Wynyard Quarter basketball courts re-open with new design aligned to Te Ara Tukutuku mahi.
It’s game on in Wynyard Quarter, as the ever-popular basketball courts on the America’s Cup Base Spaces have re-opened for play, sporting an improved non-slip surface and new design aligned to the Te Ara Tukutuku mahi.
The new surface design is characterised by Te Ara Tukutuku project colours, which represent the binding of whenua (land) and moana (sea) – central to the project vision.
More than 150 whetu (stars) are also featured, including a reference to Pōhutukawa – the second star in the Matariki cluster. This star represents our connection to the past and our duty of care for te taiao (the environment), a core commitment for the Te Ara Tukutuku project.
Just a few whetu feature on the first court, with more on the second and even more on the third to convey the project’s regenerative approach of Tāmata te Mauri, Tārai, Pōhutukawa (Heal, Form and Cultivate).
Priority Location Director for the Waterfront, Fiona Knox says: “This is reflective of what we will see in this space over time: initially, only small changes will be visible while the site is being healed of its former uses, followed by more visible change as the vision is formed (built), and even more as the place is cultivated over years of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) in the future.”
Installed by Parklife, the surface was carefully selected for its proven durability and sustainable considerations aligned to Te Ara Tukutuku project values – it meets LEED air quality control standards, which is accepted in New Zealand for Greenstar projects and delivers to the Te Ara Tukutuku sustainable values.
It brings improved slip resistance and cushioning, providing a safer playing surface overall for the courts, which had been well used since opening.
Fiona adds: “With our testing and trialling approach in these spaces, the improved surface will not only make basketball here safer and more enjoyable to play and watch, but supports other sports too, including futsal and volleyball. We’re looking forward to seeing how people use this improved space and will continue to learn from their experiences to bring enhanced public space to Wynyard Quarter.”
Read more about our Te Ara Tukutuku mahi and join us on the journey here.
