The Landing has a lot of potential as a primary event space. It has the potential to evolve into a recognised premium outdoor event space that caters for a range and scale of events from small gatherings to civic functions. To get the most out of the space it should:
To ensure that the space is used for events and other civic and recreation activity the following key sub-initiatives are recommended.
To achieve the goal of creating a premium event space, services and infrastructure that support this will be required. Investment should be prioritised as a key part of attracting high-profile and quality events. Upgrades to services may include power and water to make events easier to host. This should be co-ordinated across various locations including Ariki Street interface, top of Puke Ariki Steps, amphitheatre space at the river’s edge, etc. Any final upgrades should be informed by trialling temporary event infrastructure.
Smaller and more regular events can be supported with overarching guidance from NPDC in providing temporary infrastructure if it’s needed (stages, rigging, access, etc). Identifying and addressing logistical barriers that may be deterring people from holding events will be key.
Increasing the capacity of The Landing space with a flexible edge on Ariki Street and extending into Lower Brougham Street to make it more attractive to larger event holders. Using the southern edges spaces to their full potential is currently logistically difficult, with traffic management and bus movements making it challenging to easily host events.
The southern edge should be blurred with Ariki Street, to extend the shared space so that events can occur without logistical effort. When blocked from through traffic, Ariki Street and Lower Brougham Street will feel and act as part of The Landing space and can be activated for larger events across all three spaces.
The lower Brougham Street upgrade in 2008 allowed for the space to be flexible to support events and other uses. Planters and seating are moveable and enable the flexible nature. A shift over time away from through traffic in this space will ease the transition of Ariki Street to a shared space.
The Landing gets its name from the traditional landing space for waka and early European ships. With reclamation, urban development, realignment and other modifications of the Huatoki, the ability for small craft including waka to enter has been lost. If this ability was returned it would go a long way to establishing the historic use of the interface of the Huatoki with the coast. It could open up cultural events and the use of The Landing for Māori, and would enable small craft such as kayaks and paddle boards to pull into the city creating recreational and economic opportunities.
Any works on the mouth of the Huatoki will require consideration of climate change issues including impact of sea level rise and risk brought by extreme coastal events to improve our city centre’s resilience.
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Page last updated: 09:07am Wed 10 November 2021