Category: Local Government

Source: Auckland Council

With more than 4000 parks in Auckland, there are outdoor areas in every corner of the region ready to be explored. The east central suburbs of St Heliers, Remuera, Ōrākei and Stonefields are no exception, with beautiful wetlands, kauri dells, playgrounds and basketball courts that beckon to be part of your next weekend adventure.

These four parks might be lesser-known than other spots in the east central suburbs, but they offer treasures worth discovering.

The Maungarei Springs Wetland is an oasis in the middle of one of Auckland’s newest suburbs, Stonefields. The park is built on a former quarry site in the lava flows of Maungarei/ Mt Wellington and features boardwalks through wetlands lined by harakeke (flax).

While walking along the boardwalks at Maungarei Springs Wetland, visitors might see pāpango (New Zealand scaup), kawaupaka (little shag) and matuku moana (white-faced heron).

Not only is it a pleasant gentle walk, but the area is a working landscape, playing a critical role in the environment. The wetland provides important stormwater treatment for the 160ha catchment which drains into it. Treating stormwater helps prevent contaminants such as heavy metals and algal bloom from entering the ecosystem.

The Maungarei Springs Wetland also offers the opportunity to see some unique native flora and fauna. The area is home to the native plant the hairy willow herb Epilobium hirtigerum as well as the pāpango (New Zealand scaup), New Zealand’s only diving duck. Other birds you might see include kawaupaka (little shag) and matuku moana (white-faced heron).

For those wanting a serious walk, the Maungarei Springs Wetland connects to the Stonefields Path which offers a bird’s eye view of the wetlands and a chance to see three pou installations created and donated by Ngāti Paoa, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and Ngāti Te Ata. At the end of your walk you can enjoy the barbecue facilities at the Tephra Boulevard entrance to Maungarei Springs Wetland.

One of three pou installations created and donated by Ngāti Paoa, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and Ngāti Te Ata on the Stonefields Path, which is built on the lava flows of Maungarei / Mt Wellington.

Children playing on the swings at Wharua Reserve might enjoy some of the best views in Auckland. This playground is tucked away in Remuera and is a hidden gem for parents, boasting beautiful vistas of Rangitoto, Takarunga / Mt Victoria and Maungauika / North Head. There are lots of activities to keep the kids occupied such as a wobbly slide, carousel, rope climbing frame and a fireman’s pole – kids can even play a game of trying to make their ‘toes touch Rangitoto’ while playing on the swings.

Wharua Reserve in Remuera has an action-packed playground with views of Takarunga / Mt Victoria, Maungauika / North Head and Rangitoto.

The park joins Portland Reserve and Waitaramoa Reserve with a stream that flows to Hobson Bay, home to ducks and other bird life. While in the neighbourhood you could also go playground hopping and check out the play facilities at Shore Road Reserve or the spider’s web climbing net at Newmarket Park.

Wandering through the lush forest in Dingle Dell Reserve, it’s easy to forget you’re in the middle of St Heliers. This enchanting 9ha urban ngahere (forest) echoes with bird song and is a favourite with nature lovers and dog walkers. The Dingle Dell Path is a 1.6km combination of tracks and stairs that cross through native bush and over streams, offering cool respite in the summer heat.

Dingle Dell walkway.

Dingle Dell Reserve has an interesting history. In 1842 it was one of four farms purchased by Major Thomas Bunbury, and while he owned the land he planted hawthorn hedges, oaks and weeping willows – some of which are still here today. In 1880 the land was purchased by the Northcote and St Heliers Land Company, who developed the area as a seaside suburb. The space was set aside as a public nature reserve in the 1930s, and during the Great Depression men were employed to fill in the swampy areas. Around this time it was given its name Dingle Dell, a play on ‘Dingley Dell’, a fictional town in Charles Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers.

Dingle Dell Reserve is home to many native trees including kauri and is classified as a high value kauri eco system. There are shoe cleaning stations around the dell to prevent the spread of kauri dieback.

