Heritage Park dedicated

Tu Tangata, Issue 18, 1 June 1984, Page 37

Heritage Park dedicated

TThe site of the New Zealand Heritage Park at Mount Wellington was dedicated recently in a special ceremony by Mr Te Whati Potene Awaitaia, paramount chief and high priest of Ngati Mahaga.

Heritage Park will become a major maori centre for cultural activity, carving, weaving and entertainment once it is opened and operating in December this year.

A small, especially invited group of directors, business associates and some of the maori entertainers and staff attended the ceremony, which was arranged by the park’s Cultural Consultant, Mr Howard Morrison. Mr Irirangi Tiakiawa, of the Te Arawa people also assisted with the ceremony.

New Zealand Heritage Park is being developed on a 30-acre site, in Harrison Road, off the Ellerslie-Panmure Highway.

New Zealand Heritage Park is a concept which breaks new ground in the tourist scene in New Zealand.

It is a true theme park which accurately portrays aspects of New Zealand life in an entertaining and enjoyable way. Features of the park will include a Natureworld with native plants of New

Zealand, native animals, aviary and trout ponds; Agriworld stressing the importance of agriculture to the economy of New Zealand, displays of exotic timber trees, horticulture crops, farm animals, shearing displays; Culture-

world incorporating two spectacular international standard audio visuals, one showing New Zealand scenery, and the other featuring New Zealand’s development to the present day; displays

of maori arts and crafts, songs and le g ends ’. entertainment areas for children, mini . golf course, and two restaurants which, during the summer month s, will feature special evening meals and professional P maori entertainment. There will also be goods on sale deluding New Zealand produce, high quality souvenirs, native plants and arts and crafts. The Park’s 30-acre site has been purchased from the Mt Wellington Borough Council. The land was previously quarried by the Ministry of Works but hag nQt been utilised for many years, and the developers have transformed this wasteland into a landscaped oasis centred around a large lake which will give visitors the illusion

that although only 10 minutes from downtown Auckland they are not really in the midst of a city. The park will grow more beautiful as the trees and native flora develop. The park is planned to be open seven days a week in the summer months, but will be closed for two days of the week during winter. Staff numbers are expected to be 80-90 and visitor projections are for 400,000 people per year.