Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is more than Aotearoa New Zealand’s financial and commercial centre; it’s also the country’s hub for higher education and research. This article explores the Learning Quarter / Te Wāhanga Akoranga, one of seven precincts that define the heart of the city, highlighting research activity, local culture and investment potential.

Auckland generates more than a third of New Zealand’s GDP and is home to 60 percent of the country’s top companies. Its unique mix of global connections, cultural diversity and high-quality of life makes the region a natural gateway to Asia–Pacific, and an attractive place for business, talent and new ideas.

Innovation, emerging talent and a passion for commercialisation are concentrated in the Learning Quarter / Te Wāhanga Akoranga – the region’s intellectual heart. The precinct is anchored by two of New Zealand's leading institutions, Waipapa Taumata Rau – The University of Auckland and Auckland University of Technology (AUT). Together, they form a dynamic community of over 74,000 students, researchers and staff.

The University of Auckland is ranked 65th in the world by the QS World University Rankings 2026, making it New Zealand’s highest-ranked university and New Zealand's pre-eminent research-led institution. AUT, which is in the world’s top 1 per cent of universities globally , is an academic institution well-recognised for strong industry links and applied research.

These two walkable, modern campuses offer state-of-the-art labs and creative studios just a short stroll from Queen Street, transport hubs, arterial routes, the waterfront and major civic venues.

In addition to Queen Street Valley, the quarter is adjacent the commercial hubs of the Central Waterfront and Te Tōangaroa / East City. Auckland City Hospital and the University of Auckland’s School of Medicine are just a 15-minute walk away. This proximity creates a dynamic and vibrant environment where academic pursuits, professional life and urban living overlap.

Nearby cultural anchors, such as Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Auckland City Library, Aotea Centre, Auckland Town Hall and The Civic all bring a steady calendar of exhibitions, arts festivals, talks, music, dance, comedy and theatre. Local cafes, restaurants and bars cater for both the cultural audience’s and students’ lunchtime and afterhours hospitality needs.

  

A destination for international students

Auckland is a magnet for students from around the world looking for internationally recognised qualifications in a safe, lifestyle-focused city. At The University of Auckland, 31 per cent of the student population is international – more than 9,300 students . AUT has 48 per cent international students, with more than 6,000 students 2 enrolled from more than 140 countries.

Growing enrolments are driving sustained demand for high-quality student accommodation. For developers and investors, that means well-located, well-managed housing with year-round occupancy and a walk-to-campus premium. Alongside these, education-adjacent retail and hospitality benefit from a strong daytime population and an events-led night economy.

“This is a real hub for students,” says Aimee MacAskill (Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Hine), Associate Director, Accommodation at the University of Auckland. “Students tend to stay within the area, and services have developed around them, offering affordable places to eat, great green spaces and everything within walking distance.”

Nearby campuses of the University of Otago and Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington add further depth, alongside English language schools. Orientation, activities, residences and support networks mean students are well supported to settle in and make the city their home.

Business culture and start-up ecosystem

This is not just a place to study, it’s a place to build companies. The quarter’s mix of research strength, founder programmes and clinical partners turns university IP into investable ventures.

The commercialisation hubs, AUT Ventures and The University of Auckland’s UniServices are both located in the Learning Quarter, with investment spanning healthtech, medtech, digital health, public health, AI, data science, robotics, advanced engineering, advanced manufacturing, functional food, agritech, and more.

“If you walk around campus, there are people from all over the globe,” says Darsel Keane, Director of the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at The University of Auckland. “Our universities are producing a wave of tech and science-based startups, from alumni-founded firms to medtech spin-outs. The universities here supply both the talent and the ideas.”

An area for potential investment includes space and services for this entrepreneurial ecosystem. Founders need flexible and affordable workspaces, with easy access to mentors, guest lectures and research partnerships. Consultancies in Queen Street Valley and Central Waterfront precincts value the proximity to the campus for cross-pollination of ideas.

Insights from a local business

For Andre de Graaf, Principal Architect and Urban Designer at Isthmus Group, the CRL-inspired growth and proximity to the universities were deciding factors in relocating their business to Queen Street in 2023.

“There’s a clear real estate play here,” notes Andre. “Reposition older buildings for university-aligned innovation and R&D; spaces where founders, researchers and commercialisation expertise sit together. The deals won’t get made inside the lab alone; they get made in the adjacencies – cafés, lanes, places people want to be seen and to talk.

“You can feel the gravity of the two universities drifting into the Queen Street Valley. We love to see the campus edge bleed into Midtown and make that proximity obvious on the street.”

“The pieces are lining up. New student accommodation is rising near the library and on upper Queen Street, with a hotel on the fringe,” continues Andre. “Culture is the other big asset with all the theatre venues, and the street offer should match that mix – student-friendly price points, diverse typologies, not a food court feel – real places competing on flavour, identity and atmosphere.”

Connectivity and future growth

Auckland is about to be transformed by underground rail. The $5.4 billion City Rail Link (CRL) opens in 2026, linking the Learning Quarter to the wider region through Te Waihorotiu Station, with capacity for 54,000 passengers per hour. With entrances on Wellesley and Victoria Streets, the station will be a five- to seven-minute walk to the Learning Quarter.

Bus routes run along Queen and Victoria Streets and ferries are a short walk away. The popular InnerLink and OuterLink bus routes run every 10–15 minutes and drop students and staff right in the centre of the precinct.

"We’d love to see new businesses and entrepreneurs set up in the area to create an even more joined-up, city-wide student experience,” says Amy Malcolm, Assistant Vice-Chancellor Engagement at AUT. “That’s something we are working on now with partners across the city centre. We are focusing on welcoming, orientating and supporting students and ensuring the city is safe and accessible."

“Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is a great place to do business with its diverse population, world-class universities and global outlook,” continues Amy. “The Learning Quarter is full of curious minds thinking about the future – about how they can contribute to it and preparing themselves for what’s ahead. It’s a diverse community of people, who are busy learning, creating, asking questions. It’s an inspiring place to be.”

Explore opportunities at Learning Quarter / Te Wāhanga Akoranga

As New Zealand’s financial and commercial capital, Auckland offers opportunities for investors and businesses looking to be part of a thriving central hub – join us in shaping this leading Asia-Pacific city. Contact the investment team or download the Auckland City Centre Prospectus.