Regional parks of New Zealand are protected areas administered by regional councils, the top tier of local government. Regional parks are found across several regions of New Zealand: the Auckland Region, Waikato Region, Bay of Plenty Region, Hawkes Bay Region, Wellington Region and Canterbury Region. Regional parks in the Auckland and Waikato regions are administered by the Auckland Council, while parks in other areas are administered by regional councils: the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, and Canterbury Regional Council.
History
Regional parks in New Zealand are large open spaces typically outside the metropolitan boundaries of cities; larger than city parks and smaller than the National parks of New Zealand. The first regional park in New Zealand was the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, which was established in 1964 when the Centennial Memorial Park of the Waitākere Ranges had its administration transferred to the Auckland Regional Authority. The first park purchased and established by the Auckland Regional Authority was Wenderholm Regional Park in 1965.
East Harbour Regional Park, managed by the Greater Wellington Regional Council, was the first regional park established in the Wellington Region in 1979.
The Local Government Act 2002 empowered other local government authorities outside of Auckland and Wellington to establish regional parks. The first of these was the Papamoa Hills Regional Park in the Bay of Plenty Region, established in 2004. The first regional park in the Canterbury Region was the Waimakariri River Regional Park, established in 2006.
In November 2010, local government reforms merged the different local government authorities of Auckland into a single unitary authority, the Auckland Council. During this process, areas of Franklin District and Manukau City were reassigned to the Waikato Region, including areas which included regional parks. Because of this, three regional parks are found in the northern Waikato, which are administered by the Auckland Council.
List of regional parks This table lists current regional parks from north to south.
Regional Park Image Region Area km2EstablishedLocationDescriptionTe Ārai Regional ParkAuckland Region 2008Coastal park at Te ĀraiGlenfern Sanctuary Regional ParkAuckland Region 2016Native forested area on Great Barrier IslandPākiri Regional ParkAuckland Region 2005Coastal park in the northern Auckland Region and nesting area for the New Zealand fairy ternĀtiu Creek Regional ParkAuckland Region 2008A working sheep and cattle farm on the eastern shores of the Kaipara Harbour, near WellsfordTāwharanui Regional ParkAuckland Region 1973Coastal farmland at the end of the Tāwharanui Peninsula, which includes the fenced Tāwharanui Open SanctuaryScandrett Regional ParkAuckland Region 2004Coastal park near WarkworthTe Rau Pūriri Regional ParkAuckland Region 2005Regenerating forest and farmland park on the South Kaipara Head.Mahurangi East Regional ParkAuckland Region 1988Eastern headland of the Mahurangi Harbour, and Scott Point, the headland of the Te Kapa Peninsula. Formerly a part of the Mahurangi Regional Park.Mahurangi West Regional ParkAuckland Region 1988Western headland of the Mahurangi HarbourTe Muri Regional ParkAuckland Region 2010Coastal park and farmland near Te Muri Beach.Wenderholm Regional ParkAuckland Region 1965Coastal park between the Puhoi River and Waiwera RiverShakespear Regional ParkAuckland Region 1967Coastal headland of the Whangaparāoa Peninsula, primarily farmland with areas of regenerating forestLong Bay Regional ParkAuckland Region 1970sBeach, sand dune and forested area to the north of the North ShoreWhakanewha Regional ParkAuckland Region 2007Coastal park on Waiheke IslandMuriwai Regional ParkAuckland Region 1981Coastal sand dune, wetland and golf course adjacent to Muriwai beach, featuring a mainland gannet colonyMotukorea Browns Island Regional ParkAuckland Region 2018Island in the Hauraki GulfŌmana Regional ParkAuckland Region 1970Coastal park near MaraetaiDuder Regional ParkAuckland Region 1995Working farm and regenerating forest on the Whakakaiwhara Peninsula, east of AucklandMutukāroa / Hamlins Hill Regional ParkAuckland Region 1997Working farm and regenerating native forest in AucklandWaitawa Regional ParkAuckland Region 2008Coastal park and working farm to the west of Kawakawa BayTawhitokino Regional ParkAuckland Region 1981Area adjacent to Tawhitokino beachAmbury Regional ParkAuckland Region 1987A working sheep farm and bird sanctuary on the shores of the Manukau Harbour, Māngere Bridge.Orere Point Regional ParkAuckland Region 1981Small forested and coastal park near Ōrere PointWaitākere Ranges