Kupe Reserve in Ōrākei features an epic adventure playground next to Ōrākei Tennis Club.

Kupe Reserve in Ōrākei packs a lot into this little pocket of parkland. The reserve, which is situated behind the Ōrākei Community Centre, is teeming with things to keep the entire family occupied. The children’s playground features slides and an epic rock climbing wall, and parents can keep an eye on their kids while working out on the outdoor fitness equipment. There’s plenty of courtside action for teens at the basketball half court, and the reserve is also home to Ōrākei Tennis Club, a facility supported by Auckland Council.

Practise your three-pointers at Kupe Reserve’s basketball half court.

Source: Auckland Council

A community-led project is underway for a commemorative sculpture in Muriwai following the devastating impact of Cyclone Gabrielle. With 68 Category 3 homes, it has meant many locals have had to leave the tight-knit community – a place they have lived, loved and called home.

Working with Muriwai’s community and local artists, renowned artist Jeff Thomson will transform materials from the suburb’s Category 3 homes into a permanent art installation for all to enjoy.

Located in the heart of Muriwai, the installation will consist of benches and columns up to 4m high made from recovered roofing, concrete, domestic fittings, tiles, bricks and more.

It will be a place for locals and visitors to come to reflect and remember the kindness and generosity of first responders, the community, aid organisations, local government officials and the wider public during the devastating event itself and in the weeks and months that followed.

Through this artwork, the Muriwai community wants to celebrate and acknowledge humanity’s generous and courageous spirit.

How you can help

This community-led project is funded 100% through the support of generous businesses and individuals.

The Muriwai community encourages you to join them for a fundraising dinner and auction on 10 December to raise funds for the sculpture. With delicious food prepared and cooked by celebrity chef Mike van de Elzen and his team, spaces are limited so book now to avoid disappointment.

If you can’t make the dinner but would like to support the project you can donate by 8 December.

Learn more about the Muriwai Commemorative Sculpture Project.

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Source: Auckland Council

As New Zealand heads into a summer that’s shaping up to be both warmer and wetter than usual, Auckland Council is urging rural Auckland residents to make essential preparations for any potential extreme weather events—whether it’s extended dry spells or heavy rainfall.

With a shift from last summer’s El Niño to La Niña, forecasters predict higher-than-average ocean and air temperatures, leading to a humid and potentially wetter season.

However, rural properties that rely on tank water are still at risk of water shortages, and Auckland Council is advising these residents to take proactive measures to ensure water resilience in case dry periods occur.

Auckland Council’s General Manager Healthy Waters, Craig Mcilroy, emphasises the need for readiness in rural communities, particularly those that may face isolation during severe weather events.

“Summer is the ideal time to get ahead of any potential water issues.

“Rural residents who rely on tank water should check levels frequently, conserve usage, and plan ahead with a water supplier to ensure they’re well-prepared. While neighbours can lend a hand, it’s crucial to be self-sufficient and ready for any situation,” Mcilroy says.

In response to previous droughts, Auckland Council has established 26 permanent community water bollards across rural areas as a backup drinking water supply, offering 20 litres per person per day during shortages. These bollards meet all drinking water standards and function as drinking fountains year-round.

Auckland Council’s network of 78 rain gauges keeps track of rainfall across the region, allowing the team to monitor water levels. In the event of low rainfall, automatic alerts will trigger actions to set up bollards for bulk bottle filling.

Actions for Rural Aucklanders to Prepare for Summer:

Regularly check your water tank levels and plan for top-ups if needed.

Book water deliveries early to avoid delays over the holiday period.

Conserve water: take shorter showers, maintain tank and gutter hygiene, and consider adding water-saving devices to taps and showers.

Ensure that any livestock using tank water are provided for, especially if dry conditions persist.

If feasible, think about investing in additional tank capacity to better handle prolonged dry spells.

