Join the conversation - Onehunga’s new public spaces

The concept design proposal aims to:

• Improve the north-south connection, between Onehunga Primary School and Onehunga Library, with additional planting to encourage walking and cycling.
• Improve east-west accessibility across the Waiapu Precinct through to Onehunga Mall and the expanded Dress Smart development at Paynes Lane, to make it safer and easy to navigate for all abilities.
• Create a public play space that strengthens a sense of community, identity, and local character. The new 530m2 play space will include Māra Hūpara, physical movement, problem solving and imaginative play as well as catering to all ages, abilities and preferences.
• Create seating and gathering spaces, including a sheltered pavilion, to provide places to meet, rest, or shelter between the proposed new supermarket and play space.
• Realign the existing street network to reduce rat-running and improve safety for pedestrians and people on bikes.

What are the wider plans for this precinct?

Eke Panuku continue to work alongside private investment to help future-proof neighbourhoods. In Onehunga, we’ve created a plan that integrates the future expanded Dress Smart retail precinct and a brand-new supermarket to reinvigorate the town centre. The precinct will have around 100 new homes, so even more people and families can enjoy living in Onehunga and contribute to the local economy.

Car parking remains an important part of how people access the precinct and the wider town centre, but to enable the transformation of the area into a safer, more welcoming space for people, there will have to be some changes. The changes are also necessary to accommodate the new supermarket and to provide more convenient access for shoppers and visitors to local businesses on Onehunga Mall and the library.

These changes won’t happen overnight, they will take time.  The Waiapu Precinct is a complex site, and will be constructed over a period of years will be required to complete its transformation.

These improvements are integral to the Eke Panuku urban regeneration efforts in Onehunga, supporting a growing population, local businesses and helping the town centre to thrive in a sustainable way.

Next steps

Community input is central to shaping the final design of the public spaces.

Anyone can provide feedback through the consultation period, which is open from February 12 until March 10.

Public feedback and a final design recommendation will be presented to the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board by June 2024.

To keep updated on progress and how you can have your say visit:

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