Plans to transform central Manukau are starting to paint a picture of what the heart of the south might look like in 2040.
The number of residents will have grown from 6000 to 20,000, and several new neighbourhoods will have popped up.
What's planned?
Hayman Park and Manukau Plaza will be revitalised, while a healthy Puhinui Stream will be a source of community pride.
New commercial developments will help diversify local employment opportunities.
An upgraded Putney Way will be the new pedestrian-friendly main street, and a new mass transit line (bus or light rail) from the airport to Botany through Manukau will provide better connections for local people.
Building on 'pride, values and talent'
Manukau ward councillor Alf Filipaina says transforming Manukau is about fostering and building upon the existing pride, values and talent of the local people.
“Our communities are proud people. We are proud of where we come from and proud to call our suburbs home. A transformed Manukau must continue to appeal to locals, while also attracting future residents and workers.”
The city’s urban regeneration agency Panuku Development Auckland is leading the transformation alongside the Government as a major landowner in the area. Panuku is working closely with Manukau’s communities and listening to their needs and desires, as the involvement of local people is the most critical ingredient in the recipe for successful urban regeneration.
“While Panuku and the Government will do the heavy lifting, true transformation is owned and delivered by us all,” says Filipaina.
Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board chair Lotu Fuli says there’s a strong desire from the local community, as outlined in the Local Board plan, to create a thriving heart for Manukau.
“We want our people to be able to shop, live, learn, work and play in world-class facilities and spaces, which have been designed to reflect our community’s rich Māori, Pacific, Indian and Asian cultures,” says Fuli.
Five key moves
To be truly transformed, Manukau requires the multiplier effect of a number of key moves.
One of the key moves is the desire to realise the potential of the Puhinui Stream as the focal point of community pride.
“We have turned our backs on this important cultural and ecological link for too long,” says Filipaina.
Visit the Panuku website for more information on the five key moves as outlined in the Manukau Framework Plan.
Next steps
The transformation of Manukau is a long-term project that will take 20-25 years to complete. The first projects include the new bus station, the Putney Way street upgrade and the Hayman Park playground.
Panuku is working with The Southern Initiative to involve local people in the urban regeneration process by engaging young people and local activators in placemaking for the area.
