Ngā Hoahoa Paewhiri  Auckland Urban Design Panel

Tāmaki Makaurau is a city shaped by fire and water—its volcanic cones (maunga) rising across the landscape, each with its own story, memory, and meaning. These maunga, including the revered Maungawhau (Mt Eden), are not just geographic features—they are ancestors, landmarks, and guardians of whakapapa.

The Auckland Urban Design Panel (AUDP) champions the embedding of these cultural narratives into the city’s built form. The Panel’s advocacy has ensured that design proposals honour and reflect the mauri of the maunga, giving these sacred places a visible presence in Auckland’s evolving urban fabric.

Once flowing openly along what is now Queen Street, Te Waihorotiu was a lifeline for local iwi, running from the ridgeline of Karangahape down to the Waitematā. Though it now flows beneath the city, its presence is remembered and reimagined in designs reviewed by the AUDP—bringing the stream’s legacy to life in subtle ways that respect the past and inspire the future.

From the union and separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku to the emergence of Te Ao Mārama, Auckland’s story is deeply rooted in Māori cosmology. Through AUDP’s leadership, projects such as City Rail Link have embedded these pūrākau into the architectural expression of place. This is more than symbolism—it’s a commitment to a future that honours the past.

The success of transformational projects like the City Rail Link is in part due to the AUDP’s collaborative approach. By working closely with designers, mana whenua, and Council teams, the Panel has elevated outcomes through shared values and early engagement.

The Panel’s early input has helped streamline complex projects, reducing risk and providing clarity before applications are formally lodged—saving time and resources while lifting design quality.

The Panel has consistently championed the use of the Te Aranga Māori Design Principles, supporting their early adoption and ongoing application. This has ensured Māori values are carried through every layer of design—from strategy to detailing—and are reflected in both the process and outcomes.

Auckland is changing—and so too is the role of design. The AUDP has evolved to respond to growing urban pressures and intensification, including the creation of a dedicated Medium Density Residential Panel (MDRP) to guide higher-density housing. This ensures designs are not just permitted, but purposeful—responsive to both people and place.

The AUDP provides a space where urban designers, architects, landscape architects, planners, property professionals and Māori design experts come together to challenge, refine, and uplift design thinking. The result is a cross-pollination of ideas that benefits both the city and the professions that shape it.

As an impartial review body, the AUDP brings an independent voice to complex developments. Its multi-disciplinary lens and professional integrity provide developers and Council with trusted feedback that enhances both outcomes and public confidence.

This rigorous process ensures projects uphold design excellence, reflect community values, and align with the aspirations of Auckland Council’s plans and strategies.

The AUDP has played a pivotal role in supporting Auckland Council’s urban regeneration efforts—ensuring that redevelopments like the Northcote Neighbourhood and Kōtuitui Terraces reflect high-quality design, celebrate identity, and foster community wellbeing.

These reviews have reinforced design excellence as a public good—lifting the quality of life in growing neighbourhoods.