Auckland Council is 15 years old this month and to celebrate we’ve put together a selection of key local achievements, projects and upgrades that have grown and benefited communities across the region.
Local boards have a been a big part of the story since amalgamation in 2010, so take a look at some of the highlights we’re proud of in the gulf islands.
Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board:
The Aotea community applied to be a dark sky sanctuary in 2017 supported by the local board and mana whenua. This status provides a level of protection for the night sky on the island, with benefits extending to the environment and local economy. The board has continued to support the sanctuary with the dark sky coordinator role which ensures the island meets its requirements to keep the status.
Glenfern Sanctuary Regional Park
Glenfern Sanctuary on Aotea / Great Barrier has been a regional park since 2016. The park is home to the rare chevron skink, the black petrel (tāiko), brown teal (pāteke) and stunning views over the harbour. The local board advocated for the purchase of the sanctuary and continues to help fund its upkeep.
Aotea Learning Hub.
Aotea Learning Hub.
Lifelong Learning Strategy
Both Aotea Early Learning Centre (for pre-school aged children) and Aotea Learning Hub (for secondary school correspondence students) have been established in the last ten years thanks to support from Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board, expanding educational opportunities on the motu.
The Ecology Vision was initiated by the local board to establish a community vision for the enhancement and management of the island’s natural environment. Since 2018 the board has funded the role of an Ecology Vision Coordinator to assist the delivery of community-based initiatives. In that time, we have seen the development of community groups, community trap libraries, a community nursery and many other activities such as bird counts and beach clean ups on the island.
Waiheke Local Board:
A passion project for the local board, this play facility has met a real need for the Waiheke community for a top-level outdoor play spot. It now has a world class skatepark, pump track, basketball court, flying fox and BBQ shelter, and design elements created with local iwi.
Tawaipareira Reserve, Waiheke.
Tawaipareira Reserve, Waiheke.
Not only a state-of-the-art library, but also a vibrant community hub, this award-winning facility’s distinctive exterior reflects the island’s natural beauty and climate, while unique artistic features and an open-courtyard layout integrate seamlessly with the surrounding arts precinct.
Since opening in 2015, this board-funded community project dedicated to restoring Waiheke’s wetland environments has planted over 78,000 native trees at 8 different sites, thanks to some major buy in from local businesses, schools, and community groups.
A section of Te Ara Hura walking trail.
A section of Te Ara Hura walking trail.
Led by the local board, this 100 km trail network has opened up Waiheke’s beaches, forests, and heritage sites. Since it started, it’s helped thousands of locals and visitors explore, connect with nature, and enjoy the island’s stunning views and range of unique ecosystems.
