Construction of Te Hā Noa’s eastern section, spanning Elliott Street to Kitchener Street in central Auckland has begun.

Jasmax is the landscape architecture team behind the new Victoria Street Linear Park that will renew the street stretching from Victoria Park to Albert Park, showcasing the cultural heritage and identity of Tāmaki Makaurau.

Auckland Council says it recognises the current deficit of attractive, safe and pedestrian-friendly urban spaces in Auckland’s city centre. This project, says the council, transforms the street into a two-laned thoroughfare, with wide footpaths, shade trees, cycle lanes, furniture, and native planting for stormwater management, ecology and aesthetics. 

“Set to become a distinctive urban corridor, the Te Hā Noa Victoria Street linear park will create a thriving public outdoor space supporting walking, cycling and public life to enhance the wellbeing of people and the city’s natural environment,” says the Jasmax team.

Victoria Street will become a tree-lined walking street with only one lane of cars in each direction. More than 20 native trees will be planted along the edges of Te Hā Noa, offering shade and shelter, urban cooling, soaking up carbon and adding to the city centre’s expanding urban forest. 

The trees will be planted in special tree pits that have been excavated and backfilled with a combination of organic and structural material to keep their roots safe from heavy vehicles and equipment.