The changing urban morphology: Waterfront redevelopment and event tourism in New Zealand

•The paper shows that the commercialization of leisure spaces attracts spectacles such as the America’s Cup and Rugby World Cup, and becomes an impetus for the remodeling of Auckland’s waterfront.•It uses an evolutionary analysis of the spatial structure of the waterfront landscape.•It demonstrates that government development agencies and event tourism have been the key agents of change in influencing its redevelopment at different phases.

This study addresses the changing morphology of the commercial waterfront in Auckland, New Zealand. It seeks to examine the wider impacts and implications of hosting special events such as the America's Cup and the Rugby World Cup that provide an impetus for the redevelopment of an underutilized waterfront area. By using an evolutionary analysis of the spatial structure of the waterfront landscape, it demonstrates that government development agencies and event tourism have been the key agents of change in influencing its redevelopment at different phases. The findings illustrate the role of government in the context of economic restructuring and the embrace of tourism as a significant element in the waterfront planning. This study proposes to establish a systematic understanding of morphological change in order to create a sound base for waterfront landscape management and tourism planning.