Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park, is one of the most significant cultural and archaeological landscapes in New Zealand.

The park is welcoming a rising number of visitors in recent years which is placing strain on existing facilities. The upgrade project aims to highlight the park’s rich cultural history while providing increased and enhanced access for the community.  

Why is a new carpark needed?

The Regional Park has over 100,000 people per year, and this is growing at 10% year on year as the Park becomes more popular with both locals and out of town visitors. As a result the carpark is frequently at capacity during busy times. The increasing number of visitors has highlighted safety issues with access to the carpark given its close proximity to a working quarry.

Sharing the cultural story

Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park is a culturally rich landscape, with visible evidence of their historical occupation and links to Maketu, (Mauao) Mount Maunganui and Tauranga Moana. Māori from many iwi have long understood the strategic importance of the Pāpāmoa Hills with their commanding position over the surrounding coastline.

There are 1,630 individual archaeological features recorded within the Park. Predominantly the features are terraces/tuku and platforms/papatahi, pits, middens and defensive earthworks such as ditches/maioro. The number of archaeological features present in such a small area is very unusual for New Zealand, and reflects why it is necessary to protect these sites, and also tell the story of this important cultural landscape.

new carpark
Design concept for entrance.

The new carpark and visitor space

In 2017, Regional Council staff and iwi representatives started working together to develop a concept for the new carpark and visitor gateway. The new space will include the creation of an improved entry from Poplar Lane, increased carparking capacity and improved safety for vehicle access. A new entrance way to the park which includes an interpretation area to help park users understand some of the cultural and historic context of the land they are visiting, and improved track signage will enhance the experience for visitors coming to enjoy the Regional Park.

The new carpark and visitor entry space will be the primary access to the Regional Park and will provide over 80 additional carpark spaces, and a new gateway to the Regional Park, as shown in the images below. The new carpark will be located approximately 300m to the east of the existing carpark entrance.

car park concept
New car park design concept.

Progress to date

  • Acquisition of an additional 45 hectares of land – completed 2017, 2019 and 2021
  • Detailed design for new carpark and visitor entry space completed 2021 by Boffa Miskell and Law Creative co-designed in partnership with representatives from Waitaha, Ngā Potiki, Ngāti Pūkenga and Ngāti He
  • Site blessing October 2021
  • Construction commenced March 2022
  • Enabling works complete Quarter 1 2023

Next steps

  • Stage 2 works Quarter 1 to Quarter 2 2023
  • Opening of new car park and entrance planned for Spring 2023

Project updates

6 months ago

Project in its final stages!

A new children’s play area, enhanced seating, interpretive panels and more are all set to feature in the Pāpāmoa Hills Regional Park upgrade which is in its final stages.

After a year of preparing the ground for the new carpark, upcoming works include the installation of a new storm water system, rain garden, carpark surfacing and onsite effluent treatment.

2023-04-13 - Project in its final stages!

A new children’s play area, enhanced seating, interpretive panels and more are all set to feature in the Pāpāmoa Hills Regional Park upgrade which is in its final stages.

After a year of preparing the ground for the new carpark, upcoming works include the installation of a new storm water system, rain garden, carpark surfacing and onsite effluent treatment.

A visually stunning tomokanga or entryway will welcome visitors to the site which is one of one of the most significant cultural and archaeological landscapes in Aotearoa. Track upgrades include the construction of a wheelchair-friendly short loop track and a new 1500m walkway connecting the new carpark and existing walkway. The latter will meander alongside the Maraearoa pā site offering more spectacular views. An 80m staircase will also be built as an option for a more direct route within the new track. The project is expected to be completed by Spring 2023.

An overview of what’s been happening:

Carpark:

  • HEB Construction have been contracted to complete the carpark construction, physical works of the project began early 2022 (after years of planning) when ground assessments were completed. This resulted in wick drains being installed and the site being pre-loaded from April 2022 until December 2022.
  • The existing carpark will remain open as an alternative walking track option.
  • Since early 2023 HEB have been actively progressing the new carpark construction with the main current and upcoming activities prior to opening being;
    • Widening of the road carriageway for safe carpark access
    • Stormwater system installation
    • OSET system and facility infrastructure installation (Onsite Effluent Treatment)
    • Rain garden and kerb channel formation followed by carpark surfacing
    • Offsite tomokanga creation then installation
    • Gathering space, children’s play area, seating and interpretive sign panels to be installation
    • Short loop track creation providing a wheelchair friendly experience
    • Environmental enhancement planting  

Walking tracks:

  • New 1500m metalled walkway connecting the new carpark and existing walkway meanders beside Maraearoa pā site
  • 80m staircase will be built as an option for a more direct route within the new track

papamoa hills upgrade
Carpark progress, March 2023.

papamoa hills upgrade
Track upgrades underway, March 2023.

papamoa hills upgrade
Carpark progress, March 2023.

papamoa hills upgrade
A misty view across the new carpark, March 2023.

papamoa hills upgrade
Track upgrades underway, March 2023.

papamoa hills upgrade
Track upgrades underway, March 2023.

upgrade progress
about 2 years ago

Pāpāmoa Hills upgrade

A site blessing took place this morning to mark the beginning of works for the anticipated Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park upgrade project.

The new carpark and visitor entry space, which is scheduled to be completed next year, will be the primary access to the Regional Park and will provide more than 80 additional carpark spaces, and a visitor entry space highlighting the stories of the Pāpāmoa Hills’ history and occupation for members of the public to read.

2021-10-11 - Pāpāmoa Hills upgrade

A site blessing took place this morning to mark the beginning of works for the anticipated Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park upgrade project.

The new carpark and visitor entry space, which is scheduled to be completed next year, will be the primary access to the Regional Park and will provide more than 80 additional carpark spaces, and a visitor entry space highlighting the stories of the Pāpāmoa Hills’ history and occupation for members of the public to read.

There will be a new walking track from the carpark into the park, and a footpath connecting to the existing carpark.

The new carpark will be located approximately 300m to the east of the existing carpark entrance on Polar Lane.

A small group of representatives from Waitaha, Nga Potiki, Ngāti Pūkenga and Ngāti He alongside Bay of Plenty Regional Councillors and staff, and consultants who are part of the project delivery team met at the location of the new carpark site to mark the occasion and bless the site before works begin.

Physical works for the new space should start in mid-November 2021 and includes site excavation and pre-loading with structural fill.

Boffa Miskell, Law Creative and WSP have now completed a detailed design of the new carpark and visitor entry space in partnership with representatives from Waitaha, Ngā Potiki, Ngāti Pūkenga and Ngāti He.

site blessing
about 3 years ago

Pāpāmoa Hills multi-million dollar upgrade approved

Bay of Plenty Regional Council today approved the concept design stage of a major upgrade for Te Rae o Pāpāmoa / Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park. The improvements will create a richer experience for visitors through construction of a new 86 space carpark, upgraded amenities and new provision for the sharing of cultural stories.

Read the full media release.