Situated on Queen Street, the Auckland Aotea Square lies at the heart of Auckland CBD. It is a large public area used for outdoor events in the likes of music festivals and concerts, fairs, rallies and the seeing-in of the New Year.

Created in 1979, the square hosts a standard arts and crafts market on Fridays and Saturdays. The popular Sky Tower can be seen in all its glory, rising above the northern side of the square. Many people visit this part of the city to attend a show, watch a movie or simply immerse themselves in the visual arts. As for the much admired art works in the Aotea Square, the arch at the Queen Street entrance called ‘Waharoa’ is worth mentioning,  being an expressionist version of a traditional Māori entry gate. In addition there is the bronze figure of a Māori warrior and a few bronze statues of some other prominent figures. The square’s centre piece is adorned with a fountain created by Terry Stringer, a New Zealand sculptor. 

The contemporary Aotea Square is bounded by many places of interest such as Auckland Central City Library, Auckland Art Gallery, Aotea Centre, Auckland Town Hall and Civic Theatre. The cluster of cultural facilities available makes the area an ideal base to develop and revitalise. The square was recently upgraded to include a new café, an integrated bar and box office. Serving as the city’s leading open space venue, with a unique and distinct identity, the square is the obvious choice for holding various formal and informal outdoor events as well as celebrations of arts and entertainment.