Date: 20 April 2026
The latest evolution of Auckland’s city centre is here, with the completion of the first stage of the Wellesley Street Bus Improvements Project.
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, accompanied by Ngāti Tamaoho, conducted a dawn blessing ceremony to mark the completion of the project, with buses starting to use the new transport hub from yesterday, Sunday 19 April.
With thousands of people expected to use Te Waihorotiu Station daily after City Rail Link opens, Wellesley Street is set to become a key transport hub, and new gateway to the city, connecting high-frequency buses, trains, and walking and cycling routes.
This is part of Auckland Transport’s City Centre Bus Plan, which identifies Wellesley Street as a key east-west bus route. By 2032, Wellesley St will see 2,200 buses per day using the corridor, up from 1,300 per day currently. It connects university campuses, key city centre destinations including major venues like the Aotea Centre, the New Zealand International Convention Centre, workplaces, hotels, bars and restaurants, and Victoria Quarter, making it a vital part of Auckland’s transport network.
AT’s Head of Public Transport Services Planning & Development Pete Moth says upgrading Wellesley Street will prioritise public transport and people on foot.
“This project is focused on making Wellesley Street a more inviting public space and thriving transport hub - whether you're walking, catching public transport, or spending time in the area.
“Traversing Wellesley St can currently be quite a painful experience for people on buses or on foot. With Te Waihorotiu station set to become the busiest bus & train interchange in Auckland, it is vital that we provide a better experience for people moving in the area” says Mr Moth.
“This project will provide additional bus priority, wider footpaths and better-quality waiting environments and bus shelters for passengers, right outside the fantastic new Te Waihorotiu station.
“This project is the first stage of AT and Council’s longer-term vision for Wellesley St, which will ultimately provide better journey experiences along the whole 2.2km corridor.
“We want to give a massive thanks to local businesses, residents and others for their patience during construction.”
Some features of the newly improved Wellesley Street between Albert and Queen Streets include:
- new bus shelters and wider footpaths
- improved pedestrian crossings
- new paving, seating, and street lighting
- amenities in public spaces around the new station
- better priority for buses heading eastbound along Wellesley St
The new streetscape will feel safer and more welcoming with new paving, road surfacing, a signalised pedestrian crossing, street furniture and lighting. These changes will help create a more accessible and inviting space for everyone.
For customers hopping on or off the bus on Wellesley Street or Mayoral Drive North, new bus stops will be open for service. Information on new bus stop locations can be found on AT Mobile, the AT Website, or following the signs on site. AT Ambassadors will be on-street for a few days to help our customers find their bus-stop.
It’s not visible, but you might also stop and imagine what’s new underground as you walk this new stretch of street. New powerlines and ducting have been installed to power new buildings, and 150-year-old water systems have been improved below the surface, and a whole new underground station – Te Waihorotiu – has been completed. These high-quality upgrades will have a life expectancy of 50+ years.
Opening from Wellesley Street bus interchange - YouTube videos incl. timelapse footage
Partnering with mana whenua
Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Haua, Ngāti Manu) and Ted Ngatakai (Ngāti Tamaoho) designed artistic features for the bus shelters and the pavement. At the blessing ceremony, Ted spoke to the design known as māngai and kaitiaki, stating before the arrival of settlers “these were everywhere” and Graham shared his design was inspired by Te Taiao, symbolising the trickling down of water from the Te Waihorotiu stream that runs underneath the station down to the Waitematā.
Midtown Traffic Circulation changes from 19 April
- Wellesley Street
- limited general through traffic on Wellesley Street between Albert and Queen Streets to support bus movements, pedestrians and local business operations.
- bus only section of Wellesley Street between Elliott and Queen Streets from 7am-7pm to accommodate over 120 buses an hour during peak times.
- access to Loading Zones, the two public carparks and motorcycle parking on Elliott Street via Wellesley Street will continue.
- Loading Zone operating hours on Elliott and Darby Streets revert to 6am-11am, with three new localised Loading Zones planned to operate at all hours.
- Mayoral Drive North opens to general traffic and all movements to and from Wellesley Street.
- Queen Street
- Goods Vehicles and Bus Lane (Authorised Vehicles Only) will operate on Queen Street between Wakefield and Wellesley Streets from 7am-7pm daily.
- Total Mobility registered vehicles will be permitted to use the Goods Vehicles and Bus Lane between 7am-7pm to access mobility parking. This represents a positive step toward improving accessibility in the city.
