Extra special Children’s Day to celebrate lakefront completion
Join the celebration!
Rotorua will celebrate the conclusion of the redevelopment and this year’s national Children’s Day with Harikoa, a free event for all ages. People can explore the lakefront and take part in a range of fun and engaging activities.
Catch local performers and multicultural groups, check out demonstrations of water activities and get involved in the games and adapted activities. Food trucks will be on hand to purchase snacks throughout the day. Bring along a picnic and blanket and settle in for the day.
When: Sunday 3 March 10am – 2pm
Where: Rotorua Lakefront
Get the details online at Rotoruanui.nz - Harikoa Rotorua Children's Day
Background information on Lakefront Redevelopment
The redevelopment of the lakefront began in 2018 when the Government announced that it would grant Rotorua more than $27million in match funding from the Provincial Growth Fund (now Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit) for the lakefront and forest upgrades, both transformational projects for the local economy.
The projects were signaled in the 2018-2028 Long-term Plan and were aimed at enhancing the district’s offerings and creating jobs, encouraging private investment and most-importantly, creating world-class destinations for the community to be proud of.
In July 2020, an additional $1 million investment from Kānoa - RDU was announced to progress work on the cultural design foundation for the lakefront project. This consists of artwork, interpretation and design, with local artists creating carved pou, and information panels that will tell the korero history of the area.
The key stages of the redevelopment included the construction of:
- a timber boardwalk along the lake edge with connecting tukutuku bridges.
- concrete terracing that trace the original shoreline and provide space to access the lake.
- removal of the through-road and construction of two parking areas to service the reserve.
- new play spaces for all ages and abilities including a half basketball court and toddler playground.
- new public toilets to support the surrounding spaces.
- a purpose built whare for the Te Arawa Waka Taua.
The project has been staged across the last five years and has weathered a global pandemic, significant weather events and a turbulent construction industry.