Source: Whangarei District Council
Updated: 17/08/2020 9:25 a.m.
The official opening celebration is a couple of months away (Covid permitting), but the Ngunguru community is already celebrating the way they, contractors and Council worked together on a new skatepark for Ngunguru’s tamariki.
The fences around the new skatepark came down and an informal blessing for the community was led by Ngati Takapari representatives, and kaitiaki (care for/supervision of) the park was handed over to custodians from the community.
The project kicked off after the Ngunguru community asked for a skatepark for their area, during the 2016/2017 Annual Plan process. Their bid was successful and funding was set aside in 2017/2018.
Parks technical officer Spencer Jellyman said that early in 2018 a stakeholder group with representatives from Ngunguru Sports Complex, Tutukaka Coast Ratepayers Association, and local community representatives met to find a suitable site.
Several sites were reviewed and the most suitable was at Ngunguru Sports Complex. Ces Burke, from the complex, presented this to his committee who supported it in principle, Mr Jellyman said.
“We held a number of workshops with local children and youth to identify the elements they wanted at the park. A final design was prepared and what we have today is stage one of a larger “aspirational” activity zone.”
Mr Jellyman said the stakeholder group was enlarged to include Ngunguru Primary school parents association and Tutukaka Lions who have appointed community custodians who are available to manage any unsuitable behaviour of skaters.
“Local contractor Robinsons Asphalt built the skatepark and provided the machinery at cost to get as much value for the community as possible. It’s a really great example of a community led and fostered partnership and it has been heart-warming to see it embraced by the community,” he said.
