A pathway to construction Pukekohe High students visit Te Pae Mahara Roulston War Memorial Park

The park is in the final stage of a significant upgrade by Auckland Council as part of its Unlock Pukekohe programme and will be open to the public very soon.

Keeping it real

Ben Silk, Kaihautu/Head of Faculty, Social Sciences, says that this visit gave his students an overview of the broader park upgrade and key sustainability features while also helping to make construction more ‘real’ for them.

“Getting the chance to visit sites, to see, touch and experience the work firsthand helps make learning more real and authentic,” explains Mr Silk. “The opportunity to speak with council and contractor reps on site means students got in-depth information about both the park upgrade and the wider construction industry.”

Joseph Knights, Project Engineer with Lite Civil, the council’s contractor for the park upgrade, is very supportive of pathway programmes, saying they offer valuable insights about the construction industry.

“There are excellent opportunities in the trades and other practical industries,” says Mr Knights. “By stepping outside the more traditional academic framework and providing a real-world, career-focused pathway to success, we can better prepare young adults to be work-ready from the moment they leave school. I believe this increases their employability and gives them a stronger start. For construction in particular, young adults with early exposure to industry practices make them better prepared and ready to work in our industry.”

Sustainability - worth the effort

The students were particularly interested in the park’s sustainability features; vocal in their belief that the council and other organisations should continue with a strong focus on sustainability, protecting the environment and enhancing cultural heritage.

“I really think it’s worthwhile spending more time and money on durable materials,” says Sarsda Yem, a student in the pathways programme. “While it may or may not mean more money up front, it means they’ll last longer and won’t need replacing so quickly.”

The care taken to preserve mature trees in the park was also a hit, with Wyatt Sheen mentioning that he liked the way contractors looked after the roots of established trees, and Lucas Mara noting the thoughtful use of materials used for the shared path throughout the park.

“I really liked learning about the Organic-Lock pathways,” says Lucas. “They’re way better than standard concrete because they let the tree roots grow underneath. Joseph explained to us that it produces significantly less CO₂ compared to concrete or bitumen. We also thought that using Nike Grind – a product made from Nike’s left-over materials – to make the Wet Pour flooring was a cool feature.”

Mr Knights reflected that while Lite Civil’s work wasn’t necessarily centred on energy or emissions, the project still required a strong approach to sustainability. 

“Being a green park space, the overall emissions are relatively minimal,” explained Mr Knights. “Yet every effort was made in both designs, and in expectations of us as the council’s contractor, to be as sustainable as possible. We even carpooled to site!”

Along with the park’s connection and reference to wars involving Aotearoa, students also pointed to carvings by mana whenua as standout components of the park.  

Beyond sustainability, students reflected on the cultural and historical elements of the park, pointed to mahi toi, (carvings and design elements) by mana whenua artists, and features such as the waharoa (war memorial entrance archways) as stand out components that honour the site’s heritage and history.

The future’s in good hands

The Pukekohe Pathways programme was introduced this year and supports students to transition successfully into further education, training or employment. The programme provides access to local contexts for learning which are aligned to career pathways such as building and construction, electrical engineering and agriculture. 

For Marion Weatherley, Senior Project Manager, Auckland Urban Development Office, the opportunity to speak with students about the park’s upgrade left her feeling optimistic for the future.

“It was so great to know these students see a future in the building and construction industry,” says Ms Weatherley. “Their interest and focus on sustainability give me hope the next generation will have expectations about sustainability in all aspects of the industry. I hope there are more opportunities like this to share our work with young people and to hear first-hand what they think.” 

For the team at Lite Civil, the experience reinforced their belief that construction isn’t only about the physical build.
“Of course, construction is about bricks and mortar but it’s really more about creating spaces for people. This whenua will be enjoyed by residents and visitors for generations to come and we’re proud to have been involved in the upgrade.”

The students from Pukekohe High School were amongst the first people to experience the newly upgraded park Te Pae Mahara Roulston War Memorial Park. The park will be open to the public shortly, and the council, Franklin Local Board and Lite Civil share their hope that everyone will enjoy the upgraded park as much as its first visitors did.