Regional ParkAuckland Region 1964Native bush and coastal park in the Waitākere RangesTāpapakanga Regional ParkAuckland Region 1995Coastal farmland and forested ares at the mouth of the Firth of ThamesAuckland Botanic GardensAuckland Region 1982Botanical garden in Manurewa, South Auckland. While officially a regional park by the Auckland Council, the botanic gardens are not managed under the regional park plan, and does not incorporate the term 'regional park' into its name.Waharau Regional ParkWaikato Region 1979Park between the Hunua Ranges and Firth of ThamesHunua Ranges Regional ParkWaikato Region, Auckland Region 1965Mountain range south-east of Auckland, featuring areas of native forest and water reservesWhakatīwai Regional ParkWaikato Region 1967Coastal park between the Hunua Ranges and the Firth of ThamesĀwhitu Regional ParkAuckland Region 1975Regional park composed of farmland, wetlands and regenerating forest on the eastern Āwhitu PeninsulaPapamoa Hills Regional ParkBay of Plenty Region 2003Native bush, open farmland and archaeological site southeast of TaurangaOnekawa Te Mawhai Regional ParkBay of Plenty Region 2010Headland of the Ōhiwa Harbour in the Bay of Plenty RegionTūtira Regional ParkHawke's Bay 1999A land use demonstration park between lakes Tutira and Waikopiro, with campgrounds and walking tracks.Waitangi Regional ParkHawke's Bay 20005 km long coastal located between Awatoto and Haumoana, known for wildlife, sports and the Atea a Rangi star compass.Pākōwhai Regional ParkHawke's Bay1973The smallest of Hawke’s Bay’s regional parks. Popular for dog walking.Pekapeka Regional ParkHawke’s Bay 1990s One of the few remaining wetland areas in Hawke’s Bay, and a site of restoration.Queen Elizabeth ParkWellington Region 1953Akatarawa ForestWellington Region Native forest north of Upper HuttBattle Hill Farm Forest ParkWellington Region 1987Kaitoke Regional ParkWellington Region 1983Pakuratahi ForestWellington Region Belmont Regional ParkWellington Region 1986Wainuiomata Regional ParkWellington Region 2022East Harbour Regional ParkWellington Region 1979Regional Park in three sections: the Northern Forest, an area southwest of Wainuiomata and east of the Wellington Harbour which includes the Butterfly Creek valley, Parangarahu Lakes Area, the area east of Pencarrow Head which includes Lake Kohangapiripiri and Lake Kohangatera, and Baring Head / Ōrua-pouanuiAshley Rakahuri Regional ParkCanterbury Region 2012Banks of the Ashley River / Rakahuri and Okuku RiversWaimakariri River Regional ParkCanterbury Region 2006Banks of the Waimakariri RiverFerrymead Regional ParkCanterbury Region 2018On the southern banks of the Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River, surrounding Ferrymead Heritage ParkLake Tekapo Regional ParkCanterbury Region 2008Eastern shores of Lake Tekapo
List of regional council administered areas This table lists areas administered under regional park systems or by regional councils, from north to south.
Regional Park Image Region Area km2EstablishedLocationDescriptionMount SmartAuckland Region 1985Domain and stadium in central Auckland, which came under the administration of the Auckland Regional Authority in 1985, later the Auckland Regional Council from 1989. Until the dissolution of the Auckland Regional Council in 2010, Mount Smart Domain was mentioned in regional park documents.Te Motu a Hiaroa / PuketutuAuckland Region N/AIsland in the Manukau Harbour, South Auckland. While officially designated as a regional park by the Auckland Council, the island is currently leased by Watercare Services, who are reconstructing the quarried hills with biosolids. Once filling operations have ceased by 2049, the island is planned to be redeveloped into a regional park and cultural centre, including a marae and wānanga.Hutt Water Collection AreaWellington Region 1951Whitireia ParkWellington Region 1976Southern headland of Porirua Harbour. While it shares features with regional parks and is listed alongside other regional parks of Wellington, it is not a regional park due to being administered by the Whitireia Park Board.Hutt River TrailWellington RegionWalking and cycling path along the banks of the Hutt RiverWairarapa Moana WetlandsWellington Region Lake Wairarapa, Lake Ōnoke and a section of wetlands on the eastern shore of Lake WairarapaWainuiomata Water Collection AreaWellington RegionProposed site of the Puketahā wildlife sanctuary.Northern Pegasus BayCanterbury RegionShores of Pegasus Bay north of the Waimakariri River mouth
See also Protected areas of New Zealand Conservation in New Zealand Forest parks of New Zealand National parks of New Zealand
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