‘It’s a slum’: Can Queen Street come back from this?

Ongoing heavy construction and the lingering effects of lockdowns have given Auckland’s once-vibrant city centre a slightly apocalyptic feel, NZ Herald reports. “We hear yelling and altercations coming from the streets pretty much every night,” says an apartment dweller. “It’s a slum,” says the owner of an iconic bistro who closed his doors for good. Even Auckland Council has been forced to admit that its central city – home to 40,000 residents and responsible for generating $23 billion in annual GDP – has seen far better days.