Imagining community together
About us
Founded in 2019, the Āiotanga Trust was entrusted with the care of Āiotanga Community Space (ACS) at 2F/22 Emily Place, a gift to the people of Auckland’s city centre (CBD) intended to serve as a peaceful urban sanctuary where people can gather, create and build a sense of belonging. From its beginnings, the Trust recognised that while vertical apartment living in the city centre is vibrant and dynamic, building genuine community across high-rise corridors, elevators and secured foyers is not always easy. Community spaces like ACS help bridge this gap. Over time, ACS has become an increasingly valued part of the social fabric of the city centre, hosting a diverse range of community initiatives — from art and mindfulness classes to poetry evenings, community meet-ups and neighbourhood events — while also welcoming Body Corporate AGMs and social gatherings.
Today, this foundation supports the Trust’s broader Vertical Neighbourhood Building Programme, which strengthens community life in Auckland’s city centre by helping residents connect and care for the neighbourhoods they share.
Through initiatives that build apartment-community safety and emergency preparedness networks, encourage city-centre gardening and environmental stewardship, and support resident-led cultural and social activities, Āiotanga fosters meaningful connections between people and place.
By partnering with other community spaces and networks across the city centre, the Trust nurtures a growing constellation of vibrant “vertical villages.” Working in alignment with Mana Whenua and local community partners, Āiotanga continues to cultivate resilient neighbourhoods where people feel connected to one another and to the unique landscape and heritage of Tāmaki Makaurau.
Te Rerenga Ora Iti
The historic Emily Reserve across the road is graced by stunning pohutukawa formations. This site was once a formidable point jutting out into the Waitematā harbour at the same height as the Auckland University that sits on the hill behind it.
Also known as Te Rerenga-ora-iti, this place was named by Ngāti Whātua upon their victory of territory at this exact point. That story is shared in the video clip below by Ngāti Whātua historian Ngarimu Blair. (2:42 min)