The new Lakeside playground was full of energy on Saturday, 21 February as around 250 residents, families, and visitors came together to celebrate the opening of our new Matariki themed park. With beautiful weather and a strong turnout, it was a morning that truly reflected the collaboration and community spirit behind this special space.

Shaped through meaningful community input, including ideas and artwork from local schools, the park carries the themes of renewal, growth, and connection at its heart. Families quickly spread out to explore the space, enjoying a mesmerising giant bubble performance, a lively basketball challenge complete with free iceblocks, and complimentary facepainting for tamariki. Many also took home vegetable seedlings— a nod to the Matariki traditions of planting and sustainability.

It was wonderful to see whānau of all ages connecting, engaging, and celebrating the opening together. Positive feedback flowed throughout the morning, and the immediate use of the new spaces showed just how valued this park already is within the community.

Our sincere thanks go to Winton for delivering the park in partnership with Ngā Muka, to the local schools and community whose input guided the design, and to Waikato District Council and our wider partners for their continued support.

The event helped strengthen community bonds, celebrated cultural storytelling, and encouraged everyone to make the space their own from day one.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the morning such a success.

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