Te Awamutu’s Kaipaka pā site could soon be commemorated by a small recreation park at the end of Christie Avenue.
Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board is seeking support from landowners and mana whenua.
Transpower owns the Original Winding Mangapiko Stream Bed. A Tree Covered section of it Remains Open. Photo: supplied.
Community board chair Ange Holt told members at the board’s meeting last week that there was community support for establishing a grassed and shrubbed park below the Transpower substation.
Ange Holt
“There is a keenness to approach Transpower to see if they would be interested in doing a social good project for our community,” she said in her chair’s report.
The Waipā Networks-owned pā site provides access to the old riverbed.
“Access from Racecourse Road crosses a small tract of council land that would need some trees trimmed and a path into the park.”
Board member Jill Taylor asked whether Holt thought Transpower and Waipā Networks might contribute funding.
“Could well do, and that’s the thinking behind it,” she said.
“Because they are both big companies it’s part of their social good to actually do things for the community, and I think there’s a very good chance that they would be happy to contribute in some way to help make the project happen.”
Board member Sally Whitaker said: “It would be a great utilisation of that space and representation for mana whenua.”
“We definitely would need to speak to mana whenua to see how that would pull together for them,” Holt said.
“It’s not like it’s going to cost us anything. It’s only a few conversations to see what kind of feeling we get.”
Council staff in their response to Holt’s report encouraged the board to seek the view of mana whenua.
“If the project does progress, staff are willing to work with the respective parties to understand access requirements through the council owned section. This section of land is very steep and immediately adjacent to the Mangapiko River, so any access may prove challenging.”
Entrance in Racecourse Road to the Kaipaka River Walk. Photo: Supplied.
