Auckland - it's time to bait the hook.

Just as Maui is said to have baited his magic fish hook with his own blood in order to fish up the North Island, so must Auckland use some of its lifeblood to bait the hook that will bring global executives and investors, culinary and culture experts, event organisers, entrepreneurs,?skilled artisans?and tourists to our shores in much greater numbers.

The recently released State of the City report makes it abundantly clear why we need to do this. As noted by multiple commentators, we’re falling behind our international?“peer cities” in several key areas, which has significant implications for the success of,?not only the city,?but all of Aotearoa New Zealand.?

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland stands as our gateway to the world.?

If we’re to catch-up, let alone elbow our way in amongst the leaders, we need to be just as radical as Maui.?

Fortunately,?the report helpfully identifies the best bait to use:

“Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s history, geography and diversity make it highly distinctive among the world’s 10,000 cities.”

In terms of history, there’s the little-known fact that the Pasifika tupuna of Māori ended the longest ocean migration in human history on the shores of Aotearoa, having successfully navigated their way across the vastness of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, the Pacific Ocean.??Truly a feat of world-class significance, far exceeding the better known accomplishments of the European sea-farers of the 15th?to 18th?centuries.

Regarding geography, Tāmaki Makaurau sprawls over seven times as many hills as ancient Rome, each one a volcano with its own rich history.??With a coastline of around 1,800km, and 4,000 parks, there is a huge variety of beaches, harbours, forests and trails for all ages to enjoy both passively and actively.??While out on the Hauraki Gulf there are over 50 islands of all shapes and sizes spread across 1.2 million hectares of sparkling blue waters; a Southern Hemisphere equivalent of the famed Greek Islands.?????????

Then there’s the diversity, starting with the fact that more Māori and Pasifika people live here than anywhere else in the world.??And as noted in the State of the City report:

“The city’s indigenous heritage is a critical part of the fabric of Auckland’s identity, values and narrative. It underpins the city’s accumulated levels of diversity which includes the 4 in 10 Aucklanders who were born overseas. The super-diversity of a city made up of the most rooted, the most recent, and everything in between contributes to a dynamic cultural scene and plays a crucial role in shaping Auckland’s global identity and appeal.”?

So, is the rest of the world aware of all of these amazing features???Not so much; which brings us back to the bait, and how it’s presented.

Currently Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland has no mega-attraction to capture the world’s attention in the way that our majestic natural scenery has for the last 200 years, our America’s Cup successes have over the last 30 years, the Lord of the Rings movies have in the last 20, and our most successful Olympic team ever have in the last month.??

In short, the city needs a Kiwi equivalent of the Sydney Opera House, themed inside and out around our core identity as a Nation of Voyagers.

The case for this is compelling.??Just read the Deloitte’s 2023 report released for the Australian icon’s 50th?anniversary that trots out some impressive stats such as A$1.2 billion contributed to the New South Wales economy in FY23, including A$824 million from tourism alone, with over 10 million visitors per annum.??

And there is only one place for this hook to be located, and that is on Tāmaki’s waterfront, the ‘shop window’ of our fair city,?that important gateway where we welcome?over two million?international visitors annually to their first experience of Aotearoa New Zealand.?

Eke Panuku have made a?promising?start here, with their ambitious plans to remediate the Wynyard Quarter Tank Farm, and create Te Ara Tukutuku - the CBD’s largest new park in a 100 years, on the shores of the Waitemata.??

?This will be our equivalent of Sydney’s Barangaroo Reserve, co-designed with mana whenua, with a coastal forest, outdoor classrooms, whare waka, tidal stairs, waka ramp and an elevated headland; a place where people from far and wide can reconnect with the moana.

Only thing is, such a transformation will cost in the order of $320 million, with limited on-going earning potential to justify such an outlay, especially when the city’s finances are strained almost to breaking point. No billion dollar annual boost to the city’s economy to be seen here unfortunately.

Clearly what’s needed is a world-class attraction within Te Ara Tukutuku, also co-designed with mana whenua, that will draw in millions of visitors over the years from home and abroad, with a hospitality precinct to die for, and?stories of attractions across the entirety of this great waka we call Aotearoa.?

And the perfect candidate is at hand, in the form of?an evocative?waka?huia-like building?designed by Archimedia architects that was a short-listed finalist for the 2022 World Architecture Festival.

This stunning 6 GreenStar-rated waka within a waka-themed park?would showcase the best of our?history, culture, art, design and?innovative?technologies, educational and business opportunities and yes, our sporting achievements too.? As has been shown around the world, it is top-quality, unique cultural attractions that are the most cost-effective at drawing people into an area, and bringing them back, again and again.?

And on the days when there’s a stiff sailor’s breeze coming off the Waitemata, those enjoying a walk around Te Ara Tukutuku can head inside to explore the latest of an ever-changing array of static and interactive exhibits, or just relax in the bustling hospitality area.??This would indeed be a place that is activated 24/7/365, making it a financial boon, rather than a millstone for rate-payers and / or tax payers to strain under for decades to come.

Now for the hard part.??To land this giant fish we’re going to need to all pull together, like Maui’s brothers, and work as one –?he waka eke noa!??Mana whenua, residents of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, local and national community, business and political leaders; all those who have a desire to see?Aotearoa New Zealand’s voyaging history on display, from state-of-the-art waka hourua guided by celestial navigators on what has been described as the greatest story in the history of human migration, to the latest state- of-the-art waka being launched from Mahia peninsula, heading back to the stars that first brought us here.?

So, let’s bait the hook, and?all?go fishing!?

Sir Bob Harvey & Tā Ian Taylor