A new approach to the way Auckland Council maintains and improves local parks is under way in an exciting pilot project at Auckland’s oldest park.
At five locations within Pūkekawa Auckland Domain, park visitors will notice a change in appearance as a range of restorative and sustainable horticultural practices are applied. They include reduced mowing, mulching and companion planting, all of which are expected to improve tree health, soil and water quality.
Pūkekawa Auckland Domain Committee chair, Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson, says the practice in each location brings science-based solutions together to target climate change in more ways than one.
“This is an important step for Tamaki Makaurau Auckland. It represents a shift in thinking away from highly maintained, neatly trimmed slopes towards healthier, more restorative garden design,” says Cr Simpson.
Restorative horticulture is one of many improvements made in the Domain by the committee over the past three years, despite the challenges faced from extensive flooding in early 2023.
At that time, the Domain played a critical role in retaining floodwater and lessening the impact on surrounding properties, but its sports fields, trees, and tracks were damaged.
Since then, there have been multiple upgrades to paths, the restoration of damaged forest tracks, renewed water features, the cricket grandstand and lighting, and a historic refurbishment of the Domain’s 111-year-old band rotunda.
Other highlights have been hosting major successful events through the years, including Synthony in the Park, Urban Polo and Christmas in the Park. The sports field drainage has been improved and fundraising plans are under way to deliver a new playground.
The most significant achievement in 2023 was the completion of a major upgrade to the Winter Gardens, alongside securing a 5-star rating from the NZ Garden Trust and earning recognition as a Garden of National Significance.
Auckland Domain Site Manager and horticultural specialist, Jonathan Corvisy, says the rate of progress has been impressive but he’s most excited to see more ‘natural’ habitats flourish across the central features of the Domain.
“Each garden will work more closely with nature, combining a touch of ‘laissez-faire’ with careful selection of what grows where. This will reduce the need for intensive maintenance while delivering long-term benefits for both the garden and the wider ecosystem,” says Mr Corvisy.
“With extra mulching, we will help the soil regenerate and strengthen tree health. Over time, our goal is to recycle all green waste from the Domain back into the gardens, creating a natural cycle that gives back to the land and nurtures future growth.”
Planting will be the primary focus at two sites to help absorb more rainwater and filter the flow of water feeding into the duck pond, he says.
Parks and Community Facilities Manager of Area Operations Martin Wong says signage at each site explains the process and the benefits of regenerative horticulture to visitors.
“I think there is great potential for these gardens to sow more than a few seeds,” says Mr Wong.
“They’ll demonstrate how to apply a sustainable gardening approach at home and set a benchmark to guide the way we maintain all parks in the future, with even more focus on the environment.”
The five trial sites at Pūkekawa Auckland Domain are:
A restorative ‘sponge’ garden near Garden Road, close to the Domain nursery. Organic mulching and perennial planting will help to absorb water at this site.
A restorative garden near the duck pond. Native riparian species will soak up water and improve the pond water quality.
A low-mow regenerating site at Pukekaroa hill, under a stand of oak trees. The plan is to create a meadowlike ecosystem to reduce soil compaction, minimise water run-off and root damage.
A low-mow site behind the cricket grandstand near Carlton Gore Road, combined with mulching. This will help to improve soil and tree health in a grove currently under stress.
A low-mow site between Domain Drive and the Grandstand Road North, to improve tree health. Pathways will run through the area for continued pedestrian access.
Read more about Pūkekawa Auckland Domain highlights and achievements in 2022-2025.
The Domain played a critical role in retaining flood waters during 2023 storm events, lessening the impact on the surrounding properties. The lower sports fields became a lake but drained relatively quickly.
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