Te Kaitaka Greenslade Reserve

Te Kaitaka Greenslade Reserve sits along, and is an essential part of Te Ara Awataha - Northcote's new greenway.  You can read about the wider Te Ara Awataha project here.

Te Kaitaka Greenslade Reserve plays a special role in this improved stormwater management system.  The reserve is a 1.5 hectare rectangle of recreation area and playing field.  It sits at the southern end of the Te Ara Awataha flow-path, adjacent to the Northcote town centre. 

In 2022, the reserve underwent a major re-build to improve its performance as a recreation area and to add a new role stormwater management infrastructure.  To achieve this:

• The whole playing field area of Te Kaitaka Greenslade Reserve was lowered one to two metres by scooping out approximately 15,500 cubic metres of ground material.
  
  
• The existing sportsfield was improved by installing a free draining sand-gravel base and over two kilometres of pipes to provide normal conditions drainage, as well as irrigation for dry spells.
  
  
• Floodwalls were integrated into the eastern and northern edges of the reserve.
  
  
• An urban wetland was created at the northern end of the reserve.
  
  
• A shared path through the reserve was created to integrate people traffic with the 1.5 kilometre Te Ara Awataha greenway.
  
  
• Viewing terraces were constructed at the southern end of the reserve.

Once the recreation area was restored, it created a huge stormwater retention pond, where 12 million litres of stormwater could be captured, then slowly released – keeping that water out of surrounding streets and properties during flooding events.

This was a collaborative project delivered by Eke Panuku - in partnership with Auckland Council - mana whenua, Healthy Waters, and Kāinga Ora.

Te Ara Awataha and Te Kaitaka Greenslade Reserve's new role in stormwater management was severely tested on 27 January 2023, mere months after the reopening of the reserve. 

On that single day, over twice the normal January rainfall fell on the region.  It was the largest rain storm ever recorded in Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau - and the system performed according to its design. 

On the Friday evening of the 27th and into the next morning, Te Kaitaka Greenslade was flooded to its limit, but by the Saturday afternoon the water it had retained was safely drained away, preventing flooding on local streets and properties.  Locals were again using the reserve for recreation that afternoon.

See here for more information.