Princes Wharf is in the heart of Auckland's waterfront CBD. It was one of the first dock facilities of the Ports of Auckland to become surplus to port requirements, and was developed. The development is an exemplar of what not to do - if the objective was (even in part) to develop a new waterfront edge for the people of Auckland. The development provides: a Hilton Hotel, exclusive waterfront apartment and penthouse accommodation, significant internalised car-parking, facilities for docking cruise ships (intermittant activity), some activation near Quay Street. Key failures in this project include:

• Poor provision of activated public access around the edge
• Very unattractive walking environment
• Fishing and other common water edge activities declared "prohibited"
• Hotel Hilton has effectively privatised the end of the wharf and has erected gates and fences to control public access
• Public lookout area built at the end appears to be part of Hilton Hotel
• Cars routinely park on public space