Four years have passed, another Rugby World Cup has been won, and still the "people's wharf", "party central" of 2011, languishes largely forgotten. Only Auckland perhaps, a place of abundant maritime blessings, could ignore an amenity as potentially splendid as Queens Wharf.
It is right in the centre of the city's waterfront, extending Queen St well on to the harbour. The wharf is broad enough for more buildings and still plenty of open space. It should be an inspiration to architects but nothing has been suggested in the five years since the design competition held soon after its purchase from the port company.
When none of the selected designs received much enthusiasm, Murray McCully, minister in charge of Rugby World Cup preparations, had a cheap, tent-like structure installed called The Cloud. It was to be temporary but it is there still, a distinctive feature of the waterfront and now so familiar there might be an outcry if it was to be removed.
Likewise, the renovated "Shed 10" which serves mainly as a cruise ship terminal, though it will be put to good use this month for Christmas parties. Most of Auckland's heritage has probably happened this way, by accident and inertia rather than design. But the Viaduct, the Britomart precinct and Wynyard Quarter show what excellent design can do.
