Porritt Park nears 100, roading updates and opportunities at Council
Published on 07 March 2025
A century of community, play and heritage
Next week, we’re adding a new mural to the skate park at Porritt Park in Thames. In celebration of Parks Week, let’s take a look back at the history of this popular playground which has been a hub of community involvement and family fun for nearly 100 years.
The playground opened as the Diamond Jubilee Children’s Playground in 1929 after fundraising by the Thames Old Girls Association to beautify the town. The new playground included merry-go-rounds, seesaws, and a swing set so good that local church ministers tried to have it banned on Sundays.
Through a huge effort of working bees organised by the Thames Lions Club, the playground was rebuilt in 1969. This new design included nods to Thames’ heritage, including a replica of the Wakatere paddle steamer, which once connected Auckland with Thames. The park was renamed after visiting Governor-General Sir Arthur Porritt.
The Porritt Park redevelopment project kicked off in 2014, with a new skate park and modern play equipment chosen by local primary school children. The most recent upgrade was funded with help from generous donors, including Claymark, Toyota, and an anonymous philanthropic couple who are the major financial and creative backers of the project. Work began on the brand-new Destination Playground in 2023, bringing back a replica Wakatere and Judd’s Foundry lighthouse for a new generation of kids to explore and make memories.
Parks week: upcoming activities
Parks Week 2025 has been full of exciting events, showcasing the beauty of our local parks and reserves. We’ve had a range of activities so far, including guided walks, clean-up efforts, and family-friendly events to celebrate and connect with our green spaces. Participants have enjoyed nature walks, educational sessions, and a variety of community-focused activities to promote conservation and outdoor recreation.
Upcoming Events: Yoga in the park
• Whangamatā: Saturday 8 March, 8am at Williamson Park
• Ōpoutere: Sunday 9 March, 8am at Ōpoutere Hall
• Tairua: Saturday 8 March, 8:30am at Cory Wright Domain
• Pāuanui: Sunday 9 March, 8am at Pleasant Place Reserve (near the boat ramp)
Don't forget to take part in the Bird Spotting Competition hidden along the John William Hall Arboretum loop track in Thames. Find all five birds and return your completed form to Thames District Library by Tuesday 11 March at 4pm. You'll go in the draw to win one of four $25 Prezzy cards.
Windy Point seawalls
Work on building two seawalls at Te Kouma Rd (Windy Point) is scheduled to begin on Monday 24 March, repairing earlier damage caused by severe storms.
The project was temporarily deferred late last year after it no longer qualified for a subsidy from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi due to a government cut in funding. However, the budget has now been confirmed.
Work at the two sites on Te Kouma Rd (either side of Windy Point – see map above) involves building seawalls using large rocks to withstand the impact of the sea and waves. It should be complete (weather allowing) within five weeks.
While construction is underway, vehicles that currently park at Windy Point will need to find an alternative location. Parking in this area can resume once the work is finished.
We’ll provide further communications to vehicle owners parking in this area closer to the time on our roads page.
Visit our roads page
Roading update from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
Onetai Stream Bridge to reopen on schedule
The Onetai Stream Bridge is set to reopen on Monday 10 March between Hikutaia and Pūriri following the completion of the first phase of the project.
The bridge will initially open to one-way traffic as the team finish the road approaches and other safety aspects of the project.
The team has worked hard to complete this phase of the project as quickly as possible.
We understand that this has caused disruption for regular users of SH26 and are grateful to the community for their patience throughout the replacement.
Woodroffe Rd repairs, Wyuna Bay
A project to build a seawall at Woodroffe Rd, Wyuna Bay is set to begin this Monday 10 March, and should be finished within two weeks, weather allowing. The roadside kerb and channelling will also be reinstated.
The rockwall will use large rocks to withstand the sea and waves. Traffic management will be in place during construction which may cause some small delays.
Kūaotunu Hill slip repairs
Repairs to an underslip reducing SH25 to one lane between Wharekaho and Kūaotunu are set to begin before winter. This is one of two major remaining Cyclone Gabrielle recovery sites and presents challenges due to road width constraints and slip complexity.
