We recently gathered with mana whenua, project partners and community members to bless and celebrate the completion of Te Auaunga ki Tai Stormwater Reserve, an important milestone for Waikōwhai (Mount Roskill, Auckland) and the wider Puketāpapa community.
Gifted by mana whenua, Te Auaunga ki Tai means "Te Auaunga towards the sea" and acknowledges Te Auaunga Awa (Oakley Creek) and its tributary, which flows through the reserve on its journey north to Te Waitematā Harbour. As a tūpuna awa (ancestral stream), Te Auaunga has long held significant cultural, spiritual and ecological value.
The project has restored and enhanced a section of this important waterway, helping reconnect people with a part of the landscape that was previously hidden from view. Through the daylighting of the stream and the creation of the reserve, the area has been transformed into an attractive green space that supports both the environment and the community.
Alongside restoring the stream, the project delivers important infrastructure upgrades that will benefit current and future residents. Improvements to stormwater, wastewater and water supply networks will increase resilience and support growth, while upgraded footpaths, streetscape improvements and new planting have created a safer and more welcoming environment for people walking through the area.
Project Highlights
- 126m of stream daylighted and restored
- 150m of new stormwater pipe installed
- 410m of new wastewater pipe installed
- 320m of new watermain installed
- Upgraded footpaths, kerbs and streetlights
- Overhead power lines undergrounded along part of Morrie Laing Avenue
- 35 new trees and 1,834 plants added to the reserve and stream corridor
This project was made possible through the collaboration of mana whenua, Healthy Waters, Watercare, Puketāpapa Local Board, Isthmus, Kāinga Ora and the local community. We thank everyone involved for their support and contribution.
A special acknowledgement goes to LEAD Alliance, who delivered this project as their final project with Kāinga Ora. We thank them for their contribution to Mount Roskill over many years and for helping create a lasting asset for the community.
