Imagine Onehunga cut off from the sea. This happened when a motorway was built in 1977. Now, we stand at Taumanu Reserve. It is Auckland’s newest waterfront addition.
Taumanu Reserve is more than just a park. It represents a community’s 40-year fight. They wanted to restore the foreshore. They also wanted to restore the mana of the area.
Jim Jackson grew up here. He saw what Onehunga had lost. He wanted it restored.
Opened in November 2015, Taumanu Reserve is a unique place. It opens up the Manukau Harbour. This would have been unimaginable twenty years ago.
It is the biggest land reclamation for recreation in the Southern Hemisphere. There are no other beaches like it. Giant pylons stride through the waters. A motorway runs directly behind. It is central for watching many bird species. It’s grungy and different.
The design of Taumanu Reserve references Onehunga’s volcanic and cultural significance. It rebuilds the natural characteristics of the coast. It uses the geologies and coastal processes of surrounding areas. This serves as a guide for the new landform.
This new coastline stretches over a kilometer. Within it are nine new beaches. Three are layered with sand. This encourages swimming. One is a gravel and shell beach. It is planted to deter animals. These beaches provide space for nesting birds.
Mana whenua played an important role in the creation of Taumanu Reserve. Five Maori groups with links to the area served as kaitiaki. They are Ngāti Te Ata, Te Ākitai, Ngāti Tamaoho, Ngāti Whātua, and Te Kawerau a Maki. They provided advice. They ensured the land’s story is told.
Look at the Taumanu Reserve Bridge. It is both a structure and a story. The pedestrian bridge is a physical testament to Onehunga’s history. This includes the volcanic, maritime, and cultural history.
The artwork inside the bridge was designed by Bernard Makoare of Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara. Its unaunahi pattern represents fish scales. It relates to the waters of the Manukau Harbour. It also relates to local fisheries.
One side of the bridge has a hardwood timber balustrade. This references maritime history. The other balustrade integrates timber cladding. It subtly references the form of flax. Flax once grew abundantly on this coast.
Taumanu Reserve had simple objectives. It recreated the harbor edge. It re-established the mana of the coast. This was achieved by creating new places for people and animals. It also reconnects people with the sea. This spans the wide expanse of the motorway.
Taumanu Reserve has won international recognition. It is a beautiful amalgamation of culture, history, nature, and community. It reconnects the community to the sea. It revives a sense of place. It elevates the quality of life for residents.