A good playground can change the feel of our open spaces. And for families who use Kohuora Park, in Papatoetoe, there’s now a brand new one to enjoy.
The upgrade was completed at the end of June, backed by $291,000 from the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board. It follows years of planning to renew the old playground and associated park furniture, with the existing equipment reaching the point where it needed replacing.
The project was about creating something new, rather than simply replacing what was already there.
Plans called for a suburb-level playspace for children aged 0–12, with a mix of active play and features designed, so children of different abilities can enjoy the space, along with new pathways and seating.
Local board chair Apulu Reece Autagavaia says the investment is about lifting the quality of local playgrounds.
“Despite our local board budget under increasing pressure in recent years, this local board continues to invest in better quality playgrounds.
"After years of underinvestment in south Auckland facilities, we are not only replacing our playgrounds but upgrading them. Our families deserve better.”
Importantly, local people had a say in what that upgrade would look like.
In 2025, the local board put two playground concepts out for consultation, asking people how they use Kohuora Park, what they wanted from the new playspace, and what accessibility and safety features mattered to them. That feedback helped shape the final design.
Local grandmother Riti has been bringing her grandchildren to Kohuora Park for years.
“We come here quite a bit - it's a short walk from our home, especially with the grandchildren. They’re enjoying the new playground because there is more to do now, and it’s great to see the park getting a bit of a freshen-up with the school and Panthers club right here.”
The playground is part of a park that already plays a bigger role in the neighbourhood. Kohuora is a large sports and recreation space, connected to Lendenfield and Beaufort reserves and used for sport, walking, family outings and community activities. It is also home to the Papatoetoe Panthers.
The name Kohuora comes from the ancient name for the volcanic crater the park sits within, referring to the lively or steaming mist associated with the crater.
That mix of recreation, nature and community use continues beyond the playground. In recent years, the park has hosted everything from Movies in Parks to environmental and nature-focused activities for local schools, including this recent activity.
For nearby families, the result is straightforward: a new place to play in a park that already gives the community plenty of reasons to visit.
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