Better, more welcoming public spaces are now in place at Ti Rākau Park in Pakūranga, following upgrades to the changing rooms and toilets by the Howick Local Board.
What initially appeared to be a straightforward renewal quickly revealed several hidden challenges. Early investigations uncovered the need for seismic strengthening, the presence of asbestos, an ageing roof, outdated fixtures, and a layout that no longer met the needs of today’s users. With rising complexity and the potential for significant delays, the project team took the time to pause and reassess the best path forward.
This careful approach reflects a key priority of the Howick Local Board Plan 2023: ensuring local facilities are safe, functional and able to support the needs of a fast-growing and diverse community.
A smarter approach
Rather than proceeding with a complex onsite rebuild, the project team opted for a prefabricated solution. This lower risk approach enabled the facilities to be largely constructed offsite and installed more quickly, reducing disruption to park users while improving quality, cost certainty and long-term value.
Local Board chair Bruce Kendall shares, “Ti Rākau Park is a well-used community space, so it was important the upgraded facilities were delivered safely and efficiently. With strong use by local clubs and families, reliable, fit-for-purpose amenities are essential. The prefabricated approach helped manage risk while delivering high-quality facilities that will serve the community well into the future.”
Supporting community use
Ti Rākau Park is a key community hub in Pakūranga. The park supports a wide range of sporting activities, including rugby league, and features open green spaces, a playground, outdoor fitness equipment and connections to nearby community facilities and walkways.
The upgraded facilities respond directly to community needs, including improved amenities for women’s sport, with female participation in rugby league continuing to grow. The new building includes four modern changing rooms with showers, benches and hooks, a referee room, accessible and standard toilets, and an improved layout that enhances safety and usability.
Project Manager Eva Wallace says, “Once we understood the full extent of the issues within the existing building, it became clear that a traditional rebuild would carry significant risk in terms of cost, time and disruption.
By stepping back and rethinking the solution, we were able to deliver a modern, high quality facility with far greater certainty.”
Looking ahead
Construction was delivered in stages, with the new changing rooms and public toilets now fully operational.