Construction planning is underway to minimise disruption, but some road closures will be required. Updates will be provided as details are confirmed. Once started, repairs will take up to six months.
Work will also begin before winter on an underslip repair at Manaia Hill, expected to take three months. Traffic will be reduced to one lane with stop/go management.
Ongoing work includes embankment repairs at Boom Stream Bridge (SH25 between Hikuai and Ōpoutere) and slip stabilisation between Coromandel township and Te Rerenga.
Repairs at Pumpkin Hill are now complete, with 2100 cubic metres of unstable material removed.
Upcoming bridge replacements
Two single-lane bridges on SH25 will be replaced with two-lane structures over the next two years, improving the highway’s resilience and efficiency.
Work begins later this year on Boundary Creek Bridge, north of Te Mata. The bridge, currently reduced to one lane due to its condition, will be restored to two lanes with a new deck and strengthened abutments. The southern slow traffic bay will also be reinstated.
Given the narrow road corridor, some full road closures will be required. The project team is exploring construction options to complete the work efficiently while minimising disruption. Community engagement will help inform planning, and updates will be provided.
Meanwhile, design is underway for a new two-lane bridge at Ramarama Stream, north of Whiritoa. Construction will require funding, land acquisition, and consents before it can begin. The new bridge is planned east of the existing one to minimize traffic impacts until final connections are made.
Pepe Bridge replacement
The replacement of Tairua’s single-lane Pepe Stream Bridge is moving forward, with funding secured and procurement underway.
A contractor is expected to be confirmed by October, with design and consents finalized ahead of construction starting in spring 2026. The build will take about 12 months, with the new bridge opening before Christmas 2027.
The new two-lane bridge will include a shared walking and cycling path, replacing both the existing single-lane bridge and the separate pedestrian bridge.
For more roading updates, check out the NZTA website here.
Thames Protection & Resilience meeting
Come along to hear the latest findings on how we can protect Thames from risks of sea-level rise. Get an update on how river flooding fits into the picture. We'll share what new river modelling work is telling us. We'll also discuss whether it might make sense to integrate coastal and river responses, and the impact that may have on costs. Most importantly, it’ll be your chance to ask questions and contribute your views.
Where: Thames War Memorial Civic Centre
When: Monday 24 March 5.30-7pm
Find out more
Chorus cabinet art brings colour to our communities
The Chorus Cabinet Art Programme is a fantastic way to brighten up our streets, celebrate local talent, and deter graffiti. Across our district, 10 cabinets have recently been transformed into vibrant works of art, each reflecting the unique character of the area.
Local artists have brought their creative touch to cabinets in Coromandel-Colville, Thames, Mercury Bay, Tairua-Pāuanui, and Whangamatā, with designs featuring native birds, coastal landscapes, and cultural themes.
Completed artworks include:
- Tui’s Delight – Patricia Turner
- Paradise – Patricia Turner
- Mount Pleasant – Jardine Kaata
- Te Wheke o Muturangi – Jardine Kaata
- Kererū – Joel Nicholls
- New Zealand Toe Toe – Sharon Duymel
- Chip Happy – Matt Coates
- Hāhei Horizon and Bird Life – Alesha Blackburn
- Fantail Harmony – Alesha Blackburn
- Members from Supported Lifestyle Trust also painted a cabinet
These artworks not only add beauty to our neighbourhoods but also celebrate the creativity of our community. Keep an eye out for them next time you're out and about.
Find out more
Get involved
Get ready to rock’n’roll for Repco Beach Hop
Repco Beach Hop 2025 is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary from Wednesday 26 March to Sunday 30 March, 2025.
• Wednesday 26 March - Go Waihi Warm Up Party
• Thursday 27 March - Repco Power Cruise to Pāuanui
• Friday 28 March - Castrol Edge Thunder Cruise to Onemana
• Saturday 29 March - Grand parade, shows and markets in Whangamatā.
• Sunday 30 March - Final prize giving and Classic Cover Insurance Nostalgia Fair in Whangamatā.
Find out more
Check out our quarterly events newsletter
Adoptable dog of the week
If you are interested in adopting a dog, please contact us on 07 868 0200.
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