It was a dream come true for the kids of Northcote when the town centre was transformed into a cardboard neighbourhood.

The centre was converted into a bustling neighbourhood complete with pets and gardens. The Panuku-led event on March 15 provided a lovely morning of crafty fun for locals and inspired lots of imaginative playtime. 

Roxie Haines, Placemaker at Panuku Development Auckland, said the children and adults were free to construct new buildings or make smaller creations using recycled and recyclable materials. 

“The purpose was to get locals out enjoying an activity in their community. The construction theme was particularly pertinent due to the number of development projects in the area. The event provided a fun way to involve locals in what’s going on in their neighbourhood.”

The event included an interactive art installation by Buska Hub, titled The Collective Memory.

The artwork offered a contemporary interpretation of Northcote's past, drawing on the flowing streams and fish that once navigated through the area. Visitors were invited to craft a kōkopu, a fish found in New Zealand rivers and lakes, and add it to the installation to acknowledge the history of the area.

Panuku also worked closely with the Northcote Library, which ran a similar creative activity including a display of building, engineering, city and architecture-themed picture books and non-fiction reads for kids to have a browse through for building inspiration. This ignited conversation among local school children about development in Northcote.

The Collective Memory artwork will be installed as a permanent fixture in the Northcote Library. 

Check out some snaps from the day over on our Facebook page!