Porirua Community Park tops NZ for outstanding community engagement

The development of a community park in Waitangirua, Porirua City, has been judged the best in New Zealand for outstanding community engagement. Waitangirua residents drove the development of the park, to create a heart for the suburb on underused land. Residents worked alongside Porirua City Council staff at every stage; from the concept to construction.

The project has been named the New Zealand regional winner for Australasia of the International Association for Public Participation IAP2 Project of the Year 2011 Awards. The overall Australasian winner will be named in October. "This is fantastic recognition for the project to develop Waitangirua Community Park, which was a genuine partnership between the community and the Council," says Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett.

The project was also an important feature of Porirua's Gold Award wins for Community Engagement at the International Liveable Communities Awards last year.

"None of this would be possible without the amazing support we have from hard-working residents, who put so much time into these projects." "In particular, in Waitangirua huge thanks must go to Moana Tuariki and a team of community volunteers who drove the project from beginning to end, with enormous support from across the whole the community."

Mr Leggett says Porirua is very proud of what is being achieved in partnership with communities through the Council's Village Planning Programme. "We want to share that story of success with the world, so others can learn from it."

The IAP2 is described as the International professional body for practitioners in public participation and engagement. The awards recognise and encourage projects that are at the forefront of public participation.

Waitangirua Community Park was officially opened in December 2010. Its design and development was totally driven by the community, with the support of the Council.

Design work was done by school children during special school presentations, and by the wider community at community fairs and working days.

Those drawings were then developed into a park design which was signed off by the community. And once construction began, residents were closely involved in planting and painting days.

Resident's themes for the park were translated into powerful carvings that adorn the park and a massive Waharoa that acts at the park entrance way. The park is now a popular, well-used central heart to Waitangirua.

ENDS

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