Central City projects

The iconic new landmark, Pūtahi Park, opened in March 2022.

The $6.6 million park includes a water-feature, mini trampolines, a great lawn for performances and events, a slack-line tight-rope, toilets and drinking fountains, shade sails, and ample seating.

Pūtahi Park

A major re-vamp of the Town Basin’s bus and visitor facilities is starting in mid 2022 to improve the area for visitors and the wider community. 

The project will include safer bus stops for tour buses and cruise ship buses, new public toilets near the playground, upgraded carparks, and more mobility-friendly parking.

There will be new high amenity footpaths, landscaping and wayfinding signs from Pūtahi Park through to Hundertwasser Art Centre, and on towards the already upgraded children’s playground.

Town Basin facilities upgrade

Creating a fresh new feeling to attract people back into Whangārei’s central retail area is the plan behind an experimental Tactical Urbanism project funded by Government.

Council has received $111,000 from Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency’s innovating Streets for People fund, to improve the connection from the bus hub on Rose Street to Quality Street, which runs between Vine Street and Cameron Street.

Council has a master plan for the Central City that aims to develop critical connections between active areas.

In June 2021, John Street pedestrian crossing across Dent Street was improved to make it a safer, wider, one-stage crossing to enable pedestrians to get to the waterfront from the central city and vice versa.

Earlier the pedestrians had to cross the road in two stages which involved them waiting out in the middle of the road.