Rangitāne help create Manawatū River attractions for all

Friday, 2 July 2021

Attractions keep growing to lure more people to the Manawatū River.

Renewed life is pouring into the Manawatū River as Rangitāne and the Palmerston North City Council team up to create new attractions that revive the riverside’s history.

Six years ago, the city council revealed a master plan for developing the linear riverside park, along with a $1.4 million budget to start making it happen.

The goal was each year there would be more activites to do, and more people would spend more time by the river.

The council has since signed a kawenata, or agreement, to work in partnership with Rangitāne to enhance the awa, weaving in Māori history and values in each project, many of which have already come to fruition.

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There has been the redevelopment of Ahimate Park, with its marae and pou, dog park and adventure play features.

The Albert St entrance to the Manawatu Riverside shared pathway is in line for some improvements to make it more inviting for pedestrians and cyclists. (file photo)

The He Ara Kotahi cycle and pedestrian bridge and pathway to Linton has marked its second birthday and one-millionth crossing, surpassing expectations for its use.

This week traffic-calming changes are under way at Ruha St, the main entrance to the bridge plaza, to mark out car parks and instal gardens to narrow the street, slow down vehicles, and make access to driveways easier for residents.

The Urban Eels tuna-viewing deck at the Turitea Stream has fostered a return of life to the waterways.

Tini Whetu te Rangi, the sparkling pathway between the Centennial Drive and Albert St, links to the shared pathway, which creates a spectacle from the air and Te Motu o Poutoa, will be central to Matariki celebrations next weekend.

A concept plan has been developed for the Turitea Pa lookout on top of the hill opposite Ahimate Park in Palmerston North.

The feature was designed by Warren Warbrick, and is complete apart from some casual furniture, and the mounting of moa foot prints at what is called Ruahine Park.

The Albert St entrance to the area was also in line for improvements.

The new pathway from the Esplanade Scenic Railway to the shared pathway is due for completion within six weeks.

Council planner Jason Pilkington provided the joint Rangitāne o Manawatū committee with an update on the next raft of projects that will build on the work already done.

Crossing He Ara Kotahi bridge are Katie Edmead and Nic Durkin with their dog Baxter. The walkway has proven more popular than expected.

The Turitea Pa site will be adorned with a new two-storey viewing platform opposite Ahimate Park.

Most of the parts are being created off-site, to be carried in from a new access track, with completion expected this spring.

The site was once used by Rangitāne for its upstream and downstream views of activity on the river.

Te Motu o Poutoa on the right is in line for redevelopment.

The lighting of the He Ara Kotahi bridge would soon be enhanced with a light display on and under the Fitzherbert Bridge, and “pockets of delight” along the back of the Esplanade.

Early planning work was now under way for Marae Tarata, most recently used as a gravel extraction site between the recycling centre and the river.

Pilkington said the concept was to convert the old gravel pits into a wetland area, and re-purpose an old workshop on site for use for carvers.

There is about $3m in the council’s long-term budget for the development.

“It is a key area we need to give a bit of love.”

Rangitāne-appointed committee member Danielle Harris said the area had been polluted and degraded, and it would be exciting for Māori and the wider community to be able to re-connect to the site.

Next plans were for Te Motu o Poutoa, more recently known as Anzac Park.

The development was most likely to include a building of some sort, with three architects to be invited to come up with concepts.

Council parks and reserves manager Kathy Dever-Tod said early indications were that the $1.6m in the council’s long-term budget will not be enough to meet a one-third share of what could be a $12m to $15m project.

Some city councillors hearing the overview of the reserves projects were caught by surprise about the speed and detail of some of the planning that had been going on behind the scenes.

Part of the challenge was about fitting a Māori tikanga way of working into the formality of a city council chamber.

Rangitāne-appointed committee member Chris Whaiapu described the process as a bit “weird”, Cr Rachel Bowen said learning to work together was a bit “messy”, but mayor Grant Smith said he was confident it would all work out.

Harris said she was really proud to see the results of the partnership coming to life. The riverside developments were not all about Rangitāne, but about creating great spaces for all people.

“You can’t put a price on what we have done.”

It was about learning the history of the places, telling their stories, and creating a dynamic place for people who lived here and for visitors.

“I feel proud to be part of Palmerston North now.”