The Auckland region, known as Tāmaki Makaurau, has long been a place of deep cultural significance. It was traditionally settled and governed by Māori iwi (tribes), most prominently Ngāti Whātua, who exercised customary ownership and stewardship of the land for centuries before European arrival. Their authority over the area was rooted in whakapapa (genealogy), occupation, and the use of its abundant natural resources, making Tāmaki Makaurau one of the most highly valued and contested regions in Aotearoa.

In 1840, Ngāti Whātua leaders entered into agreements with the British Crown, gifting and later selling land that enabled the founding of Auckland. The moment marked a pivotal transition, as the region shifted from Māori governance to colonial development, setting up the groundwork for the city that would later emerge.

Standing proudly since 1964, the building now housing SO/ Auckland reflects a time of robust, security-driven design. The building originally served as a regional facility for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. Long before the construction of the Reserve Bank, the Customs Street East area became a cornerstone of Auckland’s working waterfront, supporting merchants, port activity, warehouses, and the movement of goods between the harbor and the growing city. The site on Customs Street East was reclaimed in the 19th century as Auckland expanded its waterfront. This process created new land that allowed Auckland’s commercial community to expand. The site is located within the Customs Street Historic Area, and by 1903, the street was recognized as one of the most important commercial routes in Auckland.

For decades, the Reserve Bank building served as a community focal point, supporting a wide range of financial operations in Auckland. Auckland’s central business district gives visitors and residents alike access to major commercial businesses and the city’s waterfront. Around the end of the 20th century, advances in banking technology began to reshape the Reserve Bank’s operational needs, and the Auckland branch was decommissioned in 2000. It was selected for a new iteration as a historic hotel. Within the following year (2001), it was sold, marking the end of its time as a major regional banking facility.

Following the acquisition of the historic building, the former Reserve Bank of New Zealand underwent an extensive redevelopment by the international hospitality group Accor. The adaptive reuse of the structure preserved elements of the building’s architecture and its former gold reserve vaults while introducing contemporary interiors. The building later debuted as a historic hotel in 2018 as SO/ Auckland, a luxury hotel blending contemporary design with the building’s past.