A first-of-its-kind playspace for Auckland, based on traditional Maori games and play artefacts.

Te Māra Hūpara playground is part of the Te Auaunga/Oakley Creek stream restoration project in Mount Roskill, Auckland. This natural playspace offers children a unique and imaginative experience, while also reinforcing the wider values of Te Auaunga to restore the wairua of the adjacent Walmsley and Underwood Reserves.

The project began as a stormwater control program. But it soon became apparent there was an opportunity to create a park along this regionally significant watercourse that would truly enhance the area and the community.

There are several schools and early childhood centres in the area; and community surveys showed a strong desire for dedicated play areas within the reserve. Boffa Miskell initially met with local schools to identify opportunities for the schools to participate. During the course of discussion, students were invited to think about ‘nature’ and the ‘outdoors’ and how they like to play in these environments. The children’s responses to nature included the joy of climbing trees, stepping on stones in the river, adventuring, exploring, and building huts.

Location

Auckland

Worked with

AECOM
Auckland Council – Healthy Waters
Harko Brown: KaiMatariki Trust
Kaitiaki for: Te Kawerau a Maki; Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki; Ngāti Tamaoho; Te Akitai, Waiohua – Tāmaki; Ngati Te Ata; and Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei
Tina Dyer: Park Central
WEC

Project date

2019 - ongoing

Awards

Award of Excellence | Playgrounds | NZILA Resene Pride of Place Landscape Architecture Awards
Bronze Pin | Ngā Aho Award | Best of Awards - Designer's Institute of New Zealand (DINZ)

The design team set out to scatter play opportunities, including ‘natural play’, throughout the reserves, to discover beside the restored stream, under islands of trees. The majority of play areas would appear upon exploration – large excavated or constructed basalt rock formations, stacks of woody debris, and giant ancient swamp kauri stumps. These play areas would be connected to main paths by stepping stones, mulch paths, and boardwalks. They offer children a unique experience to engage with their restored environment and enliven their imaginations.

During consultation in early 2015, Mana Whenua suggested to the project team that they consider integrating traditional Māori play items into the park. These ngā taonga tākaro (traditional Māori artefacts) and natural play elements were constructed exclusively from recycled and found natural materials.

In Māori society, traditional games and aro-tākaro (play items) are inextricably linked and highly valued. Ngā aro-tākaro reinforce social norms and connect people to their environments. They become a means for children to engage with nature and history simultaneously through challenge and learning. Māori play elements installed in the project include:

  • A torere tree for climbing
  • A triple-posted tama-tane-wahine installation
  • Giant upturned ancient kauri log roots – te ko-uru which are linked by ko-papa;
  • Several dozen hikeikei on which to hop, jump and walk over;
  • A land-based kōkiri; and
  • A series of wera-te-paatu to practice agility, speed and balance.

The construction of Te Māra Hūpara was undertaken entirely with products recycled from the site (basalt rock, felled trees, earth, and mulch), and items rescued from waste streams (re-purposed jarrah power poles, and swamp kauri stumps destined for the chipper). Despite these limitations the design-construct exercise delivered a play intervention with significant physical and cultural impact. The 20 thousand-year-old swamp kauri used to create Te Māra Hūpara was retrieved from another council project.

Te Māra Hūpara was signed off by an external play specialist to ensure the safety of fall heights, accessibility and cushioned falls were compliant with standard regulations.

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