Future 'slum' or much needed downtown apartments?

A Google Maps screenshot of the building at 155 Queen St. (Image: Google Maps)

Thu, 20 Jun 2024

A developer looking to convert unused office space in downtown Auckland into apartments wants the local board to be more supportive.The resident population of the Waitematā local board area, which includes the central city, fell from 82,866 to 81,546 between 2018 and 2023, Census data shows, despite the overall region increasing in population by 5.4%.Auckland mayor Wayne Brown and others have called for the rules around office-to-residential conversions to be simplified with the aim of attracting more people to live in the central city.“M...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Markets Market Close

NZX rallies 0.87% as tariff uncertainty eases

Skellerup bounced 4.11% as investors digested easing tariffs.

Gregor Thompson 5:55pm

Markets

Flick not profitable before $70m sale to Meridian

After eight years of trying in electricity retailing, Z throws in the towel.

Ian Llewellyn 12:20pm

Flick not profitable before $70m sale to Meridian

Economy

Finance Minister announces $100m to elevate Elevate

Elevate is a government-funded 'fund of funds' programme.

Rebecca Howard 11:00am

Finance Minister announces $100m to elevate Elevate

Sponsored

Ready for the C-Suite leap?

Part-time programme. Full-time leadership transformation.

University of Auckland Business School

Sponsored

Active beats passive in tough times

Agile investing responds faster to market shocks and shifts.

Milford

More Property

Property

Summerset launches $100m bond offer

Summerset Group has launched a six-year bond offer to fund the repayment of previously issued debt. The retirement village and aged care company told the market on Monday that it is raising up to $100 million, with the potential to accept an additional $50m in oversubscriptions. ...

Staff reporters 12 May 2025