Auckland’s downtown train station has completed its name change to Waitematā Station, as Auckland Transport made the switch to surrounding signage over the weekend.
Formerly known as Britomart Station, the name change process began when City Rail Link (CRL) mana whenua gifted the station name in 2017.
In 2023, the station was called “Waitematā Station (Britomart)”, in a period of transition supported by mana whenua.
With the Britomart name phased out, Waitematā will be aligned with the three other CRL stations – Te Waihorotiu, Karanga-a-Hape and Maungawhau.
AT group manager rail infrastructure Jane Small said this gave people time to become familiar with the new names before the CRL’s opening in 2026.
The name “Waitematā” reflected the station’s proximity to the harbour and its flat, glassy waters said to resemble volcanic rock – known as matā in te reo Māori.
The harbour’s name was also said to represent a visit from a Te Arawa ancestor who placed an obsidian stone as a talisman in the northern part of the harbour.
Ngarimu Blair of Ngāti Whātua called it a positive move, adding that the name Britomart “lives on in the precinct”.
“The HMS Britomart was the ship that undertook the first European survey of the Waitematā so this dovetails nicely,” he said.
While the station name has been changed for users of the AT app and journey planner tool, a search for “Britomart” would still give travellers information for the station.
The station has been a key transport hub for the waterfront and downtown since it first opened in 2003.
