Kaikohe transformation under way

I am very pleased to confirm that work will soon begin on a major upgrade to Memorial Park in Kaikohe. Centrepiece of the $750,000 initiative will be creation of a new playground that will include a wheelchair accessible merry-go-round, in-ground trampolines, slides, a sand play area, swings and an eagles’ lair rope climbing tower. The revamp will also see new park entrances built, upgraded footpaths, a learn-to-ride and balance track installed for tamariki, plus a fully accessible amenity block, along with a wide loop track linking the different areas. This will be a huge improvement to the park and I’m looking forward to seeing it opened in coming months.

This project will be on a par with similar place-making projects underway at Kerikeri Domain, Kaitāia, Ahipara and Awanui. Like those projects, the goal is to make Memorial Park a favourite destination for the community. It will be somewhere friends can meet, where whānau can play and picnic, and a place that both residents and visitors can relax in.

Kaikohe-based landscape architect firm, ĀKAU, has helped to translate those aspirations into a realistic plan. This group has worked with council on several projects. They have a passion for Kaikohe, they know the community and they understand what residents – especially younger residents – want.

I often hear that the council doesn’t do enough for Kaikohe, that there is too much focus on east coast communities. I think that’s unfair. When planning new infrastructure, of course population growth trends must be considered. We need to build amenities where the people are and will be. We must also ensure existing communities receive the investment they deserve. We rely on central government to help us fund much of our new infrastructure. The Kerikeri Domain project, Te Hiku revitalisation projects, upgrades to district wharves and major roading projects have all been made possible with government funding.

Of all our major urban centres, it is arguable that Kaikohe has been hit the hardest by economic challenges experienced in recent decades. Local businesses and iwi organisations do a fantastic job creating work, but the town no longer has the major employers it once had. To help reverse that trend, the council initiated the Ngāwhā Innovation & Enterprise Park in 2018. Four years on, the project is beginning to achieve the economic transformation we envisaged for Kaikohe. The park has provided dozens of locals with sustainable jobs through a partnership with the Ministry of Social Development, and the Mayors Task Force for Jobs. The goal is to boost that to 200 fulltime and 140 seasonal roles by the end of Stage 1 in 2023. This will add an estimated $30 million annually to the district’s GDP. That will spur further investment. We’re already working on it. Lindvart Park is undergoing a $12.5 million upgrade that will turn existing high-quality sports fields, courts, and pavilion into a premier sporting facility. The Memorial Park upgrade is further evidence of our determination to support Kaikohe and all parts of our district.