The heart of Wellington,Te Ngākau Civic Square, has been a gathering place for anything from protests through to graduation ceremonies, but currently it's a demolition site, blocked off from public access.
The Square is wrapped around by public buildings, the Michael Fowler Centre, the central library, the old town hall - the latter both being earthquake strengthened - and two administrative buildings that have been all but removed.
The plan is for a private developer, Precinct, to redevelop the two-building site with an office block that will include retail and hospitality.
Final negotiations with Precinct are due to be completed in the middle of the year.
But other proposals planned to work with what was there, strengthening and renovating the existing buildings and developing hotel space instead, which it's argued, could be more viable.
Wellington's Mayor, Tory Whanau, and Ian Cassells, the head of the Wellington Company, one of those companies which put in a proposal for Civic Square, join Kathryn to discuss the plans for this important public space.
A rendition of what Wellington's Te Ngākau Civic Square could look like. Photo: Wellington City Council
