Auckland council's quake donation spent across city

Auckland City Council donated $1.5 million following the Christchurch earthquakes. Photo / Geoff Sloan

Auckland's $1.5 million earthquake donation has been spent on parks and playgrounds across Christchurch.

Auckland Council gave the money after the Christchurch earthquakes, on the condition it be used for "parks and recreation projects".

In February, the South Brighton Residents Association asked its council what happened to earthquake donations for the eastern suburbs.

MP for Christchurch East, Poto Williams subsequently lodged an official information request with the city council.

The response said council staff in Auckland and Christchurch chose projects that would "benefit a wide range of Christchurch residents, were not funded by insurance, are in areas that are feasible for short-term repair and did not have other allocated funds".

A rugby cup fan zone in Hagley Park and restoration of fencing and planting on the Port Hills were given $200,000 each, as was restoration of the coastal strip of parks along Scarborough and Sumner Beaches.

And $100,000 was designated for replacement of damaged trees in Hagley Park and South New Brighton Domain.

Another $400,000 was given to replace 27 playground surfaces damaged by liquefaction. The playgrounds included Anzac Drive Reserve, Cashmere Valley Reserve, Avondale Park Playground, Barrington Park and the Cass Bay playground.

The same amount went towards fixing 43 parks in the eastern suburbs, among them Arthur Adcock Memorial Reserve, Linwood Cemetery, Bridge Reserve, Cuthberts Green, Wainoni Park, South New Brighton Park and Woolston Park.