A staunch cheerleader for central Auckland, Barbara Holloway works and lives in the CBD, having relocated from West Auckland in what’s been a life-changing move. She tells Viva’s Emma Gleason – a fellow city-dweller - what she loves about town.
Ever wondered what’s behind a new pop-up store or art installation in Auckland City? It might just be Barabara Holloway, an activation principal at Auckland Council.
“The best part of my job is working with communities to help them achieve their vision for our city,” she says. “I run the graffiti art and the vacant stores programmes for K Road and the city centre alongside supporting many events.”
Her role gives her the chance to work with creatives from every genre to reimagine how the city can be utilised, developing events in “weird and wonderful” spaces around town.
“These activities are designed to bring vibrancy and particularly support small businesses in the city centre.”
It’s not just work that brings her to the city, Barbara lives in town too – but that wasn’t always the case.
A self-proclaimed Westie who was born in Avondale, she lived on a big property in the lush Waitākere bush for 40 years. She raised her children there – they remain close and she adores her grandsons – but after everyone left home she decided to move into somewhere more urban.
“I now live in an apartment so I can walk to work and all the free events which are on in the city. Being a Westie I used to have a car for each hand and now I don’t need one because transport is so good from here.”
Barbara lives in the University Quarter, next to the Auckland Law School, a leafy part of the city full of heritage buildings and green spaces.
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Advertise with NZME.“The area has a little urban ngahere [forest] going on with plenty of street trees and three parks and is interspersed with heritage buildings. Emily Place Reserve is perfect for a quiet read or a picnic. The mighty Albert Park is designed for play, relaxation and has stunning seasonal flower beds,” she recommends. “The university gardens host an arboretum of 125 species of trees and the historic Old Government House.”
When Barbara’s not working on ways to activate spaces in the city, she’s enjoying them. “My favourite hobby is socialising in the city centre cafes, galleries and bars with my friends.” For more solo pursuits, she collects antique textiles and swims regularly.
“I am really enjoying watching the completion of the Te Waihorotiu train station in Wellesley St with its beautiful coloured-fin design and can’t wait to see the public art inside.”
She’s enjoying seeing Auckland evolve. “The city has changed radically since my childhood as it is now home to 200 cultures. This has generated meaningful cultural exchanges alongside the delight of new music, dance and culinary treats,” says Barbara.
“Here in the city centre there are now over 100 Māori public art and design features, when I can only recall only two in the ’70s. Each has a great narrative and positions us to celebrate Māori identity and contemporary presence cementing our unique place in the world.”
Public art and community-focused events happen year-round: Matariki, Auckland Arts Festival and Diwali are just some of the occasions that light up the city.
There’s also a lot to enjoy over the summer holidays. “I always look forward to the Farmers Santa Parade and borrow kids to take along,” Barbara says. “My New Year favourite is always the Pride Festival in February with a spectacular new event in Myers Park beside the Waimahara artwork.”
My favourite community space is definitely Ellen Melville Centre in Freyberg Place. It is the home of so many smaller festivals like the upcoming Pride Whānau Day in February and Africa Month in May, along with regular free activities ranging from mahjong classes to Korean language lessons. It is also a lovely place to chill, meet friends and eat lunch or study, with great seating, toilets and the beautiful square.
For books, the jewel in the reader’s crown of the city centre is Unity Books and Unity Kids in High St. The extensive stock range, especially New Zealand books, the easy ordering, world-class kids' bookstore and a generous loyalty card.
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Advertise with NZME.My favourite place for fashion is Recycle Boutique in Darby St. It has a constantly rotating stock of modern and vintage fashion at budget-conscious pricing.
I recommend visiting the artist residencies in the 100-year-old Strand Arcade at 227 Queen St. The arcade is slowly being refurbished and in the meantime, the owners have loaned out the vacant stores for emerging artists to show or create in. You can see art from the weird and wonderful to the outright outrageous.
Another favourite shop is Smith & Caughey’s on Queen St. It has stylish local and international gifts - especially at the moment with the delightful New Zealand-themed Christmas featuring Avis Acres' 1955 Hutu and Kawa babies.
I have been going to Real Groovy since it first opened in 1981. Its new home in Victoria St is big enough for free live events, with Troy Kingi being a personal highlight. And it now houses Aotearoa’s first Neon Museum with blasts from the past like the 1930s Astor Theatre sign and the Fish Pot Café from 1987.
My favourite café is Mizu Bread. This Japanese bakery on Darby St serves melt-in-your-mouth Japanese savoury bread and cakes with great coffee. It is a magical hole-in-the-wall, tiny café.
My favourite restaurant is Amano. It always delivers: great atmosphere and decor, fabulous bakery, informed staff and stunning meals.
For a special occasion, I go to Atelier on Karangahape Rd. Always excellent in every way and so fun to sit outside watching K Road’s passing parade.
For something sweet, I like Luna Bakery in Elliott St. They create new products for each season and any other reason, such as Christmas candy cane soft serve in a croissant cone.
Good for takeaways or cheap eats, Elliott Stables has expanded its offering recently. My go-to there is Saigon Social’s noodle salad with garlic chilli prawns.
The best place to go for a cocktail is Panacea. Hidden upstairs in O’Connell St, it serves unique, small-batch cocktails and hundreds of whiskeys in the most intriguing décor I’ve seen in a long time.
My favourite bar is Jungle8 in Elliott Stables. Sparkling with spangly neon art, a welcoming team and excellent Asian fusion food at $8.88 per dish.
Little Fresh Market CBD in Elliott St stocks an incredible variety of food. With the lowest prices on fresh fruit and veges, including some exotic ones, and my favourite: $4.50 ice cream scoops in cones.
For the best food trucks and stalls, head down to Britomart Markets on a Saturday. There are flowers, fruit and vegetables and specialist foods along with live music.
If it’s a sunny day I go down to Takutai Square in Britomart with my daughter. We lie on the bean bags and enjoy a picnic with yummies from the surrounding eateries.
On a rainy day, Auckland Art Gallery in Kitchener St provides the best of architectural shelter. And the joy of wandering the galleries along with free guided tours.
A secret gem is the both dramatic and serene public plaza at level 7 in the PWC tower in Customs St West. It is stunning in architectural form and native landscaping with incredible views and beautiful basalt artworks by Māori sculptor Chris Bailey. If the weather is wet the huge lounge area is set up for anyone to work or meet and has two cafes.
For a good walk, head along the waterfront towards Silo Park. Enjoy the sea and the incredible Māori public art installed on the route.
Not quite a beach but I will be trying out the new outdoor saltwater pool at Karanga Plaza on the waterfront. I’ve always loved the Parnell Baths and envied the Bondi pool [at Sydney’s Icebergs], which is apparently one of the most photographed in the world. So as a carless swimmer, walking to this new one is a dream come true.
The best drive is around the waterfront and up to Bastion Point. For the views and the smell of the sea with stops at the beaches along the way.
Emma Gleason is the Herald’s deputy editor of lifestyle and entertainment (audience), and has worked on Viva for more than four years, contributing stories on culture, fashion and what’s going on in Auckland.
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