Te Komititanga

Te Komititanga is a major paved pedestrian public square located in the CBD of Auckland, New Zealand. Situated at the northern terminus of Queen Street and adjacent to Waitematā railway station and the Commercial Bay precinct, it serves as a primary civic plaza and gateway to the downtown waterfront.

Formerly known as Queen Elizabeth II Square (QEII Square), the area was renamed Te Komititanga, a Māori name meaning "to mix" or "to merge", and officially reopened in December 2020 following a major urban revitalisation project connected to the City Rail Link development.

Naming

The name Te Komititanga was gifted by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and approved by mana whenua representatives. Translating to "to mix" or "to merge", the name reflects both the historical geography of the site, where the waters of the Waitematā Harbour met the historic Waihorotiu Stream before 19th-century land reclamation, and its intended function as a gathering place where people, transport routes, and culture converge.

Queen Elizabeth II Square

The site was originally part of the natural shoreline of Commercial Bay before extensive land reclamation in the late 19th century transformed downtown Auckland. It served as Lower Queen Street between Customs Street and Quay Street, with both trams and cars running along it. The Chief Post Office was completed in 1912 on its eastern side, and the tram lines were removed to make room for cars by 1956.

In 1964, Professor Robert Kennedy of the University of Auckland designed a 5,518 square metre "Queen Square" as part of an Auckland Harbour Board master plan. Although commercial developments reduced its scale, in the 1970s Lower Queen Street was closed to cars and Queen Elizabeth II Square was opened in 1980, featuring Michio Ihara's Wind Tree sculpture. Functioning as a civic plaza between the CPO building and the Downtown Shopping Centre, the space faced ongoing criticism from urban planners for severe microclimate issues, as surrounding office towers generated wind tunnels and cast deep shadows across the plaza.

Between 2000–2003, as part of the Britomart Transport Centre development, Queen Elizabeth II Square was partially demolished and Lower Queen Street was reopened to traffic to establish a surface-level bus interchange and roadway. The Wind Tree sculpture was removed and later relocated to the Wynyard Quarter.

Redevelopment and CRL Construction

In 2017, Auckland Council sold the remaining QEII Square site to Precinct Properties to facilitate its Commercial Bay complex development.

As part of the Downtown Programme, a collaboration involving Auckland Council, Auckland Transport, City Rail Link Ltd, and mana whenua, the square underwent a comprehensive redesign led by design firm Jasmax in consultation with mana whenua artists and weavers.

The pedestrianised project converted Lower Queen Street into a new public square, removing vehicular traffic to prioritise pedestrians. The completed square was officially opened to the public on 18 December 2020, following a dawn blessing by mana whenua. The ribbon-cutting was overseen by then-Mayor Phil Goff and Minister for Transport Michael Wood.

Te Komititanga

Te Komititanga quickly established itself as a central cultural and civic hub for Auckland. Benefiting from its position directly outside the city's busiest train station, pedestrian counts through the square increased significantly, recording a 61% year-on-year increase at its Queen Street intersection (rising from 445,686 in November 2024 to 719,341 in November 2025), alongside 438,000 more at its Quay Street end. Its success has been attributed to the positive impact of pedestrianisation, contrasting its accessible amenities and lack of cars with other parts of the CBD.

Between November 2024 and January 2025, Te Komititanga was home for the first time to Te Manaaki, an 18-metre tall civic Christmas tree. Co-funded by Auckland Council, Heart of the City, and Precinct Properties at a total cost of up to $1.3 million, the installation drew criticism over its price tag but was established as an annual tradition for Downtown Auckland.

Since its opening, Te Komititanga has been the site of several major public demonstrations, including pro-Palestine protests in February 2024 and 2026, against the Fast-track Approvals Act in June 2024, and against the Iran war in April 2026.

Design and features

The design of Te Komititanga incorporates Māori art and symbolism throughout its paving and layout:

• Whāriki (welcome mat): The square features a large-scale stone paving pattern depicting a traditional woven harakeke (flax) mat, symbolising a place of welcome for visitors arriving in Auckland. It was developed in partnership with Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki weaver Tessa Harris, who developed the patterns in collaboration with weavers from Te Ākitai Waiohua, Ngāi Tai ki Tamaki, Ngāti Te Ata and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.
• Poutama & stream patterns: The central paving pattern incorporates the Poutama (stairway of achievement) motif. Blue and grey basalt paving depicts the Waitematā Harbour to the north and the historic Waihorotiu Stream to the south, marking their meeting point prior to reclamation.
• Streetscape & amenities: The plaza is outfitted with public seating and open paved zones designed to support street performances, markets, temporary art installations, and civic gatherings.

Surrounding landmarks

Te Komititanga is bordered by several Auckland landmarks and transit hubs:

• Waitematā railway station (formerly Britomart), located directly east, housed in the heritage Chief Post Office building.
• Commercial Bay, a major retail and commercial skyscraper complex situated on the western side of the square.
• Auckland Ferry Terminal, located just north across Quay Street.
• Queen Street, extends southwards into Auckland's main commercial district.
• Customs Street, serves as the southern end of the square.