Matangi Recreation Reserve - A Community Vision Takes Shape
Nine months of collaborative planning could help transform Matangi Recreation Reserve into a major sporting and recreational hub serving the wider Tauwhare Road corridor.
A multi-community steering committee representing Tamahere, Matangi, Tauwhare and Ngāti Hauā
(Tauwhare Pā) has been working closely with Waikato District Council (WDC) to develop a long-term
land utilisation plan for the reserve.
That work has now reached an important milestone, with the draft Matangi Recreation Reserve Master Plan open for public feedback from 9 October to 9 November 2026.
The proposed development looks well beyond today's sporting needs, creating an integrated outdoor recreation precinct for current and future generations.
Central to the plan are new multi-purpose courts accommodating netball, tennis and pickleball,
alongside repositioned football grounds, practice areas, provision for lacrosse and cricket, a children's playground and a community piazza.
A redesigned walking track would connect the wider parklands precinct, opening up more opportunities for recreation, exercise and community gatherings.
Importantly, the plan also incorporates additional land generously gifted by the Montgomery family,
allowing the reserve to expand and better accommodate future growth.
A Staged Approach to Development
The first stage will involve leveling and contouring the land, followed by construction of the
multi-purpose courts and associated parking facilities.
Further improvements would be introduced progressively as resources and funding become available. Building re-developmental is proposed in future plans.
Steering Committee Chairman Lance Rapana says the project represents much more than additional sporting facilities.
“This is about communities working together to create something lasting. We've spent more than nine months looking at how this land can best serve our tamariki, families and future generations. Our partnership with Council and the communities along the Tauwhare Road corridor, particularly Ngāti Hauā and Tauwhare Pā, gives this project a strong foundation. We now have an opportunity to build a recreational space that brings people together for generations to come.”
The master plan also represents an important step in future-proofing outdoor sporting and recreational facilities across the growing Tamahere-Matangi-Tauwhare corridor.
WDC Reserve Planning Team Lead Matt Horsfield says the reserve plays an important role in supporting the social, physical and mental wellbeing of local residents.
Council is now encouraging the wider community to review the proposals and help shape the final plan.
Have Your Say
Public consultation runs from Friday 9 October until Monday 9 November 2026.
Residents, sporting organisations and community groups are encouraged to review the draft and
provide feedback.
View the plan and make a submission:
DOWNLOAD THE FINAL DRAFT MASTERPLAN
ENDS:
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