More Than 700 People Have Their Say On Playspace Whakatū
More than 700 people have had their say on Playspace Whakatū, the new playground set to take pride of place in Whakatū Nelson's Rutherford Park.
Around 200 primary school students kicked off the engagement process in February, collaborating and creating their dream playspaces through drawings, miniature models and oral submissions. A further 500 people had their say online, while 54 made physical submissions at public collection points.
Playspace Whakatū is being led by Ngā Iwi o Te Tauihu in collaboration with Nelson City Council, making use of $2.4M awarded to Council from central Government's Better Off fund under the previous Three Waters reform. Council also committed just over $600,000 to the project under the Long Term Plan 2024-2034.
Te Ātiawa o te Waka-a-Māui chief executive Justin Carter said it had been heartening to see the effort put in by tamariki in Whakatū, alongside their whānau and the wider community.
'Ultimately, this is a space for our tamariki, and their ideas have been truly inspiring. Our main aim with this project is to create an intergenerational and accessible space, and it's amazing to have so many thoughtful and creative ideas to consider as we move forward,' he said.
'Thank you to everybody who has taken the time to share their thoughts.'
Some of the more creative ideas have included a whole plane, a giant Mako head, a candy machine, a swimming pool and a zoo, while many of the more practical submissions covered the need for shade, fencing and water.
Zip lines, an adventure playground and water features like splash pads were a common theme, as was the need to create an accessible and inclusive space for all.
'We can't do it all, given limited resources, however there is a lot riding on this new space and we will do our best to include as many of the common features as we can, within our constraints,' Justin said.
While the submission process was underway, a robust procurement process has also been underway to appoint a design and build partner for the project. The appointed partner will be announced early next month.
'Once the design and build partner is appointed, they'll be provided with all of the submissions to help them create an amazing, accessible playspace that tells the story of Whakatū, is appealing to all ages and will attract families to the city centre,' Justin said.
If you want to keep up to date with progress on the playspace, head to www.playspacewhakatū.nz to sign up for email updates.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
3 days ago
- Scoop
Making Hopukiore Safer And More Accessible For All
Press Release – Tauranga City Council A missing section of the pathway on the Pacific Avenue side of Hopukiore will be constructed, creating a fully connected loop around the base of the reserve. In addition, the steep and narrow sections of the pathway along Maunganui Road will be upgraded … Work will soon begin at Hopukiore (Mount Drury) Reserve to improve safety and accessibility and protect its cultural significance, with upgrades planned for the perimeter pathway and historic caves starting this week. A missing section of the pathway on the Pacific Avenue side of Hopukiore will be constructed, creating a fully connected loop around the base of the reserve. In addition, the steep and narrow sections of the pathway along Maunganui Road will be upgraded with a timber boardwalk. These upgrades will improve accessibility, create a safe link between the roads, and ensure pedestrians are protected from traffic. The new pathway along Pacific Avenue will result in the loss of two car parks, leaving 10 car parks remaining on that side of the reserve. Some space from the removed car parks is expected to remain available for motorcycle parking. As part of the works, barriers will be installed to protect the Hopukiore caves, helping preserve their archaeological and cultural significance and keep everyone safe. During the works, which are expected to be completed in July, pedestrian detours will be in place along the Hopukiore side of Pacific Avenue and Maunganui Road, with pedestrians directed to use the footpath on the opposite side of each road. Stop/go traffic management will be in place at times on Pacific Avenue and May Street to allow for the safe movement of materials and construction vehicles. The 12 car parks on the Hopukiore side of Pacific Avenue will be closed while works are underway. While the reserve will remain open, access to the summit track from the Maunganui Road side will be temporarily closed during the works. 'Hopukiore is a special part of Mount Maunganui and is a popular space for our community to connect, exercise and play,' says Deputy Mayor of Tauranga and Mauao/Mount Maunganui Ward Councillor Jen Scoular. 