Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I access Te Rimutahi for an event or an activation?
Please contact the Events team within Council on events@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
2. Will I need a permit for my event at Te Rimutahi?
To find out if you will need a permit or to apply for an Event Permit, please contact: https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/licences-regulations/event-permits/apply-event-permit/Pages/default.aspx, so that potential event organisers are directed to the correct link.
3. What is the history of the site?
In 1851, the original purchase was made for Queen Victoria. Ponsonby was known as ‘Dedwood’ by Europeans until 1870 and became known as ‘Ponsonby’ in 1873.
In 1886, the building of a new Catholic church named Sacred Heart was begun on the site at 254 Ponsonby Road and completed in 1887.
In 2006, the Auckland City Council purchased the site for a civic open space.
Te Rimutahi was formally opened on 17 May, 2025.
4. Who was involved in creating Te Rimutahi?
Auckland Council is the owner of the land.
Mana whenua Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Ngaati Te Ata Waiohua were deeply involved with the vision and development of Te Rimutahi, and the name Te Rimutahi was gifted to this project by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.
The Waitematā Local Board initiated the project through the hugely successful ‘Community-Led Design’ (CLD) process.
Several public consultations were conducted by the volunteer CLD group, which resulted in a clear design brief. An open competition was then held, in which designers and the general public were invited to submit entries that interpreted the brief. The community chose.
- The LandLAB Park+ concept design
- a whole site civic open space (Auckland’s Councillors unanimously supported this in December 2018)
Te Rimutahi now falls under the care of the Auckland Council Parks team https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/en/parks-recreation/community-spaces.html
5. What is ‘Community-led Design’?
Community-led design (CLD) is a process whereby a project is undertaken by a community group or organisation. It is a ‘from the bottom UP’, rather than a ‘from the top DOWN’ process.
It involves local people in decision-making that is informed by an ongoing process of community consultation and engagement throughout the project.
6. How did the CLD initiative happen?
The Waitematā Local Board selected people from a variety of groups to advance the whole-of-site civic open space objective. The Community-led design process resulted from a public meeting at which the Community-Led Design Group was formed by people interested in volunteering their time and effort for this community amenity.
7. How do I find out more?
Contact Auckland Council https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/en/parks-recreation/community-spaces/te-rimutahi/about-te-rimutahi.html
Contact the volunteer CLD group at: info@254ponsonbyrd.org.nz
Visit the Facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/254PonsonbyRd/?ref=ts&fref=ts
and: https://www.facebook.com/PonsonbyPark/?fref=ts
OR Instagram https://www.instagram.com/te_rimutahi
The Community-Led Design Group members received two ‘Good Citizen Awards’ in 2017 from the Waitematā Local Board. From left: Keith Maddison, Bryan Bates, Jennifer Ward, Chris Bailey, Paula Wilkinson, Boopsie Maran, and (missing) Andy Smith.