The Kumutoto public space has been designed by renowned New Zealand architecture firms, Studio of Pacific Architecture and Isthmus Group, for Wellington Waterfront Ltd with input from the Wellington City Council’s Technical Advisory Group.

It includes three distinct public open spaces, the working names of which are Kumutoto Plaza, Wharf Plaza and Brandon Plaza. The plazas are connected by a lane that runs through the precinct. These public spaces link city to sea, following the lines of the streets across Customhouse Quay.

Each area has a mix of trees, low level planting, asphalt, concrete paving, granite cobbles, timber inlays and plenty of seating.

 A new lighting design combines an intimate level of lighting with a good level for security so the area can be used at all times. 

Heritage combines with contemporary design

The space running from Waring Taylor Street to the water’s edge contains the Kumutoto Stream, significant for local Maori as it once ran from its spring in Kelburn through the site of a former Maori settlement at the harbour’s old shoreline near what is now Woodward Street and meets Lambton Quay.

The stream runs through an underground culvert with its outfall within the plaza area. The design for Kumutoto Plaza opens up the stream mouth and create a series of concrete and timber terraces that step down to the water.

Kumutoto Plaza also features a large, stepped timber platform designed to allow people greater access to the water and provide the perfect place to sit and enjoy the view.

A sunny, sheltered courtyard with large trees and raft seats is created between Shed 13 and the Meridian building.

Kumutoto Plaza looks north over a new bridge with a crane-like tower structure.

“This innovative bridge design is a new and exciting feature element to the waterfront and can be viewed through the reopened Waring Taylor Street heritage gates and pedestrian crossing,” says Ian Pike.

Access to the water 
The Wharf Plaza connects to Johnston Street via a pedestrian crossing. The entrance is enhanced with the restored heritage gates that are permanently open.  New ramps create an invitation to come over to the waterfront.

The area includes a timber wharf and floating pontoon to provide better berthing for the Dominion Post Ferry. The inclusion of trees and planting, together with a number of seating options provides yet another place to sit and enjoy the surroundings.

Traffic flows managed
Brandon Plaza, behind the Fronde Centre, incorporates a plaza with new trees and planting, disabled parking and space for servicing the adjacent buildings.

The heritage gates opposite Brandon Street have been refurbished and opened to allow traffic in and out of the Queens Wharf underground car park, decreasing the number of vehicles needing to use the lane between sheds 11 and 13 and the Meridian Building.  The ramp down into the car park has been realigned to allow the traffic to flow freely.

Kumutoto Lane
A lane will run parallel with Customhouse Quay from the Whitmore Street entrance to the waterfront opposite the new entry/exit opposite Brandon Street and down to the Queens Wharf underground car park.  The lane has a tree lined edge with a small number of car parks between the trees. A new 2.5m wide footpath adjacent to sheds 11 and 13 has a feature kerb which illustrates the location of the old sea wall that skirted the water’s edge until the early 1970’s.