The Mt Roskill Development recently celebrated the opening of its brand new Information Centre with a day of festivities for the whole community.

The celebrations kicked off at dawn with a special blessing of the centre, led by Mana whenua representatives from Te Ākitai Waiohua and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, and attended by representatives from HLC, Housing New Zealand and the Puketāpapa Local Board.

Later that morning, the Information Centre site on the corner of Glynn Ave and May Rd was abuzz with activity. Following the formalities, children from May Road School’s kapa haka and Samoan cultural groups warmed up the crowd with some lively performances. Bollywood-style dancing with audience participation, led by Puketāpapa Local Board member Ella Kumar was another entertainment highlight.  

The Information Centre opened its doors to a constant stream of visitors all day, where people could find out more about the Mt Roskill Development and meet some of the local team from HLC and Housing New Zealand. Walking tours to view a newly-completed Housing NZ home also proved popular.

Throughout the day, people could also explore the many activities set up around the Information Centre, including learning the art of crochet with textile artist Lissy Cole, getting stuck into archaeological digs with Dr Hans-Dieter Bader and the team from Archaeology Solutions, enjoying a photo opportunity with a digger from civils alliance partner Piritahi, and saying hello to community representatives from the Police, Mt Roskill Community Patrol, and Mt Roskill Fire Station.

Visitors also enjoyed free food and hot drinks from a variety of stalls, and learned more about local community groups working in Mt Roskill. We also received a lot of feedback on the proposed upgrades to Freeland Reserve, and the public transport options in the area.

The Information Centre is now open to the public and will be a place to ask questions about the development and find our more about the exciting changes happening in your neighbourhood.  Opening hours are Wednesday to Saturday, 10am – 4pm.