The Northcote community continues to make its mark on the “stunningly beautiful” greenway that winds through our neighbourhood.

Dozens of people again turned out for another Kaipātiki Project Make Your Mark event in November, following a successful day earlier this year that attracted nearly 60 volunteers.

Te Ara Awataha is the natural green corridor that connects Northcote’s schools, parks and neighbourhoods, and will also flow into our new town centre.

As well as more greenway regeneration through removing invasive weeds, and water testing to take care of the awa, volunteers at the November event also got stuck into nature journalling.

While others collected and cleaned up rubbish in the area, tamariki were entertained at the kids’ corner. And at the far end of the stream, people could roll into the bicycle repair hub.

Derek Craig, Regenerative Environments Lead at Kaipātiki Project, says the restored stream has achieved more than resolving drainage issues for Northcote.

Te Ara Awataha was daylighted to enable new homes and provide better drainage for the wider community, as well as to benefit our natural environment and empower residents to help it thrive.

Now complete, Northcote Development and Kāinga Ora continue to provide funding and support community-led initiatives like Kaipātiki Project, which strive to protect and preserve this taonga for future generations.

“It’s a really nice amenity to be on and it’s become a really stunningly beautiful place to be,” Derek says.

“Today’s event is part of community building – to help bring the community together to start developing, when this turns into its own forest, a community group that can love it and look after it.”

Watch the event highlights here

Get involved

Anyone who wants to take part in future efforts is encouraged to contact Kaipātiki Project for more information.

“If you think this is a cool project … we’d love to see you come down,” Derek says.

“It’s been really great to work with Kāinga Ora, Eke Panuku, Healthy Waters and Kaipātiki Local Board to help create this awesome community space.”

To find out more about Te Ara Awataha, or make your mark in Northcote by helping to protect our natural environment, check out the Kaipātiki Project website.