Since the formal opening of Te Rimutahi, the new civic space at 254 Ponsonby Road, on 17 May this year, the Community-Led Design group (CLDG) has shifted from an advocacy role to one more aligned with that of a guardian.
A guardian is a person who guards, protects or preserves for future generations, and this is now where the CLDG’s focus for Te Rimutahi lies. So we have renamed our group and we will now be known as the ‘Friends of Te Rimutahi’.
To further this work, another of our regular site inspections and a meeting with the Council Parks and Places Specialist were held last month. It was a full meeting with several things on the agenda for discussion.
1. The ongoing activation activities, and requests for new ones at Te Rimutahi, which include:
- the regular fortnightly Lindy Hop dances
- the Kizomba dances · Yoga classes
- Taiji & Qigong classes
- a Farmers Market (from a second group interested in establishing this)
- local schools’ live music performances
- theatre productions
2. The ongoing maintenance and care of the site, including:
- filling and planting the planters on the western boundary of Te Rimutahi on O’Neill Street
- replacing/reinstating plants where required
- lawn maintenance, drainage and watering schedule
- safety issues with an adjacent billboard
- The O’Neill Street garden beds on the road
3. The establishment of a calendar of annual activations at Te Rimutahi with initial suggestions of:
- a Te Rimutahi Happy Birthday party celebration
- Matariki
- Anzac Day
- heritage festival
- market days
With the start of spring, and very soon the summer months, along with the holiday season and New Year, Te Rimutahi will be even busier and in demand.
At this stage, there is no formal ability to ‘book’ any of the spaces there. This is because Te Rimutahi is an open space and, by definition, it is open for everyone. Plus it cannot be physically closed off. To date, there have been no overlaps with people using and accessing the space. It is hoped that this will continue, and when overlaps do occur, that a convivial approach by everyone will enable cooperation and sharing. This will evolve as Te Rimutahi becomes established. After all, she is only five months old this month!
On a related note, we hope everyone remembers to VOTE in the local government election. This is currently open and voting closes at 12 noon on Saturday, 11 October 2025. You are automatically enrolled to vote in the 2025 local body elections if you are an Auckland resident and are already on the parliamentary electoral roll for the general election. So get to it if you haven’t already done so!
More information here; voteauckland.co.nz/en/who-can-vote-how-to-enrol.html
After the election, the inauguration ceremony for the new incoming Waitematā Local Board will be held on Wednesday, 5 November 2025. The Friends of Te Rimutahi group (formerly the CLDG) is looking forward to meeting and welcoming the new representatives, as we continue in our role of local guardians for Te Rimutahi.
For more information or to contact the Friends of Te Rimutahi, please see our website: 254ponsonbyrd.org.nz our Facebook pages: Te Rimutahi and 254 Ponsonby Road, or our Instagram te_rimutahi_
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