Skip to main content

Story: City planning

Auckland's plan

The town plans for Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin were based on the grid, but differed in detail. Auckland’s initial plan, designed by surveyor Felton Mathew, included a set of circular streets (a circus) based on what became Albert Park, two public squares and a shipping basin, none of which were built.

Using this item

Auckland Council Libraries − Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Reference: NZ Map 2664

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Ben Schrader, City planning – Early settlement planning, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/25722/aucklands-plan (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Ben Schrader, published 3 March 2010, updated 26 March 2015.