Visit Auckland Council’s website to locate your nearest community water bollard and find more tips on maintaining your water tank for the season ahead.

Source: Auckland Council

Ensuring no disabled person is left behind during emergencies was top-of-mind this month at a hui hosted by Auckland Council’s Disability Advisory Panel.

The hui was an opportunity for Auckland Emergency Management to hear about the experiences and requirements of disabled people before and during an emergency, to share reminders on emergency preparedness and foster relationships with the disability community.

Barry de Geest, co-chair of the Disability Advisory Panel says the hui sparked healthy discussions about how the community and agencies can do better during the next emergency event.

“Natural disasters and emergencies are becoming more frequent, so it’s vitally important that the disabled community familiarise themselves with what to do during an emergency and plan ahead to be emergency-ready.

“The hui generated some candid discussions, and it was great to hear first-hand experiences and ideas from community members about emergency readiness and their own adaptability.”

“It’s important the disabled community and emergency response agencies including Auckland Emergency Management continue to work together, so no one is left behind during an emergency.”

Adam Maggs, General Manager Auckland Emergency Management says the agency will take on board the feedback from the hui and look to continually improve engagement with the disabled community.

“This year we have focused on ensuring all the buildings we could use for civil defence centres are accessible and that there are effective systems for letting the public know where and when a centre is open. We have trained more staff across the council to set up and operate a centre.

“In 2025, we will work with disability organisations to make readiness messages more accessible and so that the experiences of disabled people inform how we train staff and manage responses.”

Also in attendance at the hui were Storm Recovery Navigators, from the council, who work with those impacted by Auckland’s 2023 extreme weather events. The team is already supporting disabled people and whānau and is keen to work more closely with the disability community moving forward.

Mr Maggs says disabled Aucklanders can take steps to be better prepared for emergencies.

“The disabled community, like all communities, could be affected by an emergency situation, such as flooding or a major power outage.

“These often happen out of the blue, so it pays to be prepared in advance.

“Think about how you will know an emergency is happening; how an emergency could affect you; the support you need; having essential supplies for at least three days and where to go if you cannot stay at home.”

“For disabled people, these could include accessibility aids, medications, prescriptions, a medical alert tag, communication aids (e.g. if you are Deaf or cannot speak) and supplies for service animals.

“Think about who would support you during an emergency. It may pay to think about having more than one buddy you can call on for support, as your go-to support person might not be available when something happens. Think about planning for not being able to get home, for being stuck at home or for having to leave in a hurry. Plan for each of the places you spend a lot of time at (for example, work or your place of study).

Useful resources

For information on emergency preparedness for disabled people please visit getready.govt.nz

Please visit aucklandemergenymanagement.govt.nz for information about getting ready for an emergency in the Auckland region.

Source: Auckland Council

The native long-tailed bat, or Chalinolobus tuberculatus, is one of New Zealand’s rarest and most vulnerable creatures.

The species is listed as both nationally and regionally critically threatened, with a high rate of decline due to predation and loss of roosting habitat.

Auckland Council’s Senior Conservation Advisor and bat advocate Ben Paris is leading efforts to understand and protect these bats, especially as they adapt to more urban and agricultural landscapes. He emphasises the need for research and conservation to prevent their further decline.

“These bats are living on the edge. Without predator control at their roosting sites, their populations just can’t survive. Identifying exactly where they’re roosting is critical if we’re going to have any chance at recovery.”

In an ambitious collaborative project, Auckland Council, in partnership with Ngaati Te Ata Waiohua iwi, community groups, and EcoQuest, has committed to a five-year bat survey and tracking programme in the Manukau Lowlands, an area stretching between Waiuku and Pukekohe.

This rural landscape, divided between residential and rural with limited habitat potential, is a surprising discovery for bat activity, first confirmed in 2022.

“To find them in such a place is unusual,” says Paris, “but it’s a vital chance to understand how they’re surviving outside dense forests.”

