PLAYSPACE WHAKATŪ
Tākarokaro Mai Whakatū!
A new city centre playspace is taking shape.
Construction Is Underway
Since late January 2026, construction has been underway on a much-anticipated new play destination for Whakatū Nelson.
Set to open in summer 2026/2027, it will give locals and visitors more reasons to spend time in the city centre, supporting wider revitalisation efforts.
The design is shaped by the story of Kupe and Te Wheke a Muturangi - a narrative that connects us across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa and ends here in Te Tauihu.
The story has shaped the design. Large-scale sweeping tentacles shape the movement and layout, while textures, colours and forms draw from the moana to create a space that invites discovery, exploration and imagination for all.
An Unmistakably Whakatū Design
The design is shaped by the story of Kupe and Te Wheke a Muturangi - a narrative that connects us across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa and ends here in Te Tauihu.
Large-scale sweeping tentacles shape the movement and layout, while textures, colours and forms draw from the moana to create a space that invites discovery, exploration and imagination for all.
Rather than a collection of separate elements, the space works as one connected experience — encouraging users to move, explore and find their own pathways through it.
Right in the Heart of the City
Rutherford Park and its surrounds are already among the city’s most loved, well-utilised, and connected public spaces.
Located right on the Mahitahi River and next to the skatepark, the playspace sits within easy reach of key sporting and event areas, walking and cycling routes, and recent upgrades, including the Paru Paru Road carpark, the marina promenade, and the Millers Acre bus hub.
A Collaborative Effort
The project brings together a wide team of contributors, including architects, iwi, artists, engineers, community voices, council, builders, and specialist makers.
Construction is being delivered by local firm Kūmānu, with a strong focus on quality and craftsmanship to ensure the playspace feels enduring and unmistakably of this place.
Led by Iwi, Backed by Council, and Built for the Whole Community
Playspace Whakatū is being delivered in close partnership with iwi and Nelson City Council as part of the iwi-backed initiative, Kōpū, which emerged from the city’s arts and creativity strategy He Tātai Whetū. The strategy was adopted unanimously by Nelson City Council in 2022 and, for the first time, was formally endorsed by the eight iwi of Te Tauihu.
The Kōpū initiative is supporting the revitalisation of the city through placemaking and cultural design in our civic spaces, creating a more distinct, modern, and inclusive built environment for the whole city that attracts more locals and visitors to the city centre.
The project has been a long-awaited and eagerly anticipated project for the city, first identified as far back as 2008 and reinforced through subsequent work such as Te Ara o Whakatū (the city centre spatial plan). The project has attracted central government support via the government’s Better Off funding scheme, providing $2.4M funding towards the project, supplemented by a $613k contribution from Nelson City Council’s Long Term Plan.
Before any plans were drawn, extensive community engagement shaped the vision and design guidance for the project, including:
Over 500 people from across the community shared their views via submissions.
Over 200 tamariki from local schools who participated in facilitated workshops.
Dozens of local organisations and accessibility groups provided design guidance.
Engagement and co-design with the eight iwi of Te Tauihu and hāpori Māori.
The thousands who watched or interacted with our targeted social media campaign.
Over 1,000 people participated in an interactive exhibition at the Refinery Artspace.
Hundreds more engaged in the pop-up exhibition at the Elma Turner Library.
Workshops with the Playspace Taskforce, Chaired by Councillor James Hodgson.
The Vision Taking Shape
Playspace Whakatū is being built as a true destination - somewhere people of all ages can gather and spend quality time together, creating memorable experiences and adding vibrancy to the city centre. Here’s a taste of what you can expect once the playspace is complete:
A safe, fully fenced core space designed for confident, enclosed play
Integrated shade, tables, seating, and toilets for longer, comfortable visits
Large-scale accessible wet-pour rubber surfacing in the main areas
A double-hulled waka, sucker seats, and sculptural hue for imaginative play.
A range of fully accessible and popular play equipment throughout the space.
A big pendulum swing and a four-bay swing set with an accessible harness swing.
Play features emerging from the tentacles, including a 2M wide embankment slide.
A play landscape, formed by Te Wheke, with unique features included throughout.
Māra hūpara inspired fitness, natural and adventure play areas for all ages.
An integrated high ropes climbing tower and spiral slide to get the best views up high.
The whole space is designed as intergenerational, providing a safe and inclusive space for the whole whānau, whilst providing the big, bold, bespoke play features that make it an unmissable destination for tamariki that can become synonymous with Whakatū Nelson City.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Splash pads and water play were among the most requested features during community engagement. Unfortunately, the site was not deemed suitable for this, due to its status as a HAIL site, sitting on reclaimed estuary land, and built on top of both existing and historic underground services that could not accommodate such a feature.
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Playspace Whakatū is on track to open in December 2026, ready for next summer. Construction began in late January 2026 and is progressing well.
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Within Rutherford Park, situated between Paru Paru Road and the Mahitahi River. The site is right next to Old Lumpy Skatepark, near the Trafalgar Centre and across the footbridge from Trafalgar Park.
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Walk, skate, scoot, cycle or skip along the Mahitahi riverside pathway - the playspace sits on the Great Taste Trail and Nelson's wider active transport network. The Millers Acre bus hub is a short walk along that same path, so it's easily accessible on the eBus network too. If you're driving, there's plenty of free parking nearby, including the recently upgraded Paru Paru Road carpark right across the road.
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Yes. The playspace is designed as intergenerational - there's something for all ages, from toddlers through to fitness equipment and features that can be used by adults. You’re never too old to play! There are dedicated areas that work better for the little ones, as well as bigger features for older kids.
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Absolutely. Inclusivity was a top priority throughout the design process and had a major impact on the design direction, thanks to the generous input from affected communities. The playspace features a fully-fenced intensive play area, large-scale accessible wet-pour rubber surfacing, wide smooth pathways for wheelchairs and mobility devices, accessible equipment integrated throughout (not locked or separated off from the rest of the space), and an accessible toilet block.
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Yes. The main intensive zone of the playspace is fully fenced. This was one of the most consistent requests from the community, particularly from whānau of children who have a tendency to run or who need a secure environment to play confidently. There are also natural barriers such as tentacles and mounds created from river rocks that slow people down through the space and make it feel more contained, without affecting the overall experience.
OUR VISION
The aim is to open the playspace for summer 2026 and will be working in the following stages:
01.
Planning and design
Working with our community to shape the vision
02.
Development
Bringing creative ideas to life
03.
Construction
Bringing the design to life across the site
04.
Opening
A new destination for our community
NEWS
In partnership with Nelson City Council
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
We’re building something extraordinary — and we want you with us.
Whether you’re a creative, a community member, or a potential partner, there are many ways to engage.