Media Release

22 June 2012

Pakowhai Country Park Book

A new book about Pakowhai Country Park is being launched next week by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.

Pakowhai CP Cover“Pakowhai Country Park: A brief history 1970-2012” has been compiled by Garth Eyles, HBRC’s retired land manager.

Pakowhai Country Park near Hastings developed from a major realignment of the nearby Ngaruroro River and has been landscaped and planted over the past 40 years. HBRC now manages most of the 21 ha park, with the carpark and road frontage managed by Hastings District Council.

Garth Eyles has updated a previous history published by the Landcare Foundation, adding more recent information, as well as compiling the 7 landscape plans that have shaped the park over the past 40 years. The book also highlights some special aspects of the park.

HBRC has invited a number of people to the book launch, who have been involved with the park since the beginning. These include Dr Michael Bostock who chaired the Pakowhai Trust Board from 1973-1989, Barry Keating who prepared the 1974 planting plan, and Ash Cunningham who wrote the first book on Pakowhai Country Park in 1997 for the Landcare Foundation.

This soft cover coffee table book will be of interest to people who have had a connection with the park and surrounds, have an interest in landscape design or are interested in Hawke’s Bay’s history, rivers and development. It can be ordered through Hawke’s Bay bookshops or direct from Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and is on sale for $20.

ends