Te Ara Awataha regeneration

Imagine a place where you can walk or cycle, kids can play and learn about nature, you can meet people, or simply sit quietly on a park bench enjoying the sounds of the birds in the trees.

Te Ara Awataha is a 1.5km greenway corridor in the heart of Northcote. The purpose of daylighting the Awataha Stream is to bring back its mauri, which includes regenerating its source, Papa ki Awataha - Jessie Tonar Scout Reserve, and connecting the town centre, schools and homes.

Since March 2019, Kaipātiki Project has been delivering the community-led regeneration of this reserve on behalf of Eke Panuku in partnership with mana whenua, Auckland Council's Healthy Waters, Kāinga Ora and the Kaipātiki Local Board. 

Working to deliver on the aspirations of the Take Mauri Take Hono mauri indicator framework developed by mana whenua, Kaipātiki Project has been piloting the whole-system approach for community restoration. This framework guides efforts to boost the mauri of the stream, improve water quality and allow it to become a habitat for birds, insects, and tuna (eels) once more. It also reconnects the community to this lost environmental taonga that is now available for everyone to explore.