Northcote Development evening draws community together

The event was designed to draw the community together. Literally.

Handfuls of colouring-in pages on children’s tables instructed little artists to imagine and draw themselves in the ‘New Northcote’, while a range of community groups proudly showcased their mahi in the area.

The Connecting Northcote Information evening was a chance for Kāinga Ora to join with organisations working towards improving the town and community, by delivering new homes and amenities, upgrading green spaces, and reducing waste.

Regional Director North and West Taina Jones acknowledged the extensive work various groups have put towards regeneration and improving the area, and essentially “connecting people to whenua (land).”

“We cannot not do this alone. Thriving communities take collective support and effort.”

Taina noted it was special to be able to get together and share kai and information given the impact COVID-19 has had restricting community events.

“Three years is a long time.”

Kāinga Ora Senior Development Manager Claire Laybourne told residents to expect the opening of several green spaces by Christmas.

These include; Cadness Loop Reserve – with play equipment for children of different ages, the schools edge part of the wider Te Ara Awataha, (the green walkway which follows the former Awataha Steam to the sea), and Greenslade reserve, which is re-opening after extensive stormwater works. Greenslade Reserve is a Healthy Waters project constructed by Piritahi. It will open with new walkways and a series of ponds making up the urban rain garden.

Heaps of local and Auckland-wide organisations joined in, including Eke Panuku Development Auckland, infrastructure alliance Piritahi,  Kaipatiki Local Board and Kaipatiki Community Facilities Trust, among many others.

Kāinga Ora, through Northcote Development, expects to deliver 1,700 affordable, market and new state homes and three new pocket parks in Northcote by the end of 2026.

Northcote Development is one of five large scale projects Kāinga Ora is delivering in Auckland. There are similar developments in Porirua and Te Kauwhata.