Citycare Property was incredibly proud to be selected as the contractor to carry out the initial development phases of the reserve’s Management Plan and recently approved Landscape Master Plan for Takapūneke Reserve.
Takapūneke is located on Akaroa Harbour, close to the Ōnuku Marae and approximately 1.8 km south-west of Akaroa township. The hapū of Ngāi Tārewa and Ngāti Irakehu are the tangata whenua of the takiwā and Ōnuku Rūnanga have the responsibility to act as kaitiaki over the land.
Takapūneke was one of many Māori settlements located throughout Akaroa Harbour. Takapūneke was originally the name of the kāinga and trading centre established by Te Maiharanui, Ūpoko Ariki of Ngāi Tahu, who was based primarily at Kaiapoi. During the 1820’s the centre traded in dressed harakeke. It is believed that at its peak, Takapūneke was home to approximately 200 people.
In 2018 the Takapūneke Reserve Management Plan was adopted and a co-governance group, including members of Ōnuku Rūnanga and representatives of Christchurch City Council, was formed to implement the Reserve concept master plan.
Takapūneke Reserve is a registered wāhi tapu with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (HNZPT) meaning it is “a place sacred to Māori in the traditional, spiritual, religious, ritual, or mythological sense” and HNZPT provides statutory protection of the site.
Preserving the past for the future
The Citycare Property team is being led by Brent Cations – Contract Manager Landscapes.
“The team has a tight deadline to work to as the site will be the venue for 2022 Waitangi Day celebrations for Ngāi Tahu and the Christchurch City Council. This first phase of work includes major earthworks, construction of retaining walls and pathways that lead to a pou, which is located as a central feature.”
The name of the pou being Pou-tū-te-Raki-o-Te-Maiharanui refers to the historical connection this land has with Te Maiharanui and its transformation and restoration, both physically and spiritually.
“We are making great progress and feel comfortable with meeting the deadline. We have had good weather on site over the past week and this has allowed us to establish the platform for the drilling rig earlier than programmed”.
A site of great significance
Due to the historic nature of the site the works are subject to extensive Environmental Management Protection controls, which means keeping partners and others up to date with progress. The sloping site also requires extensive sediment control management to meet stringent Environment Canterbury regulations.
The Landscape Master Plan includes a series of Takarangi’s (double spiral pathways with feature Pou), boardwalk, trails through the bush, seating, extensive native restoration planting, and a toilet block. There will be two main entry points with waharoa structures, interpretation panels, signage and water element for cleansing. The design is founded on kaupapa Māori concepts.
The work on the Master Plan was completed by Ōnuku Rūnanga, and Christchurch City Council are taking care of the detail design.
Phase two of the project, to be delivered by Citycare Property, will include some of the finer finishing details such as palisade fencing, feature timber detail on the retaining walls and furniture installation.
The first pou will be 8m in height and 600mm in width. It is intended that the pou be visible from Akaroa Harbour and form a prominent element as vehicle traffic passes the site along Ōnuku Road
According to Jason Rayner, Senior Project Engineer who is overseeing the day-to-day site activities, the Citycare Property team is very mindful of the history of the site and the significance of their work with great care taken to acknowledge these historic connections.