There are some days when being a community advocate for a local park is a battle and it seems like an uphill struggle*. Then there are other days when everything comes together, with everyone pulling in the same direction to achieve a BRILLIANT common goal.
In mid-March, representatives from the Community-Led Design Group (CLDG) participated in our regular meeting with the project manager for Te Rimutahi, along with the parks and places specialist. It was an uplifting meeting and we are delighted to report that work is progressing on schedule and budget.
BRAVO!
A brief run through of some discussion points;
- The new bus-stop shelter has been re-sited and installed. It will next have its green roof established and will be renamed Te Rimutahi.
- The tree pit, surrounding the established London Plane tree on Ponsonby Road, is being enlarged to allow the tree more room to thrive. This is a direct result of opening up the footpath to integrate with Te Rimutahi.
- The planting of the garden beds is scheduled to be underway ahead of publication date, so the site is already being beautified.
- A sophisticated lighting system has been installed throughout the site, and this will be programmed with a time-sensitive pre-set to enable both safety and aesthetic illumination of the site.
- The ‘interpretive panel’ being designed by LandLAB, will provide information about the history of the site, sustainability features as well as the Community-Led Design process that has led to the realisation of Te Rimutahi. It will feature QR codes linking through to additional information and visuals, which will enable access to this information by sight & hearing impaired people.
The CLDG is excited that the significant artwork - created by Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Haua, Ngāti Manu) an artist involved with civic and Council-led projects throughout Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland - will be installed this month. This public work will bring a Māori kaupapa into the built environment of Ponsonby and the city. The Design Group, which the CLDG was part of, worked closely with mana whenua to achieve this outcome and we are delighted its installation is imminent.
Exciting!
The Waitematā Local Board convened an ‘opening event’ team in March, to coordinate the planning of the formal opening on Saturday 17 May 2025.
BRAVO!
So finally, after 12 years of advocacy work that began with a petition of over 1200 signatures calling for the retention of the entire site at 254 Ponsonby Road for the new civic space, followed by 10 years of work as the Community-Led Design Group (established by the Waitematā Local Board in 2015), the transformation of what was previously a forlorn and neglected liquor outlet into a beautiful public space in the heart of Ponsonby is now almost complete!
However, as we said at the last meeting; our work here is not yet done. Te Rimutahi, the new civic space at 254 Ponsonby Road is our (the community’s) baby and we are not about to abandon her. There are still the next few stages to guide her through before she will be fully released. It’s been a hell of a journey and we couldn’t be happier as we contribute to the planning to finally reveal Te Rimutahi to everyone next month.
BRING IT ON!
For more information or to contact the Community-Led Design Group, please see our website: 254ponsonbyrd.org.nz or our Facebook pages; Ponsonby Park, or 254 Ponsonby Road.
Pictured: The London Plane tree pit is being is being enlarged to allow the tree more room to thrive.
* Refer to our deputation for the community garden; https://www.254ponsonbyrd.org.nz/uncategorized/waitemata-local-board-deputation-18-june-recording-cldg-deputation/
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