Will’s Word: Is it just me or is Auckland CBD soulless and in dire need of some TLC?

I took a stroll through Auckland's CBD yesterday, and honestly, put simply, it was depressing. Empty storefronts, endless construction zones, rough sleepers tucked into doorways, and a sterile vibe that felt more like an abandoned mall than the beating heart of our so-called economic engine.

This is meant to be New Zealand's largest city, yet walk through Queen Street and you'll wonder whether it's Auckland or a post-covid ghost town. I've spent quite a bit of time in both Sydney and Wellington.

Both aren't perfect, but they pulse with life. Sydney hums with energy at every street corner and Wellington, despite its own challenges, still has that compact, walkable vibrancy. Auckland by contrast feels like it's been drained of colour.

It’s not just my gloomy walk-talking. Auckland's own State of the City report branded it as “the City of Fails”, pointing to weak GDP, poor productivity, lack of innovation, bad education outcomes, sprawl and an addiction to cars.

Throw in a sudden spike in homelessness, gaping construction pits where developments have stalled, cranes have frozen mid-project, and it's a pretty blimmin' bleak picture.

Yet while Auckland flatlines, rural regions in the South Island are slowly bouncing back. It's a tale of two recoveries, one limping and one learning to run again. The business chamber boss Simon Bridges has been begging the government to throw the city a lifeline.

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He’s pushing for ideas like easier visas for tourists, letting Mayor Wayne Brown implement a bed tax, and bringing in big events to pump money back into the city. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon? I'd argue he's shrugged, saying an Auckland-specific rescue package would be quite difficult.

Here's the blunt truth, though. If Auckland were a business, it would be insolvent. Weak cash flow, no growth strategy, and its customers, locals and tourists alike would be looking elsewhere. The thing is, I don't want to beat up Auckland.

I'm an Aucklander myself and Aucklanders aren't blind to good things. The viaduct still sparkles, the dining scene is world-class, and Auckland FC has injected rare excitement into the city. But you can't patch over systemic neglect with a few decent cafes and a football club.

Auckland City. Photo/File

It needs a vibrant culture. So what's the answer? How do we inject some much-needed TLC into Tāmaki Makaurau? Because at the moment, it feels grim, clinical, and unloved.

That's Will's Word.