Hong Kong-headquartered Wilson Parking plans to offer 67 vehicle spaces on Auckland’s empty ex-Food Alley/Yates sites on Albert St, near the $1 billion Commercial Bay.
A joint statement from the site’s Singaporean owners M&L Group and Wilson Parking chief executive, Ryan Orchard, detailed plans for the car parks to be available from May.
Work is already taking place at the site between Federal St, Wolfe St and Albert St, across the road from the J.W. Marriott hotel.
“A long-vacant central site on Albert St in downtown Auckland is set for a positive transformation, with owners M&L Group and Wilson Parking partnering to upgrade the site,” that statement issued by a Wellington PR firm said.
The level but empty site, which previously had a barbed-wire-topped fence, appeared in a Herald feature last year, which chronicled the dire state of our CBD.
A 167m office tower was once planned for the site in a design by Ignite Architects. The site is behind what was once called the West Plaza.
Orchard said the upgrade came at a time when Auckland’s CBD was experiencing a resurgence in activity.
“We welcomed the opportunity to work with M&L Group to activate this centrally located site and transform it into a premium carpark.”
The two businesses had worked with Auckland Council to get consents, Orchard said.
“We’re looking forward to delivering 67 additional high-quality parking options for Aucklanders.”
The site will be asphalted, have mature landscaping and public seating along the Albert St frontage, he said.
Improved lighting and CCTV security were also planned.
Works would significantly improve the site, Orchard said, describing the changes as a pragmatic and positive interim use of the land.
“With City Rail Link works now complete and Albert St becoming increasingly accessible, this is great timing for Aucklanders.
“As businesses continue to welcome people back to the office and foot traffic increases, the new carpark will provide a convenient and accessible option for customers visiting this part of the central city,” Orchard said.
Car parks were scheduled to be available from May.
Wilson is New Zealand’s largest private parking provider.
The land is the flattened former site of the Asian Food Alley and Yates building.
Earlier this decade, most of its buildings were demolished and the block was fenced with barbed wire on top to bar entry.
M&L is owned by Singapore’s Kum family, which also owns Auckland’s Hilton Hotel.
In 2024, Auckland Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson said it was very sad the site had been left in that state for so long: “Auckland deserves better,” she said of the 4371sq m block.
One Aucklander contacted the Herald this month to say work had suddenly started at the site.
He expressed unhappiness at how the owners had left it for some years.
“I think it is neglectful of the owners to have left the site in such a decrepit state for this period. It’s an eyesore.
“They could have installed attractive screening around the site to make this prime inner city site not show off as an abandoned wasteland. I am surprised the council do not have a beauty requirement for developers,” he said.
Action on the site included a large pile of rubble being removed.
M&L Group says its assets include Hilton Auckland, Chateau on the Park DoubleTree by Hilton in Christchurch and many Australian hotels, including Swissotel Sydney, Hyatt Regency Sydney, Hilton Melbourne Little Queen St and DoubleTree by Hilton in Melbourne.
The family investment firm’s name comes from founders Michael and Lynda Kum.
It is active in hospitality, healthcare, shipping and other sectors.
Wilson Parking New Zealand’s latest available annual report for the year to June 30, 2025, is on the Companies Office website.
That showed it made a $15.5 million net profit in 2025, down from $22.8m the previous year.
Revenue rose from $239m to $243m. However, employee costs also rose from $103m to $115m, pushing down the net result.
The New Zealand-incorporated company has $339m in total assets and is chaired by Raymond Ping Luen Kwok.
The New Zealand business says it has more than 200 car-parking operations, offering space for more than 30,000 vehicles a day.
“Wilson Parking started off as a family business with one carpark across the ditch in Perth, Australia in 1962. The subsequent years saw rapid growth and we opened our first carpark in New Zealand in 1985.
“Fast-forward a few years to today and we have become a household name and are the largest parking provider in New Zealand and, best of all, we continue as a family-owned business.”
Anne Gibson has been the Herald’s property editor for 26 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.
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