastewater pipeline under Queen Street, to increase the resilience and capacity of the network. These improvements will help support the increase in residents and businesses expected in midtown - and the wider city centre in the future. It is a great spot to catch some stand-up courtesy of The Classic Comedy Club. There is plenty of places to grab a bite too - from local institution Tanuki's Cave to Miso Sushi and Bentto Sushi and Donburi.