Tangonge Domain, and its newly repainted clubrooms.
Tangonge Domain, and its newly repainted clubrooms.
Most people in Kaitaia have probably never heard of Tangonge Domain, let alone used it, but that's all about to change thanks to Opening the Curtains.
Community initiatives manager Jason Reti said steady progress was being made towards transforming the 'park' into a new community space in Bonnetts Rd, once officially home to a local soccer club and a rarely used district council-designated dog-walking area.
Mr Reti said a plan had been presented to Te Hiku Community Board and the Far North District Council, but the immediate priority was to obtain a lease, which had to be sanctioned by the Department of Conservation.
It would then go back to the community board in April, and would be presented for public discussion.
"We anticipate that the lease will be signed by June," Mr Reti said.
The plan was to transform the area into a recreation space for residents in the "Kaitaia West" area, featuring a "natural" playground, a basketball court and an easy-graded walking track with basic exercise stations.
Longer-term plans included a fruit forest and community gardens that would have the potential to feed local whanau, as well as providing practical training and pathways into the horticulture industry.
"These ideas have been gathered from discussions with the Kaitaia West community," Mr Reti said.
"The park has the capacity to meet the needs of our most vulnerable groups, youth and the elderly, while helping boost community pride and ownership of the space."
Mr Reti, who heads a five-member committee, said he was working closely with Far North District Council district facilities team leader Mike Colebrook to bring the project to fruition, starting with the provision of paint to rejuvenate the old soccer clubrooms building.
He was also drawing on his extensive community connections to begin preliminary work.
Kaitaia College staff, with support from principal Jack Saxon, had "mucked in" by mowing the grass, Fulton Hogan staff had cleared the roadside drain and formed a driveway, and NorthTec carpentry tutor Stephen Rameka had put his hand up to assist in building the playground.
OTC has a clear vision of what a currently unused public area in Kaitaia might one day provide.
"This initiative has helped break through the age-old myth faced by social work, where collaboration between community agencies has been seen as difficult task," he said.
Healthy Families Far North kaimahi had rolled up their sleeves to help repaint the clubrooms, and kaituhono Manuera Riwai hosted an introductory brainstorming session with OTC, DoC, Te Hiku Hauora, Te Tai Tokerau Rugby League and Healthy Families Far North team members to establish how each agency could collaborate to Kaitaia's benefit.
The meeting had produced some exciting ideas for collaboration.
The park committee will next meet on Thursday, March 9, and anyone who would like to attend is invited to contact Mr Reti on (021) 303-579 or jasonreti73@ gmail.com.
