Auckland's main civic square sits at the heart of the CBD, flanked by the Auckland Town Hall, the Aotea Centre, and the brutalist civic administration block. It is an imperfect space — the surrounding buildings don't quite cohere — but it is where the city gathers for outdoor concerts, festivals, and political demonstrations.
The square's Waharoa (gateway), carved from steel by Selwyn Muru in 1991, marks the entrance and draws on traditional Maori design. The Auckland Town Hall on the south side of the square is a fine Edwardian building from 1911, with an ornate interior that remains one of the best concert venues in New Zealand.