Manu-kau Noa Iho Hayman Park reopens

23 April 2026

Manukau
News
Urban regeneration

Manu-kau Noa Iho Hayman Park is often described as the green lungs of Manukau, sitting in an otherwise urban and industrial area.

The park is reopening after a year of regeneration by the Auckland Urban Development Office (AUDO) and Healthy Waters & Flood Resilience with Te Ākitai Waiohua, Ngaati Tamaoho and Ngaati Te Ata Waiohua, and support from Ōtara Papatoetoe Local Board. When the park reopens to the public this month (April 2026), there will be even more to celebrate including a connection to te taiao.

Desley Simpson Deputy Mayor of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland says,

“Manu-kau Noa Iho Hayman Park stands as a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when we truly listen to our communities and act with purpose.

It brings together environmental restoration, cultural connection, and urban regeneration to support the wellbeing of everyone who calls Tāmaki Makaurau home.

I want to acknowledge and thank mana whenua for their leadership in making this project possible.

As the park reopens, there’s real excitement for Aucklanders to enjoy a space designed for everyday use as well as those community moments that bring people together".

Community voices have informed improvements

For local communities, Hayman Park will feel like a very different place from the one they know, for good reason. Hayman Park was once defined by uneven paths, limited accessibility, and a stagnant pond that was not particularly inviting. While people valued the presence of water and green space, feedback that catalysed the work over many years was consistent. Community voices called for better accessibility, more places to sit and gather, and spaces that worked for everyone.

“Survey results, waananga with local schools, and pop-ups at Manukau Library have all informed our understanding of what the community wanted for this space. We’ve been able to respond to their needs and realise their vision,”

Jennice Stringer, Auckland Urban Development Office (AUDO), Senior Project Manager.

Once much larger, Hayman Park has gradually been reduced over time as motorways and surrounding developments expanded. What remains today has been staunchly defended – a green space that serves the needs of a growing city. Manukau Ward Councillor Lotu Fuli reflects:

“I remember fondly when the plans for these wetlands first came before me when I was Chair of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board, to see it now finally completed a decade later is exciting. I look forward to enjoying this beautiful central park with our community, our children and future mokopuna.”

A park for everybody, every day

Visitors to the park are likely to notice wider, smooth paths inviting those walking and those on wheels – whether they’re attached to bikes, scooters, wheelchairs, or prams.

The park is positioned beside Manukau train and bus stations, parking buildings and shopping precinct and the AUDO ambition is that it will one day connect with the Auckland Botanic Gardens.

New entry points lead to a continuous one-kilometre circuit which now weaves through the park, connecting key points of interest for visitors.

The much-loved playground remains a brightly coloured and lively attraction for families, near new covered barbecues that make it easy for gatherings to include kai.

From here, quieter paths lead toward the wetland, where boardwalks, viewing platforms, and seating invite moments of rest and reflection.

Water at the heart of the park

How water is treated at Hayman Park has fundamentally changed. The original pond, built in the 1970s and thought to be a good solution at the time, has proved to be difficult to maintain. For mana whenua, improving water quality and regenerating the health of the wider catchment has been a priority for a long time. In response, water that once flowed untreated through the area is captured and cleaned onsite.

Rubbish and pollutants will be stopped early, thanks to the newly installed Gross Pollutant Trap (GPT), a stormwater treatment system designed to remove bulky pollutants, plastics, sediment, and litter from stormwater runoff. From there, water flows into a wetland and is filtered by plants before flowing into the Puhinui Stream and onto the Manukau Harbour.

Keeping a strong focus on stormwater and how we should treat it has been central to the kaupapa.

For 15 years, in her role as a mana whenua kaitiaki, Lucie Rutherfurd (Ngaati Tamaoho), has had a seat at the table, challenging those involved in the regeneration project to seek the best solutions to improve water quality and regenerate te taiao. Jennice says,

"We’ve got to acknowledge Lucie. She’s been advocating for this work from the beginning, and because of her, we’ve been able to push through so many obstacles.

Many hands have contributed to the kaupapa over the years, but her consistency has kept this kaupapa alive,”.

Thousands of new resting places for birds

Manu-kau Noa Iho means ‘only, just, birds’ and this name helped shape the approach to design.

"The park was already filled with mature, exotic trees. One of the big changes we’ve made is planting more than 20,000 native plants in areas that were previously grass, and 50 native trees to help increase canopy cover, strengthen the unique identity of the park, and bring back what was once here, including large wetlands and the eels that would have lived within."

Ainsley Verstraeten, AUDO Principal Landscape Architect.

The park is alive with stories shared through beautifully crafted artworks developed by our artists in close collaboration with mana whenua, creating a tranquil and welcoming space. From balustrades adorned with wetland-inspired tohu by Jamie Te Huia Cowell (Ngaati Te Ata), to strategically placed bird perches that welcome wildlife, every detail reflects a deep connection to the repo (wetlands) and its inhabitants.

At the main entrance, a whaariki (woven mat) mapped with the Puhinui awa, designed by Ngāio Cowell (Ngaati Te Ata), is woven into the paving, creating a powerful sense of arrival and acknowledging the park’s role as a guardian of sacred waterways. Along the paths, paatiki, maatuku, and manaia designs by Paora Puru (Ngaati Te Ata) guide visitors toward the water, celebrating wetland life and the enduring role of kaitiakitanga throughout the park

Looking forward

Together, these changes mark a significant milestone for Manukau and wider Auckland, supporting both our environment and our people to thrive. They strengthen connections between our green spaces along the Puhinui awa, linking Manu-kau Noa Iho Hayman Park, Wai-akatea Raataa Vine Reserve, and the Auckland Botanic Gardens. By prioritising investment in high-quality public space, the project acts as a catalyst for wider regeneration. As Richard Davison, AUDO Transform Manukau Director says,

"Manukau is the thriving heart and soul of South Auckland, and Hayman Park is the green lungs which bring this place to life."

Celebrate the reopening of Manu-kau Noa Iho Hayman Park under the full moon with a free, family-friendly night of festivities between 6.30pm and 9.30pm on Saturday May 30.

Come along to enjoy free kai after completing an activity card (while it lasts), with prize giveaways, live performances and kapa haka, maramataka activities, arts workshops, light installations, and tuk tuk park tours all happening throughout the event.