When: 11 June 2023, 10.00am - 11 June 2023, 12.00pm
Where: Corner Leadleys and Birchs Road, Prebbleton

Gather your friends and whānau and join us to celebrate the opening of our new recreational space in Prebbleton!

Te Taumata o Ngāi Tūāhuriri will lead us in the Whakawatea (blessing) at 10am near the main car park / change rooms.

At 10.15am, Mayor Sam Broughton will officially open Kakaha Park.

Festivities will kick off just before 10.30am – here's a snapshot of what's happening.

Event activities:

  • Selwyn Sports Trust will be on-site with their iBike instructors, providing tips and tricks on cycle safety. Bring your bikes along and try out the Snake Track!
  • HEB Construction will be bringing along a loader, digger and truck which were used in the construction of Kakaha Park – come and check them out and sit in the passenger seat!
  • On the sports field, get some tips and tricks from Prebbleton Football Club.
  • There will be lots of fun for your furry friends over at the new dog park! Clothes by Portia, Best Buddies K9 Boxes and Cocomutt Icecream will have some fabulous items available for purchase to treat your fluffy mate (eftpos and cash).
  • Also over at the dog park, check out the Selwyn Dog Training Club and some of their Canine Good Citizen dogs and Rally O dogs. Bring your dog along and have a go at learning some Rally O and Good Citizen skills!
  • Johnston Civil Ltd. have some cool trucks for you to check out and sit in, as well as some fun activities for the kids.

Food and drink:

  • Ash's Coffee (eftpos and cash)
  • Sausage sizzle fundraiser (cash)
  • Little Ice Trike (eftpos and cash)

Free, drop-in event.

Wet weather: The blessing and official opening will go ahead rain or shine; however some activities may not be able to go ahead if weather is inclement, due to health & safety reasons. 

Background

The name Kakaha Park has been gifted to the Selwyn District by Te Taumutu Rūnanga and Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga for the 22 hectare park. Kakaha is the Māori word for the plant species Astelia fragrans or bush lily – a native flax-like plant often used for weaving by Māori, in conjunction with harakeke, kiekie, pīngao, to provide different colours and texture.

The name Kakaha Park recognises the location of this park in the network of mahika kai (food gathering) sites on Kā Pākihi Whakatekateka o Waitaha, the Canterbury Plains. There is evidence of kakaha on the Canterbury Plains prior to European settlement.