The next phase of the project focuses on discovering how these bats navigate the landscape, their habitat preferences, and especially where they choose to roost.

“If we know where they roost, we know where to put our efforts. Targeted predator control in these specific areas could make all the difference. It’s a huge effort, and we need to be sure it’s in the right places to be effective,” Paris explains.

To uncover this information, the team will be trapping and radio-tracking bats, a challenging but important process.

Bats are carefully caught using harp nets, either while flying or emerging from tree roosts at dusk. After being fitted with tiny transmitters, they are tracked throughout the night.

“Each night is a race to follow their flight paths across open pastures and small forest areas. It’s not easy, but it’s essential if we want to understand their behaviour,” Paris says.

The tracking process involves a large team of volunteers, iwi kaitiaki, and council staff, all working together to follow the bats across the landscape, triangulating their positions using handheld aerials.

The information gathered will help inform targeted pest management, with the goal of protecting bat populations by controlling their primary predators—invasive mammals like stoats, rats, and possums.

The project is also unique in its leadership structure, as it is co-led by Ngaati Te Ata Waiohau iwi, with young iwi members being trained as certified bat handlers.

“It’s incredibly important to us that this project is led by the community who knows this land best,” Paris says.

“We’re supporting iwi rangatahi to become certified bat handlers, so they can take over this work and be kaitiaki, or guardians, of their own rohe. They’re the ones who will carry this forward.”

Ultimately, this survey is a stepping stone towards understanding how long-tailed bats are surviving in human-dominated landscapes.

“These are agricultural bats now, adapting to life around people, farms, and pasture,” Paris reflects.

“If we can better understand their survival strategies, perhaps they can even serve as natural pest controllers, consuming insects that impact local crops. This study could pave the way for seeing them not only as creatures to protect but as partners in agriculture.”

Source: Auckland Council

A memorial will be built to recognise those lying in unmarked Pukekohe Cemetery graves, many of them Māori babies.

The Pukekohe Cemetery Committee has been established by Franklin Local Board and Ngā Hau e Whā Marae representatives to provide guidance around the memorial and to engage with the community.

Makere Rika-Heke will chair the committee, with Harley Wade as deputy. Tini Astle, Phyliss Bhana, Tearepa Kahi, Sonny Parata and Pare Rauwhero join Franklin Local Board chair Angela Fulljames and member Logan Soole on the committee, with board deputy chair Alan Cole as alternate.

Rika-Heke says it’s important work begin by acknowledging what has already been done by so many others to sustain the calls for a memorial.

“A lot of work is still to be done, and we are all aware of the significance of the project to iwi mana whenua, and to other communities who have whānau resting here,” she says.

“Many of the graves are the resting place of people with family who are with us today. They have endured a lifetime of hurt, knowing whānau rest unrecognised. That is a situation that must be rectified and acknowledged.”

Fulljames says the decision comes out of calls for recognition of the graves in the wake of the publication of Dr Robert Bartholomew’s 2020 book No Māori Allowed, which detailed historic racism in Pukekohe, and the subsequent Reikura Kahi documentary of the same name, featuring Phyliss Bhana and Pare Rauwhero, available on TVNZ online.

“The fact the graves remain overlooked when their presence has always been known, must be addressed with the families involve,” she adds.

“It is an ongoing source of pain that people have their loved ones unrecognised. We have the will and means to correct that. Anybody who has ever visited the grave of a loved one, placed a flower, talked or shed a tear, will understand how important a place to grieve is.”

Pukekohe Cemetery is inactive and is managed by the board as a local reserve.

Council has been approached before about the lack of acknowledgement for unmarked graves at the cemetery but now $200,000 has been budgeted for engagement, design, engineering and consenting (stage 1), and $500,000 for construction (stage 2).

The committee has decision-making responsibility over the memorial, can invite input from specialists and experts, and will be steered by the tikanga of its Māori members (Tainui).

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