Taurangi Reserve opens at Three Kings Development

The Three Kings Development entered an exciting new phase with the opening of Taurangi Reserve, a community recreation hub featuring two new football fields, a nature-inspired playground, and 1.5km of public walkways. 

Fletcher Living engaged Boffa Miskell design the network of proposed reserves and public open spaces of the Three Kings Development. This was the genesis of Taurangi Reserve, which provides structured and informal recreation options, a walking and cycling network, and green stormwater infrastructure.

Boffa Miskell are the project landscape architects, leading the design of the reserve and its features from concept design through to construction. Taurangi Reserve will be a recreational heart for both the development and the wider community, and provide visual amenity for the adjacent housing overlooking the reserve.

The natural play space is a highlight of the project and is the result of a considered and thoughtful design process. Located next to the car park and below the large scoria and basalt escarpment, it uses an embankment to its advantage to support slide and accommodate climbing elements.

The design integrates site-sourced boulders, trees, mounds and natural timber into play loops of varying difficulty for children to navigate, supported by seating at the out edges. The design has been able to create an engaging play space on a modest budget, and in a way that responds well to its historic and physical context.

In response to Auckland’s rainfall, the new sports fields have been developed with high specification sand-carpeted surfaces and quality drainage systems, ensuring they remain functional year-round. Positioned below the surrounding homes, the fields also serve as a stormwater basin, helping manage rainwater and acting as a flood management system for the local area. 

Beyond its recreational value, the development of Taurangi honours Three Kings heritage, as one of the five original volcanic cones. The name Taurangi, gifted by local iwi, pays tribute to the site’s cultural significance. It references the southern peak of Te Tātua a Riukiuta, one of the original Three Kings maunga. The planting and artwork in the space also reflects the area’s cultural significance.