'These upgrades will ensure everyone in our community can move safely around the reserve and the historic caves are preserved for everyone to appreciate.' 'The wider Mount North area already offers several accessible facilities, including an accessible changing facility near the playground, and adaptive equipment like Te Kaiwhakatere – TrailRider all-terrain wheelchair and beach wheelchairs, both of which can be booked online. Beach access mats are also available at key points along Marine Parade. The pathway upgrades, together with these facilities, will make it easier for more people to access and enjoy the area.' The improvements are part of a broader project to enhance the reserve, which includes the Hopukiore play area upgrade. In December 2024, Council launched the 'Love, Wish, Wonder' campaign to gather community input on the future of the popular play space. The feedback highlighted a wide range of imaginative ideas – from obstacle courses and sand pits to mouse wheels and musical features. Concepts for the play space are currently being designed, shaped by community feedback, iwi and hapū values, and technical and site-specific considerations. They will be shared later in the year for further community input. A summary of the feedback can be viewed at
Scoop
3 days ago
- Scoop
Wellington Businesses And Residents Team Up For Tidy-Up
Press Release – Wellington City Council Wellington City Council is partnering with local businesses and community groups for two clean-up days coming up for Courtenay Place and Cuba Street. Courtenay clean up (Photo/Supplied) This initiative is a tangible way for us to demonstrate our … Wellington City Council is partnering with local businesses and community groups for two clean-up days coming up for Courtenay Place and Cuba Street. 'This initiative is a tangible way for us to demonstrate our collective pride in Wellington and create a more welcoming environment for everyone who lives, works, and visits our beautiful city,' says Council's Central City Manager, Prak Sritharan. 'A clean and well-maintained city centre fosters a stronger sense of community ownership, boosts local morale, and reinforces Wellington's reputation as a world-class capital.' Previous clean-up initiatives have been popular, and there have been calls for more TLC operations in well-populated areas – and everyone's welcome to lend a helping hand. These community clean-ups complement the awesome mahi of the street cleaning team and contribute to the City Safety and Wellbeing Plan. The clean-ups include litter collection, a deep street clean and graffiti removal. Equipment will be provided. Volunteers are asked to just bring good vibes and weather-appropriate clothing. Volunteers can come along for the morning or just for a short stint. Courtenay Place clean-up: When: Monday 9 June Time: 9am – 12pm Meeting point: Outside Lucky Chicken, Courtenay Place Cuba Street clean-up: When: Tuesday 17 June Time: 9am – 12pm Meeting point: Cuba Street playground These clean-ups are part of the wider mahi to rejuvenate the central city, alongside our partners at DCM, Greater Wellington, NZ Police, and Inner-City Wellington.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Scoop
Wellington Businesses And Residents Team Up For Tidy-Up
Wellington City Council is partnering with local businesses and community groups for two clean-up days coming up for Courtenay Place and Cuba Street. 'This initiative is a tangible way for us to demonstrate our collective pride in Wellington and create a more welcoming environment for everyone who lives, works, and visits our beautiful city,' says Council's Central City Manager, Prak Sritharan. 'A clean and well-maintained city centre fosters a stronger sense of community ownership, boosts local morale, and reinforces Wellington's reputation as a world-class capital.' Previous clean-up initiatives have been popular, and there have been calls for more TLC operations in well-populated areas – and everyone's welcome to lend a helping hand. These community clean-ups complement the awesome mahi of the street cleaning team and contribute to the City Safety and Wellbeing Plan. The clean-ups include litter collection, a deep street clean and graffiti removal. Equipment will be provided. Volunteers are asked to just bring good vibes and weather-appropriate clothing. Volunteers can come along for the morning or just for a short stint. Courtenay Place clean-up: When: Monday 9 June Time: 9am – 12pm Meeting point: Outside Lucky Chicken, Courtenay Place Cuba Street clean-up: When: Tuesday 17 June Time: 9am – 12pm Meeting point: Cuba Street playground These clean-ups are part of the wider mahi to rejuvenate the central city, alongside our partners at DCM, Greater Wellington, NZ Police, and Inner-City Wellington.
