History of Te Ngākau Civic Square

Te Ngākau Civic Square sits on land reclaimed from the harbour in the 1880s by the Wellington City Council as part of major, long-running projects to expand the city and build a more robust harbour.  

Many civic buildings were constructed on the site, including the first permanent Wellington Public Library. In 1901 work began on a town hall on the corner of Cuba and Mercer Streets. Throughout the 20th century many more civic buildings were constructed in the area, including the Te Matapihi central library in 1940, the Municipal Office Building (MOB) in 1951 and the Michael Fowler Centre in 1983. 

Civic Square was created to be a public space that would create a central Wellington hub with a link to the waterfront. Plans for a Civic Square were floated for decades, and the site was chosen due to the high concentration of local government buildings already present.  

Originally bordered by Harris, Victoria, Mercer Streets and Jervois Quay, the area was set aside for a square from 1964 with the Wellington City Council buying the buildings in the area as they became available. 

Work began in 1989, parts of Mercer Street were closed, the library became the city gallery, many civic buildings were refurbished and the City to Sea Bridge to the waterfront was constructed. Civic Square was officially opened in November 1991. The new Central Library Te Matapihi Ki Te Ao Nui with the iconic nikau palm pillars and refurbished town hall were completed in 1992, signalling the end of the project. 

Since then, it has become home to numerous works of public art due to the presence of the City Gallery. A sculpture by Neil Dawson named Ferns is suspended high above the square. The unique Quasi gazed down on the square for a few years from the City Gallery’s roof.  

In 2018 the name Te Ngākau, meaning the heart, was gifted to the city by Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika. The name was aptly chosen as it has been a popular location for public gatherings. Victoria University graduation parades conclude at the site and over the years many protests have gathered in the square before marching towards parliament. On quieter days it serves as a community gathering spot, hosts public events and is a popular place to take a lunch break. 

Due to the impact of the 2013 and 2016 earthquakes many of the buildings at Te Ngākau have since been closed.  

Although the resilience issues are significant, they also offer us an opportunity to rebuild Te Ngākau to ensure it fulfils its potential.  

In 2024, the revitalisation of Te Ngākau is well underway, with the opening of Te Matapihi scheduled for early 2026. The restored Town Hall will reopen soon after. The return of these important buildings will revitalise Te Ngākau and will signal the beginning of an exciting new era for the area.  

Over the next few years, there are some key decisions that need to be made when it comes to the remaining buildings and spaces in Te Ngākau, including the City to Sea Bridge, Michael Fowler Centre, Jack Ilott Green and City Gallery. The Te Ngākau Precinct Development Plan will guide the redevelopment.    

Have your say on the development of Te Ngākau Civic Square

As the city embarks on its biggest transformation programme in more than 30 years, we’re highlighting some corners of the capital that help make Wellington a better place to live, work, and play.  To find out more about the works in Te Ngākau, you can visit our website or keep up to date with the projects happening in Wellington city on the Positively Pōneke site.