Creative thinking and art is an integral part of Hobsonville Point. This is expressed through a variety of projects and through the approach taken to landscaping. We are guided by the site’s rich history, strong character, local ecology, existing amenity and promising future. We aim to enrich resident’s and visitor’s experiences and invite you to explore our magnificent site.

by John Reynolds

A procession of blackened poles dynamically tracks across the shifting topology of the parkland. Both a unifying presence in the landscape and a visual barrier, both demarcating and darkly promenading.

Taking its cue from nineteenth century illustrations of local Maori demarcation poles, and photos of the eventual fencing of boundaries with the arrival of more recent communities, this work dramatises the processes of 'marking off' the land. The intention is an artwork IN the landscape rather than ON the landscape, and crucially, a localised drama of edges and site.

Consisting of 108 charred and/or stained wooden poles of various diameters closely staged at irregular distances apart and at differing heights, and charting a straight dark line bisecting the park through the pond and planted areas and on toward the old runway and distant city.

The work forms an extended graphic and sculptural event demarcating and defining views, pathways and textural collisions of cultivation and 'wilderness'. Signifying simultaneously a 'cultural edge' and a brusque physical or atavistic presence. At once encapsulating the characteristics of formality and symmetry, while retaining a madcap and organic play of lines and arhythmic spaces.

This elongated parade of stakes offers differing qualities at various stages as it negotiates the terrain. For instance, adjacent to the playground area a more compressed 'stockade' density invites interaction. While the stakes crossing the pond create their own poetry in the play of reflection and movement on the water.

TIWATAWATA is intended to provoke a rich pedestrian experience and even 'unsettle' as a singular and thoughtful visual spectacle in the park context.

by Isthmus Group and Cicada Workshop

Climb up inside the giant fantail nests for a birds eye view of the brand new playground in Hobsonville Point Park. Scaled up seedpods from native trees can be discovered along winding trails that weave through play areas and planting in a forest floor themed adventure.

Hobsonville Point Park and its nature based playground was designed by Isthmus Group. During the design process, the Landscape Architects worked closely with Cicada Workshop to develop the seedpods and nest designs. These were then constructed by the skilled and innovative team at Cicada from corten and stainless steel. The collaborative approach between Isthmus and Cicada has helped produce a unique play experience and has allowed the sculptures to be integrated effectively into the environment. The seedpods and their surroundings build on landscape values becoming inherent in the Hobsonville Point development such as habitat provision, education about the environment and native planting.

The playground is designed to encourage discovery and imaginative play alongside classic, more familiar play elements. It enables children to experience native plants and trees and learn about how the seeds of our native forest trees are dispersed. Tree and plant species have been selected to include those with bird attracting fruit and flowers to persuade tui, kereru and other native birds into the playground. This helps to strengthen the wider ecological corridor that runs through the park while adding to the richness of the play space.

"We aimed to design a playground with a strong natural theme in which everything was play; from the familiar swings and slides, to the new climbing and spinning activities on the seedpods, right through to the tree root inspired paths and edges. It's fantastic to see it getting put to the test by children, and their parents for that matter! To see a kereru in here will be the icing on the cake." Haylea Muir, Landscape Architect, Isthmus.

Trace the trails and walls to your favourite play activity or observe all the action from high inside the nests, there is a challenge for all ages to be found in the Hobsonville Point Park Playground.

Other fantastic features of the Hobsonville Point Park include the first segment of a 4km coastal walk and cycle way, a planted wetland, a community orchard, seating and picnic areas.