Co-creating Community & Culture | Te Amo Pūtoro Playspace
Award Finalists
2026 New Zealand Public Works Engineering Excellence Awards
We are thrilled that our framework for prioritising nature-based solutions has been selected as a finalist for the 2026 IPWEA NZ Excellence in Project Innovation Award.
By moving 'From Data to Decisions,' we have developed a world-leading approach that transforms complex environmental mapping into bankable infrastructure assets. This nomination reinforces our belief that high-resolution technical data is the key to unlocking long-term investment in our natural capital and community resilience.
2026 Stormwater Innovation Showcase Awards
We're proud to be a finalist for the 2026 Stormwater Innovation Showcase Award with this project. The 'Billion-Cell Concept' - a national-first spatial analysis framework processing over one billion data cells at 1m resolution across 492 km² - moves catchment restoration from ad hoc responses to strategically prioritised action. By embedding mātauranga Māori directly into the analysis alongside hydrodynamic modelling, the framework identifies where nature-based solutions can reduce peak flows, protect taonga species & build lasting resilience for flood-isolated communities.
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Service Area: Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering
Industry: Community / Cultural, Council / Public Infrastructure
Service: Feasibility Assessment, Design Coordination, Construction Oversight
Location: Kerikeri, Far North, Northland
Deliverables: Need Assessment, Funding Applications Support, NZS3910 Contract Drafting, Engineer's Representative Services, Construction Oversight
The Bottom Line
VISION's sustained technical guidance, including initial feasibility assessment and construction oversight, provided the professional foundation needed to empower the community Working Group, successfully transforming a six-year vision into Te Amo Pūtoro, the Far North’s first council-owned māra hūpara and a vital community asset in Kerikeri.
Task
VISION Consulting Engineers Ltd. provided initial project feasibility and ongoing, engineering services for the development and completion of Te Amo Pūtoro, a unique, culturally rich māra hūpara at the Kerikeri Sports Complex, enabling this ambitious community-led initiative in Northland.
Problem
The Kerikeri Sports Complex lacked a safe, dedicated play environment for children, discouraging parents and care-givers from returning to sport.
The community-led project required professional civil engineering input for site suitability, navigating consent pathways, and managing the procurement and construction monitoring phases.
The multi-year effort required significant administrative support for refining funding proposals, drafting contracts, and managing multiple stakeholders to secure the necessary budget.
Successful implementation required deep, sustained collaboration with mana whenua Ngāti Rēhia to embed pūrākau (traditional stories) and māra hūpara concepts into the public space design.
Solution
VISION provided early-stage support, including an initial feasibility study and a significant in-kind financial contribution, to formally launch the community-driven project.
We delivered ongoing technical guidance on consent requirements and resolved concerns regarding the playspace's location relative to existing infrastructure.
Our team provided professional contract management support to the Working Group, drafting the NZS3910 contract and creating essential documentation to successfully secure the necessary construction funding.
One of our senior engineers served as the dedicated Engineer's Representative, providing formal construction oversight and quality assurance throughout the complex build phase.
Benefits
A critical community safety concern was definitively addressed through the creation of a safe, engaging, and highly valued play environment for Kerikeri families.
The completed māra hūpara successfully integrates Ngāti Rēhia cultural narratives, acting as a place of wānanga (learning) for all ages and fostering a deeper connection to identity in Northland.
VISION's technical input streamlined complex procurement and quality control processes, ensuring the project's compliance and long-term stability as a council-owned community asset.
The project stands as a powerful testament to the collaborative spirit of the community, supported by expert engineering services to transform a vision into a fully realised reality.
Why It Matters
This project isn't just another report. It's a working example of what's possible when:
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Local insight, mātauranga Māori, science, and restoration are combined from the start.
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We process a billion data points to map risk and opportunity before spending money.
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Solutions are selected for the unique environmental and cultural needs of the catchment.
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We prove that nature-based solutions can be planned, costed, monitored, and delivered strategically - at a scale and resolution that stands up to scrutiny.
Dive Deeper: A Living Case Study
While the formal study provides the technical foundation, we believe in making our work accessible and transparent. Alongside the project, we developed an interactive StoryMap to share findings visually, engage the community, and bring the data to life for non-technical audiences.
Jonathan Cousins
Senior Hydrological Engineer,
MEng (Civil)
Go beyond the case study with our five-part technical series, written by the senior engineers who led the Taumārere project. We demystify Nature-based Solutions, starting with the project blueprint and a clear definition of what NbS means for Aotearoa.
Follow along as we show what these solutions look like on the ground, detail our innovative GIS mapping process for finding the right solution for the right place, and break down the real-world costs and funding pathways. This series is a practical blueprint for anyone looking to plan and deliver a successful catchment restoration project.
What Our Partners Say...
Suzie Hati-Scott
Ngā Tangariki o Ngāti Hine, Te Papa Pa Orooro
By asserting mana motuhake within our rohe, Ngāti Hine demonstrate how indigenous leadership, supported by digital innovation and collaborative engineering, can deliver enduring outcomes for catchment resilience, cultural integrity, and future generations.