Building a more vibrant Te Aro

If we want a vibrant city, we need to invest in our public spaces, not just libraries and art galleries but also our parks — especially in our inner city. This month construction kicks off on the Frederick Street Park, the first inner city park the Council has constructed in over 20 years.

It'll sit on the corner of Taranaki Street and Frederick Street, right in the heart of Te Aro which is one of the most densely populated parts of our city. Finding land for new parks in the inner city is hard and that's exactly why this site matters, and why it’s important we get it right.

When you combine increasing severe weather events and a concrete jungle like Te Aro what you get is more flooding. That’s why it’s so crucial that spaces like the new park on Fredrick Street not only provide places for people to get a breath of fresh air, but also function as a way to make our central city more permeable.

The current design

An artist impression of the park

(subject to change)

The design currently features landscaping, a mix of native and exotic trees, play spaces and seating, rain gardens to help manage stormwater, bike racks, and two accessible public toilets.

An important history

The land was originally cultivation land for Te Aro Pā, and later became Wellington's Chinese Quarter through the 1870s. The heritage-listed Chinese Mission Hall still stands nearby, newly strengthened, alongside the Te Kī a Alasdair community housing complex. The design has been shaped through collaboration between mana whenua and a local Chinese New Zealand artist.

For now it's being called Central City Park, or Chinese Mission Hall Park | Tong Yan Gaai 唐人街 within the Cantonese community — an official name will be confirmed closer to opening.