Keirunga Garden Gates Recognise Park’s Significance to Community

A proud moment arrives tomorrow for the Havelock North community as new ornate gates are officially opened, creating a distinctive statement at the entrance to one of our District’s premier parks, Keirunga Gardens.

Hastings District Council and the Keirunga Gardens Heritage Action Society (KGHAS) worked on the project together to both increase security, by restricting vehicle access at night, and to enhance the entrance to the gardens on Pufflet Rd.

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule, who is officially opening the gates tomorrow evening, says a huge amount of fundraising was done by the society in order to have these beautiful gates constructed.

This project has had great support from the community with the Endeavour Community Trust and Havelock North Lions Club assisting Council with the overall cost.

“Special mention should be made of Society chair Berry Small, Society secretary Wendy Anderson, who led the project, and Di Reid for fundraising. These gates will undoubtedly become an iconic feature of this wonderful park, which is treasured by the Havelock North community,” Mayor Yule.

A competition was held in 2008 to find an appropriate design which reflected the use of the gardens as a centre of art and culture, and incorporate physical characteristics of the area. A design by EIT Bachelor of Visual Arts student Raewyn Patterson was chosen.

Society chair Berry Small says Raewyn has used the meaning of Keirunga, “a place on high”, as inspiration for the ornate gates.

“She looked at the elements in the gardens that are special and unique: the clouds in the sky, the leaves on the trees and the tui which live here,” Mrs Small says.

The gates were constructed by Havelock North firm Fieldsway Engineering.

Media Invite:

Media are welcome to attend the opening on Wednesday, November 17, at the Pufflet Rd entrance.

5.30pm Society chair Berry Small welcomes attendees.

5.35pm Mayor Yule speaks.

5.40pm Mayor Yule and artist Raewyn Patterson open gates.

5.45pm Photographers welcome to take photos of gates with artist and society members.

ENDS

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