New skatepark made full use of since opening

Skater Dylan Strom tests out the new $110,000 Onerahi skatepark. Photo / John Stone

Keen kids had to wait with their bikes and skateboards for an early morning blessing to finish before they could test new ramps at the Onerahi skatepark.

Gone are the days of a rotten, wooden, condemned ramp. Onerahi's new concrete skate park was officially opened on Tuesday morning after a blessing which started at 6am and has already been put to good use.

"There were a few kids, some with bikes, some with skateboards, ready to have a go. It's been well used since then," said Whangarei District Council (WDC) park's technical officer Spencer Jellyman.

Last year the plywood ramps at the complex were deemed a health and safety concern and removed and in early April construction for the new $110,000 skate park kicked off.

Mr Jellyman said many aspects of the park suited the less experienced skaters but said there were still features suitable for older riders.

"There's things like humps and ramps for the younger ones and quarter pipes and half pipes for the more experienced," he said. "The younger people are our target because there is the one in Riverside which the experienced can use."

The park was officially opened with a blessing by Fred Tito. Mayor Sheryl Mai, WDC councillors, WDC workers, contractors who worked on the park, and people from local community groups attended the opening.

Mr Jellyman said feedback had been positive so far.

After the opening the kids from Onerahi Primary couldn't wait to give it a go.