Onehunga, Auckland

Queen Street standoff softens after talks between council and businesses

Caryn Wilkinson Reporter from Community News

Todd Niall

Court action over a planned upgrade to Auckland’s Queen Street may be averted after peace talks between a group of businesses and the council.

Parties are tight-lipped with the Save Queen Street group set to seek an injunction on May 5, but in a joint statement described Friday’s … View moreTodd Niall

Court action over a planned upgrade to Auckland’s Queen Street may be averted after peace talks between a group of businesses and the council.

Parties are tight-lipped with the Save Queen Street group set to seek an injunction on May 5, but in a joint statement described Friday’s 90-minute meeting as “productive”.

“Save Queen Street, Auckland Council and Auckland Transport had a productive meeting this afternoon and are working together to reach a resolution,” they said in a statement.

The group of retailers and landlords argued that the council was breaking the law in using the restriction of traffic lanes brought in during Covid-19 in 2020, as the basis for a new upgrade due in May.

The “emergency works”, carried out last year, widened pedestrian space by reducing traffic from four lanes to two on the CBD’s main retail strip.

The council plans next month to partially close a section of lower Queen Street to general traffic, and make it more pedestrian-friendly with pocket parks, widened footpaths and seating, in a $1.1 million trial.

Save Queen Street wants all the Covid-19 changes stripped away, before new discussions can begin on making the struggling street more attractive.


The society partly blamed the changes for the declining health of the street, which now has dozens of empty shops, following the loss of tourists, foreign students, and a trend to office employees working more from home.

Today's talks were chaired by the Auckland Council chief executive Jim Stabback, with senior officials from both council and Auckland Transport, but without the mayor Phil Goff.

Goff had previously told Stuff he supported the changes in the council plan.

Hi neighbours, what do you think of the planned upgrade to Auckland's Queen St?

*Please put NFP if you do not want your comments used by Stuff.

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He is recovering from a surgery from about… View moreHas anyone seen my handsome boy? He has been missing since 6/5/21 around 8pm. I search and call for him but nothing. He does sometimes go walk about, but loves his food so normally back by morning.

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We Say/You Say: Queen Street

The Team from Community News

Kia ora Auckland,

Should Queen Street be car-free?

Major roading upgrades are set to get underway on Queen Street which the council says will improve pedestrian spaces.

The work is set to begin on Monday between Shortland and Customs streets, limiting traffic to a single lane each way and … View moreKia ora Auckland,

Should Queen Street be car-free?

Major roading upgrades are set to get underway on Queen Street which the council says will improve pedestrian spaces.

The work is set to begin on Monday between Shortland and Customs streets, limiting traffic to a single lane each way and with bus priority in the evening peak.

Some have expressed their concerns for the project including a group of businesses and landlords calling itself Save Queen. The group applied for an interim injunction to halt the council's planned Queen St upgrade and a High Court Judge will decide whether to approve the injunction later today.

Should the upgrade go even further and ban passenger vehicles altogether? Let us know in the comments and don't forget to type NFP if you don't want your comment used in your local community paper.

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May the Force Be With You

Caryn Wilkinson Reporter from Community News

It's International Star Wars Day.

The Stardome Observatory and Planetarium is running three special planetarium shows at 6pm, 7.30 pm and 9 pm tonight to commemorate the anniversary of the Star Wars movie.

The best selling film actually first screened in theatres on May 25.

Star Wars Day … View moreIt's International Star Wars Day.

The Stardome Observatory and Planetarium is running three special planetarium shows at 6pm, 7.30 pm and 9 pm tonight to commemorate the anniversary of the Star Wars movie.

The best selling film actually first screened in theatres on May 25.

Star Wars Day initially started on May 4 as a running joke, stemming from the pun, "May the Fourth be with you".

It was a play on words sparked by the popular movie line, "May the Force be with you," used by the characters to wish comrades good luck.

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