Streetscapes and Urban Realm Works

It is essential that businesses are able to continue to send and receive deliveries. Temporary loading zones will be established and maintained during construction. These locations will change as the project progresses but we will keep businesses informed of their locations.

It is essential that people can still navigate through our construction sites and access businesses. We will provide wayfinding to help pedestrians navigate diversions that may be in place. We will also work with local businesses to design and deliver business promotions that emphasise businesses are still open and accessible. This includes bespoke activations and regular community events such as First Thursday, designed to increase footfall in affected areas.

A comprehensive business support programme is in place for the duration of construction – more information is available on the CRL website (https://www.cityraillink.co.nz/business-support).

We will work with you and engage with Auckland Council’s licensing department to ensure either your license fee is rebated or a suitable alternate location is found.

We will engage directly with Auckland Council, waste collection companies and stakeholders and will let you know if there are any changes.

We started with the overarching design principles and requirements set out in the CRL Notice Of Requirement (NOR). These include Mana Whenua participation, enhancement of movement and connectivity, public realm and landscape, and consideration of existing and proposed buildings.

Conditions for urban design principles, tree planting requirements, engagement with Mana Whenua and incorporation of Mana Whenua design principles are specified in the CRL designation for each station, for specific areas and for the project as a whole.

The design enacts Auckland Council’s City Centre Master Plan, particularly the transit-oriented development stitch, and takes direction from Auckland Transport’s Roads and Streets Framework.

Karanga-a-Hape Station’s streetscapes meet accessibility and universal design standards, so that everyone can easily use them. Throughout design development, Link Alliance met regularly with Auckland Transport’s Capital Projects Accessibility Group to seek design feedback from disability advocates and promote best practice.

The station and urban realm design includes drop-off areas and bike parking. The area surrounding the station will be paved, well lit, visible, and accessible for everyone.

Due to the space required for the station entrance at Beresford Square, loading zones will not be reinstated in their previous locations. A mixture of loading zones and short-term parking spots will be available between Day Street and Hopetoun Street, on both sides of the road.

Loading zones are likely to be removed on Pitt Street and Mercury Lane as part of the Karanga-a-Hape Station precinct integration programme (Project K), delivered by Auckland Transport.

Public toilets will be installed in the service block, behind the station entrance at Beresford Square. These are free to use and do not require an AT HOP card. Public toilets will also be available within the station, past the ticket gate line. These will be free of charge to access if you have an AT HOP card. Auckland Council manages and maintains public toilets outside the CRL stations.

The design provides for one retail unit within the service block behind the entrance building at Beresford Square. This will be leased and managed by Auckland Transport as the eventual asset owner.

The area directly in front of the station entrance will be kept relatively free from street furniture to ensure that pedestrian flow to and from the entrance building can be maximised. The original wooden bench, which has been shown in architectural renders will no longer be included in the final design. The new design, which is currently being finalised, is likely to include a selection of smaller seats with arm rests and wooden slats.

Link Alliance station designs integrate with the bus network, supported by wayfinding and walkable access to bus stops. All stations include bike parking outside the station.

A prominent ventilation shaft will stand 4.5-metres tall at the intersection of Beresford Square and Pitt Street. Designed by Reuben Kirkwood, the structure will be constructed from polished precast concrete panels with a mixture of chip or stone to create a galaxy look, referring to 'Te Po' the night/darkness. The 'relief’ pattern on the panels will be continuous over all four sides of the ventilation shaft, with bronze cast manaia in the centre of the panels. A manaia is a mythical being in Māori culture that melds bird and human features, representing the connections between humans, nature, and the spiritual realm.

At the Mercury Lane entrance to Karanga-a-Hape Station, three nine-metre-tall Atua (deity) panels have been installed. Also designed by Reuben Kirkwood, these panels are at the cutting edge of what is possible with concrete, utilising the same moulding technology used for the foils on New Zealand’s America’s Cup boats.

The artwork pays homage to our city's unique heritage and history, referencing both physical and spiritual elements.

Links to other transport modes are supported through bus and cycle lanes on Karangahape Road, and a drop off area at the station entry.

The new WX1 Western Express bus service, with buses every 15-minutes at peak times, connects Westgate to the City Centre with a stop on Pitt Street in front of the Beresford Square entrance. This complements existing bus services around Karanga-a-Hape Station with the City Link service stopping on Pitt Street every 7-8 minutes, and the Inner Link service stopping on Karangahape Road every 10 minutes.

Dual rubbish-recycling bins will be provided around Beresford Square and Mercury Lane, and we have worked with Auckland Council’s community facilities department to inform appropriate placement. Other street features such as seating benches are also provided for, although the final design and placement is yet to be confirmed.

Ten cycle parking spots will be provided at the Beresford Square entrance between the entrance building and service block. Ten spots will also be provided next to the Mercury Lane entrance building in the lane that runs from Mercury Lane to East Street.

The urban realm design includes the street environment surrounding the station. These areas will have 24/7 CCTV surveillance, be well lit, visible, and accessible for everyone.

Trees are an important part of the urban realm. For every tree we remove to deliver the CRL, we will plant a new tree within our overall designation area. Additionally, low level planting will complement an enhanced street environment around all stations, including Karanga-a-Hape Station. The CRL project will contribute to the expansion of our urban ngahere (forest) and increase the benefits of a green city.

A total of 23 trees were removed around the station entrances, most of which were exotic species.

Four trees will be planted around Karanga-a-Hape Station: three established rewarewa at Beresford Square to form a new tree grove, and one titoki tree on Mercury Lane.

The trees were removed to make way for the underground entrance buildings and new services that connect to the entrance buildings. Because of this new underground infrastructure, trees cannot be replanted in their original location.

Additional planting opportunities have been confirmed to plant more trees within four city-fringe planting areas. 315 trees, as well as companion understory plants, will be planted at Glenside Reserve North, Ian McKinnon Drive, Minnie Street, and the top of Dominion Road.

These four areas were chosen because they won’t conflict with other future housing or infrastructure initiatives, they are Auckland Council-owned and are accessible and used by the public. These planting areas will be maintained by Auckland Council in the future.

New trees will be planted within underground tree pits that enable trees to grow better. We will plant semi-mature trees to accelerate establishment.