Ready, set, play.
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board’s destination playground David Lange Park has opened after years of planning, community consultations and tweaking to ensure it includes what residents want.
Board chair Tauanu’u Nanai Nick Bakulich says the smiles of children at the opening made the journey to provide the area’s first destination playground worthwhile,
“Young people don’t stop to consider planning, design, weather problems or funding, let alone how much effort has gone in on their behalf from Waiohua iwi Te Ākitai and Te Ahiwaru, and their own community to make it happen.
“What counts to them is having an amazing place they can call their own, that reflects what they want, who they are and where they come from.”
Sometimes the best thing you can do is just help out! Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board chair Tauanu’u Nanai Nick Bakulich lends a hand to amplify the guitar for performers.
Planning began in 2019 when Variety – the Children’s Charity partnered with the board in a scheme to build a destination playground at the Māngere town centre park.
The playground was to include a range of spaces for kids up to 18, and feature accessible play for children with special needs, as well as equipment so children could play together.
Then Māngere-Ōtāhuhu board chair Lemauga Lydia Sosene welcomed the development, saying: “Our tamariki deserve quality recreational spaces closer to home, and playgrounds that provide everyone an equal opportunity to enjoy and have fun.”
Variety’s then chief executive Lorraine Taylor was thrilled to work with the board. “It is our desire to see a park that gives all children the chance to come together and play as part of a happier and healthier childhood.”
A lot of effort has gone in since then and Bakulich says much of it has been driven by Te Ākitai and Te Ahiwaru gifting a narrative - Te Riri o Mataaoho (The wrath of Mataaoho – guardian of earthquakes and volcanoes), and by residents themselves, keen to ensure the playground reflects Māngere.
Mountain View School's kapa haka group entertains the large crowd gathered at the opening. The school's vision is Kia puawai me te maia - Thrive with confidence.
Physical works started with the creation of Mataaoho – a large play tower - and his playground surroundings, new accessible toilets, and refreshed basketball and skatepad areas, with the cultural narrative incorporated in the landscape and equipment to highlight features in the area so Māori history is passed on.
The board has so far allocated $1.6 million towards the playground, with further stages to progress based on available funding. Stage two is already being consulted on here.
Bakulich says so much has been achieved, with the playground incorporating play for all ages, accessible play, toilet, parking and picnicking features, large shade trees, drinking fountains, walking paths and the play equipment such as Mataaoho, spinners, trampolines, an agility trail, flying fox, and slides and swings grouped to encourage inclusive play.
Auckland Council Parks and Places team leader David Barker says council owns and maintains almost 900 playgrounds and play spaces across the city.
Basketball facilities are a feature of the new park, as is an upgraded skatebowl.
“In south Auckland, their quality is continually being improved under a three-year work programme. More than 25 park playgrounds will be renewed and improved as part of that, and several sites will have new spaces built to meet the needs of growing communities.
“David Lange is one of the most exciting projects, turning a small neighbourhood facility into a destination space with a cultural narrative to provide a unique play experience.”
The development also includes a story book initiative and Patupairehe Papakaainga (village) – it’s design Waahi Wairua led, its focus being to provide a family area with sensory, inclusive play for younger children.
Bakulich says he remembers one piece of community consultation feedback where the person said they struggled to find anything like North Shore playgrounds.
“That was hard to hear. We want our children to know we value them just as highly, and David Lange Park is the expression of that.”
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