Kerikeri māra hūpara celebrates community-led progress

Work is now underway on Te Amo Pūtoro, the first council-owned māra hūpara in the Far North, located at the Kerikeri Sports Complex.

The project represents several years of community effort, brought to life through a strong partnership between local advocates, Ngāti Rēhia and Healthy Families Far North, with funding support from the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board.

Rather than a traditional playground, Te Amo Pūtoro is a māra hūpara – a play space inspired by traditional Māori design using natural materials like logs, rocks and plants. It’s a space for all ages to move, explore, and reconnect with te taiao (the natural world) in a space that celebrates the identity of Kerikeri.

Te Amo Pūtoro is primarily a place to play, but is also designed for intergenerational connection, cultural engagement, and whānau wellbeing. It is an example of what can be achieved when local voices lead the creation of spaces that reflect their values and aspirations.

Tania Proctor, Head of Infrastructure at Far North District Council, said the māra hūpara is a great example of council supporting communities to design solutions that work for them.

“The important thing is that it’s the community driving what they want, rather than council determining what’s built here,” she says.

This is the first māra hūpara to be built on council-owned land in Northland. Its development highlights the potential for inclusive, community-led spaces that honour the histories of mana whenua while strengthening social and cultural ties across the wider community.

Completion is expected in time for Matariki, with a community planting day coming soon.