Te Komititanga

The Panel had several key considerations for a successful response to the public realm and landscape strategy. While broadly supportive, the Panel suggested: 

• Assessing the adequacy of existing tree pits for the Pōhutakawa trees' sizes;
  
• Incorporating temporary street furniture alongside permanent fixtures;
  
• Re-evaluating the placement relationship between the northern plaza, Precinct Properties entry plaza, and the proposed Pōhutakawa trees.

In the revised plans, the trees around the station plaza were re-sized and re-positioned to enhance enclosure of the square. This adjustment considered refined pit design, tree procurement, and the inclusion of Pōhutakawa in the planting scheme.

The revised plans also increased recreational seating along the northern and southern edges of the station plaza, customizable seating elements, and outdoor café-style seating within the northern section of the plaza.

The Panel was interested in the opportunity for mana whenua stories to be made legible for users within the Plaza. Mana whenua principles were embedded within the Delivery Work Action Plan. These principles have become defining features of the plaza’s design which weaves together the cultural and environmental heritage of the area.

The Tohu principle encapsulates the desire to establish visual linkages between the harbour and the Waihorotui Stream. The meeting of the waves of the Waitematā Harbour and the waters of the Waihorotiu Stream is represented in the paving design at the northern and southern ends of the plaza. These natural elements hold importance as cultural touchstones for mana whenua.

The guiding principle of Taiao emphasizes collaboration with mana whenua to reintroduce natural landscapes into urban spaces. In line with this principle, five majestic Pōhutukawa trees were planted in the Lower Queen Street Plaza, and various native trees have been thoughtfully incorporated into the Station Plaza.

A whāriki (welcome mat), crafted by mana whenua weavers, lies in front of the Waitematā Station building. This mat illustrates a woven harakeke (flax) mat, greeting visitors arriving at Tāmaki Makaurau from the sea. Regarded as a highly-esteemed woven artifact in Māori culture, the whāriki traditionally symbolizes chiefly ancestral lines thus representing status, nobility, and heritage - a manifestation of mana.

Further, overlooking the whāriki is a Māori warrior statue standing as a significant cultural marker (Pou).

These historical artefacts sit alongside the early-1900s Britomart Station heritage building and the new Commercial Bay development, creating a unique combination that harmonizes the areas of past and present.