Waiapu Precinct

Eke Panuku is investing in Onehunga’s future by leading this project to support the growing population, local businesses and ensure a thriving town centre.

Eke Panuku has developed the proposed design, seeking to balance:

• what the community has already said through consultation in early 2020, in particular - the need for improved safety, better connectivity around the town centre, more green space, parking, quality housing and buildings and an improved supermarket
• responses to commercial investment intentions in the town centre, e.g. the extension to Dress Smart and negotiations for a new anchor retailer with its own on-site parking
• the desire for greater visual celebration of mana whenua kōrero and history in Onehunga
• retaining, enhancing and extending the greenspace and ecology within the precinct, to build on the existing planting
• the need for a “family play space” in the Onehunga Town Centre
• the desire to stimulate further private sector investment in Onehunga
• the strategic need to increase housing supply, close to public transport, in Tamaki Makaurau

The Project

Waiapu is a key precinct in the centre of Onehunga’s town centre. Integrated with the Te Pumanawa o Onehunga precinct immediately to the south and the Dress Smart precinct to the east, the Waiapu Precinct will be transformed to provide a more inviting and walking-friendly town centre for Onehunga.  Currently the precinct contains a mix of commercial buildings, a commercial mini-golf facility and St Peters Anglican Church, but is heavily dominated by carparks.

The proposed Waiapu Precinct public realm design is being released to provide a further opportunity for feedback from the community on proposals for:

• the design of over a hectare of new public space (1.014 hectares)
• a new 530sqm family play space catering for all ages, abilities and preferences
• a new sheltered pavilion
• planting to complement existing trees, offering adequate shade in summer and visual “softening” of the space
• improved east-west walking connections between Waiapu Precinct, Onehunga Mall and Paynes Lane through to Dress Smart
• improved north south walking connections from Onehunga Primary School to the Onehunga Library
• changes to car parking over time
• improved sense of place through incorporating Onehunga’s key features and history

How to have Your Say

 A public consultation will be held from 12 February to 10 March 2024.

In partnership with mana whenua and with the support of the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board we’re seeking views and feedback on the proposed design for the public spaces. To find out more info and Have Your Say:

Attend an information drop-in session on:

• Saturday 17 February 2024, 10.30am-12.30pm, Onehunga Library, 85 Church St, Onehunga. Register your interest here.
• Saturday 24 February 2024, 10.00am-12.00pm, Dress Smart, 151 Arthur Street, Onehunga. Register your interest here.

• complete a feedback form at Onehunga Library
• visit akhaveyoursay.co.nz (from 12 February)

At the end of the consultation we will consider all the feedback and create a design for approval by the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board by 30 June 2024.