Manukau bus station
Bus Station
Address12 Putney Way, Manukau City Centre, Auckland New Zealand
BoroughAuckland
CountryNew Zealand
Coordinates36°59′36.94″S 174°52′43.44″E
OwnedAuckland Transport
OperatorAT Metro, InterCity
Bus routes33, 35, 36, 39, 313, 325, 352, 353, 355, 362, 365, 366, AirportLink
Bus stands23
ConnectionsManukau railway station
Levels1
ParkingNo
BicycleYes; at adjacent train station
AccessibleYes
ArchitectBeca Architects, Cox Architecture
ZoneNorthern Manukau/Southern Manukau (overlap)
OpenedApril 7, 2018 (age 8)

Manukau bus station is a bus station in Auckland, New Zealand, located in Manukau City Centre. The station is an important transport hub for South Auckland, serving as an interchange between bus and train services through connections to the adjacent Manukau Train Station. It is also one of the newest transit stations on the AT Metro network - having opened in 2018 - and is prominent for its unique design which has received architectural accolades.

History

The station was first proposed in 2015 as part of the implementation of the new bus network for South Auckland, forming a transport hub with the adjacent Manukau railway station. This was to make it easier for bus passengers to transfer to train services as an alternative to long bus trips into the central city. It was also intended to provide better connections between bus services and serve as a "gateway" to South Auckland and Auckland Airport. At the time, it was expected to cost $26 million with a completion date in late 2017.[1][2] Construction began on 12 February 2016 with the construction jointly funded by the New Zealand Transport Agency and Auckland Council.[3]

The station was officially opened on 7 April 2018 in a ceremony attended by Auckland Mayor Phil Goff and Transport Minister Phil Twyford.[4] The project cost $50 million in total for both the land and construction costs (individually $37 million).[5]

Structure and facilities

Bus facilities

The station has 21 sawtooth bays (similar in design to bus stations in the New Zealand cities of Hamilton and Christchurch as well as in the Hamburg Central Bus Station in Germany) for buses with another two bus stops parallel to the station, on nearby Davies Avenue, which are intended for extra capacity.[6] Auckland Transport justified the sawtooth design as necessary for maximising the use of space to accommodate up to 15 different bus routes at the station.[2] This is due to the station being a terminus for many routes, which typically require layover time between services. The sawtooth design means that additional layover facilities are not required, with the buses waiting in the bays while transitioning between services. Buses reverse out of the sawtooth bays when departing the station in a reversing area that is segregated from the entry and exit lanes as well as passenger areas.[6]

Bicycle facilities

Bicycle parking facilities were not included in the initial design of the station but are being considered for future addition. AT noted that there are already existing parking facilities in adjacent areas (including at the train station) that are underutilized, therefore there isn't a high level of necessity for parking facilities directly in the station building.[6]

Retail

As of 2026, there were three food retailers integrated into the station: Viet Bites, U-Sushi and Breaktime Convenience.

Architecture

Awards

YearOrganisationAwardResult
2018New Zealand Institute of Architects - Auckland AwardsPublic and Institutional Spaces/Built Environments - over $10 millionWon[7][8][9]
2018World Architecture FestivalTransportNominated[10][8][9]

Services

AT Metro

PlatformRouteDestinations
Main station bays636Papatoetoe Station, Māngere Town Centre, Onehunga Transport Centre
8AIR (Airport Link)Puhinui, Airport
9313Papatoetoe, Māngere Town Centre
10325Clover Park, Chapel Downs, Bairds Road, Ōtara, Ōtāhuhu Station, Māngere Town Centre
11School services
1235Chapel Road, Ormiston, Botany Town Centre
13355Ormiston, Mission Heights, Middlefield Drive, Kilkenny Drive, Botany Town Centre
14353Preston Road, Harris Road, Botany Town Centre
15352East Tamaki, Highbrook, Panmure
16366Everglade Drive, The Gardens, Manurewa Interchange
17362Great South Road, Manurewa Interchange, Weymouth
18365Manurewa Interchange, Randwick Park, Papakura Station
Parallel stopsA33Great South Road, Hunters Corner, Ōtāhuhu Station
39Tui Road, Ōtara MIT
B33Great South Road, Manurewa Interchange, Papakura Station
39Browns Road, Clendon Park, Mahia Road, Manurewa Interchange
[11]

Intercity

The station is served by Intercity bus services on platforms 1-7 excluding platform 6 that served Bus 36.[12]

References

  1. ^ "New bus station for Manukau". Stuff. 2015-11-02. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  2. ^ "Manukau Bus Station Starts" (in en-NZ). Greater Auckland. 2016-02-14. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  3. ^ Harrowell, Chris (2016-02-12). "Sod turned on new Manukau bus station". Stuff. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  4. ^ OurAuckland. "Manukau Bus station opens". OurAuckland. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  5. ^ Williamson, Jarred (2018-04-04). "Look inside: Opening day draws closer for the $37m Manukau Bus Station". Stuff. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  6. ^ Transport, Auckland. "Manukau Bus Station" (in en-nz). Auckland Transport. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  7. ^ "Public and Institutional Spaces | Best Awards". bestawards.co.nz. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  8. ^ "Manukau Bus Station | Beca". www.beca.com. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  9. ^ OurAuckland. "Manukau Bus Station nominated at the World Architecture Festival". OurAuckland. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  10. ^ "Beca Architects a finalist in 2018 World Architecture Festival Awards for Manukau Bus Station | Beca". www.beca.com. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  11. ^ "Southern Guide". Auckland Transport. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  12. ^ "Where is your Manukau bus stop?". December 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2022.