Papakura has adopted twenty-five new park names, shared by Ngaati Te Ata Waiohua, Ngāti Tamaoho, Te Aakitai Waiohua and Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki.
The names were presented to the Papakura Local Board at a hui earlier this year and will help highlight and reflect Papakura’s identity and culture.
Papakura Local Board chair Kelvin Hieatt is honoured to be adopting the kete (basket) of new names for the area’s local parks.
“It is a real privilege to enrich the historic value of many more of our public open spaces with these new park names,” says chair Hieatt.
“Each name has a significant meaning and narrative associated with its geography and local history, providing an opportunity for residents to learn te reo and about Māori history and values that are locally relevant.”
The new park names are intended to help Aucklanders connect with the stories, history and identity of place, strengthen council’s relationship with mana whenua, and honour its commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
“Existing names will co-exist alongside new te reo Māori names as dual titles. The exceptions are Hingaia Esplanade Reserve which has adopted the sole name Te Waongaro and Hingaia Reserve which will now become Waipaatiki Reserve. Hingaia Park, which is down the road, will retain its name,” he says.
Signage will generally be replaced as they are due for renewal to minimise environmental impacts and costs, so locals are unlikely to see updated signage immediately.
To mark Papakura’s new chapter of storytelling, the history behind the name Te Kirikiri, adopted for Keri Downs Park, will be shared through updated signage. The existing entrance sign will be replaced with its new dual name, and visitors can access the story via a QR code.
The large and well-used facility, Keri Downs Park (also known as Redcrest Link Reserve) will now be known as Te Kirikiri / Keri Downs Park. Te Kirikiri is a significant ancestral name, referencing an ancient pā site in the area and was agreed to by all four iwi. Installation of the new signage is expected to be completed later in 2026.
View the full list of adopted park names, their locations and narratives.
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