- Loading Zones outside Acecco Supermarket and the Smith & Caughey Building will be 5 minutes on weekdays 6am–6pm, and 15 minutes at all other times.
- Mobility parking outside 290 Queen Street will be 30 minutes on both sides of the street.
Some features of Wellesley Street Bus Improvements (all stages) include:
Bus improvements for safety, access and reliability
- high-quality bus shelters with lighting, digital displays and CCTV, improving safety and access for everyone.
- bus stops at key destinations, including Te Waihorotiu Station, the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), Victoria Park and in future the universities.
- bus priority lanes along most of the 2.2kms from Victoria Park to Princes Street improving bus journey time and reliability.
- Victoria Park turnaround and Beaumont Street bus layover (proposed) to support more seamless bus operations.
Attractive and safer streets
- wider footpaths, smoother surfaces, and fewer obstructions
- raised safety platforms at side street crossings
- street greening and planting
What’s planned for Stage 2
Community engagement is now underway to inform design for Stage 2 of this project
Stage 2 involves improvements to Wellesley Street between Albert Street and Victoria Park, and Beaumont Street to enhance bus and train integration and provide for large numbers of buses and pedestrians.
We are proposing to:
- introduce one bus lane in each direction along Wellesley Street between Albert Street and Victoria Park to improve journey times.
- have one general traffic lane in each direction.
- consolidate the bus stops and install new bus shelters along Wellesley Street for a better customer experience.
- change the road layout at the bottom of Wellesley Street to make bus trips faster and more reliable and to improve safety.
- extend the bus layover on Beaumont Street and install a signalised pedestrian crossing to make it safer to get to and from Victoria Park.
- Reconstruct the road along Wellesley Street, future proofing it to support heavier double-decker buses and minimise noise and vibration for residents and businesses.
We will be engaging directly with residents, businesses and property owners along the route, elected members and advisory groups, and key stakeholder groups such as business and resident associations, disability groups, and public transport users.
-ENDS-
Notes to editors:
About the City Centre Masterplan
- the City Centre Masterplan (CCMP) is Auckland Council’s unifying strategy for the city centre, a 20-year vision that sets the direction for all city centre and waterfront projects.
- its purpose is to ensure that our city is shaped into a better-connected, greener, and more people-focused city we can be proud of.
- a key concept of the CCMP is Access for Everyone (A4E). A4E is a coordinated response to managing the city centre’s transport needs and making the best use of our compact space (less than 2km by 2km). It prioritises place, people and public transport and sets out how private vehicles can move around the city. It creates separate networks for cars, essential services, public transport, and walking and cycling all within the same collection of streets.
City Centre Bus Plan 2021
- The City Centre Bus Plan is Auckland Transport’s response to Auckland Council’s 2020 City Centre Masterplan. It details the plan for the future of bus travel in the city centre.
- Even after the City Rail Link opens, most public transport users will still arrive by bus
- The plan introduces dedicated bus corridors, improving access and removing buses from narrow streets, with routes connecting directly with each train station.
- Wellesley, Customs, Symonds, and Albert Streets will serve as main bus corridors, featuring priority lanes for reliability and high-frequency service, with continued use for general traffic
- Major routes will run through the city instead of terminating in Downtown, reducing on-street layovers, replaced by two new dedicated facilities in Wynyard Quarter and Beach Road.
- These changes will allow buses to pass through the city centre, freeing up at least 1 km of kerbside space for other uses.
- Reduced congestion and freed-up space will support other transport modes—cars, freight, cycling, parking, loading, and walking, and improve air quality to help meet Auckland’s environmental goals.
- Key benefits include shorter travel times, better access across the city centre, stronger connections to the wider transport network, and improved reduced emissions.
Midtown Traffic Circulation Trial
The Midtown Traffic Circulation Plan is a key initiative within the City Centre Action Plan, designed to prepare the transport network to maximise the benefits of the Wellesley Street Bus Improvements stage one, and the City Rail Link (CRL) opening in 2026.
As our city changes, CRL opens, and residents, visitors and businesses grow, we are taking a flexible approach to adapt to the changing needs of our city centre.
Once Wellesley Street opens, we’ll monitor bus operations, access, and circulation to understand how we can make it work more effectively. This trial is being delivered as a pilot under the Land Transport Rule: Streets Layout 2023.
The trial of these changes will last for up to two years, allowing us to monitor the network and make any adjustments that may be needed.
Find out more haveyoursay.at.govt.nz/midtown-access