It is written into the community outcomes in our 2024–34 Long Term Plan, which describes a Nelson where "our easy city to sea access provides locals and visitors with a world-class waterfront experience", and where good design and thoughtful planning create safe, accessible public spaces for people of all ages, abilities and interests.

The Mayor put it plainly in the 2025/26 Annual Plan: design work would be advanced on the Haven Road–Wakefield Quay precinct to enhance the public's enjoyment of this stunning waterfront area – while being honest that there are difficult decisions ahead about which buildings to keep, which to take down, and how to improve parking and public access.

The 2026/27 Annual Plan confirmed the next step: the Council owns ten parcels of land between the old Powerhouse building on Wakefield Quay (the NCC Electricity Building) and Collins Street, and planned to engage with the public during 2026/27 on how to develop the area. This document is that engagement.

What has already happened

In 2025 the Council progressed plans to improve access and car parking on Council-owned land at the Haven. That work included purchasing Custom House, approving a land swap with the Port, and removing the Reliance Engineering building.

The remaining Long Term Plan budget has been pulled together into a single project covering the removal of the Reliance Engineering and old Four Seasons buildings and the car parking that follows. $1.02 million is allocated in 2026/27, with the rest spread across 2027/28 and 2028/29. That work was already approved and is proceeding separately.

Everything else is on hold until we have heard back from you on this plan.

This plan is the third stage of that work. The first was the 2016 Haven Precinct Plan, led by NMA Tract Consultants. The second was the 2025 Findings Report – properly the 2016 Plan Review Findings and Additional Components Report – led by Rough Milne Mitchell Landscape Architects, with Arthouse Architects collaborating and cultural work by Third Space. That report checked the earlier studies and set out what still needed doing.

The Council is working with iwi of Te Tauihu as partners on this plan, alongside this public consultation. Representatives selected by iwi sit on the Haven Waterfront Working Group, which first met on 25 June 2026.

The Working Group also brings together the Marina, Coastguard, Surf Life Saving, NZTA, Port Nelson, the Department of Conservation, the Harbour Master, Nelson Yacht Club and CCS Disability Action. Neighbours came to an information night on 9 July 2026, and the Council worked through the draft plan in August and September 2026.