The parks you use, the upgrades you’ve noticed, the local projects happening in your neighbourhood – many of these started with your Local Board Plan.
Over the past three years, local boards have invested in things that matter to their communities – from facilities and events to environmental projects and support for local groups.
Check out five of the projects in Puketāpapa that have sprung to life thanks to our plans!
1. Waikōwhai Coastal Walkway upgrades
With native bush and sweeping views out towards the Manukau Harbour, the Waikōwhai Coastal Tracks [3.6MB] offer some of the best bush walks and running tracks for inner-city suburbs.
The iconic Waikōwhai Boardwalk first opened in 2017, but was severely damaged in the 2023 floods, before re-opening in 2024, with new boardwalks, and key stabilisation work to future-proof the tracks for other possible weather-related impacts.
There’s been further upgrades for the tracks, with the recently upgraded and re-opened Belfast Reserve unlocking further coastal routes.
Longer-term, there is a plan to upgrade and expand and the wider track network between now and 2028.
Wonderful water: Te Auaunga/Oakley Creek stream restoration
The restoration of Te Auaunga (Oakley Creek) is a critical strategy to restore the ‘mauri’ (life force) of the area's largest urban stream.
Guided by the Te Auaunga Awa Vision and Restoration Strategy [4.4MB], the project has become an award-winning ecological and social initiative, which has resulted in key restoration work (between 2016 – 2019) between Sandringham Road and Richardson Road, transforming Walmsley and Underwood Reserves.
The mahi between Sandringham Road and Richardson Road also included the shared pathways, pedestrian bridges, a māra hūpara (traditional Māori playground), community orchards, and a community fale.
Also, last year the board approved its largest-ever environmental funding injection of $840,000 for 2025/2026, which includes ongoing investment in Te Auaunga.
3. Marvellous Monte Cecilia Park
The Monte Cecilia Park Masterplan is a long-term development framework to transform the historic and majestic location into a premier destination park while protecting its cultural and volcanic heritage.
The plan, which first started with the 2016 Concept Plan, outlines a number of key upgrades, including: a signature playground concept [5.1MB]: based on a fortified pā narrative (Whataroa Pā), Pah Homestead Preservation: centering the park around the Italianate mansion, Circulation & Entrance: improvements to the park's entrance, a one-way loop road for accessibility and the Whare Building: restoration of the existing whare to be used as a dedicated community facility.
It’s expected a draft version of the plan will be publicly released in late 2026.
Pah Homestead Monte Cecilia Park.
4. Going green with the Low Carbon Community Action Plan
Unveiled in 2018, the plan aligns with the regional goal of a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
For Puketāpapa residents, reducing their carbon footprint from an average of 6.7 tonnes to 3 tonnes per person per year by 2040, and an annual target of 161kg reduction per person every year
This can be achieved via a number of ways, including creation of the Puketāpapa Low Carbon Network, encouraging walking, cycling, and public transport through projects like the Puketāpapa Cycling Haven, the Climate Action Activator role, which helps organise local activities, such as the Albert-Eden & Puketāpapa Eco-Festival, the creation of community gardens such as Uta Garden Project.
5. Community vibes with the Wesley Community Centre and Roskill Youth Zone
The ever-evolving and dynamic Wesley Community Centre and Roskill Youth Zone are collaborative hubs offering a wide range of services for all ages, from diverse community classes and a popular mid-week market to dedicated youth programmes.
You can learn to ride, borrow a e-bike, attend the Wesley markets, activate the space, host a community event, play basketball and much more.
This year the centre hosted the popular Welcome to Puketapapa Day, and every week there’s often a new and engaging community event.
Check out the schedule here.
Have your say
These are just some of the ways local investment is making a difference. We want to hear from you between 23 June-23 July as your feedback helps shape what comes next for Puketāpapa, visit akhaveyoursay.nz/localboardplans.