Queen Street - CBD Planters

During Auckland’s recent drought-affected summer, the iconic Queen Street planters faced significant challenges. With planters lining the city’s busiest pedestrian corridor, many plants showed signs of extreme stress, suffering foliage loss or complete failure. In response, daily hand-watering was introduced to maintain greenery.
To address this issue, a trial of WaterUps sub-irrigation systems has been initiated in three sample planters. Each planter was fitted with a water reservoir—holding up to 119 litres beneath the soil —allowing for deep, consistent moisture with significantly reduced surface evaporation. Alongside the irrigation upgrade, a refreshed mix of plant species has been introduced to improve both resilience and visual impact. The trial will be closely monitored, with data on water usage and plant performance reported. This initiative marks a promising nature-based solution toward creating a more sustainable, water-efficient future for urban landscaping in Auckland’s CBD.