The team at Waterfront Auckland have hit the eco nail on the head when it comes to promoting sustainability in a public space. Their re-development of the Wynyard Quarter and a vibrant events schedule has finally created something that Aucklanders can be proud of on their waterfront.
Having grown
up in Wellington, I intimately know how successful a waterfront can be for a city and this was something I missed in Auckland, until recently.
Pardon me if I have offended the guys that frequent the Viaduct Harbour with pointy shoes, tight jeans and questionable shirts. This new space does a fantastic job of encouraging design and behaviour that is good for the environment without forcing it down peoples' throats or making them feel conscious about what they are wearing.
Taking a stroll along the Wynyard Quarter, you can find out what's happening at the Karanga Kiosk - a clever structure made out of re-purposed shipping containers with a living roof that reduces the amount of rainwater entering the stormwater system by 75%.
From there, you can continue to the North Wharf - an excellent place to go for dinner - you can find an intimate bar with a living wall, which is in a building that harvests rainwater for toilet flushing and uses solar power to boost hot water.
