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Waitangi Park

words by niall roeder

Wellington is known as the culinary and creative capital of New Zealand. Throughout the city, specialist baristas man unique cafes, hidey-hole bars pour craft beers, art lines the walls of both laneways and museums, and chefs conjure edible creations. Sitting on the South Western tip of the North Island, Welly looks out over the picturesque Lambton Harbour. Perched on the waterfront, nestled next to Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and the historic Cable St, is Waitangi Park.

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Built near the old Waitangi wetland, the 6.5 hectare Waitangi Park opened in 2006, becoming NZ’s biggest new inner-city park in a century. The wetland was fed by the Waitangi Stream, a spot used by Maori as a source of fresh water, to launch canoes, and for fishing due to its abundance of eel, fish and shellfish.

Waitangi Park is a charming patch of green – a remodelled recreational park open to the public for waka-launching, footy-passing, al fresco jogging, bocce-tossing, dog-walking and generally grass-sprawling. More than just a field, the thoughtfully and beautifully designed space features promenades, activity zones (skate park, playground, petanque and half-court), cultural overlays, boardwalks and market space.

Harbourside Market, often referred to as Waitangi Park Market, Te Papa Market and Chaffers Market, runs every Sunday. The self-proclaimed “oldest and most popular market in Wellington” has been serving customers since 1920. The market offers a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, artisan foods, handmade baked goods and lots of delicious breakfast, lunch and snack options.

Not just a place to chill, Waitangi Park is also home to various calendar events, like Wellington Wine, Food & Craft Beer Festival, Out In The Park and Wellington Pride Festival.


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