Councils unwrap new $5.4m park in time for Christmas

Aucklanders are getting an early Christmas gift - a new regional park.

A big chunk of South Head farmland on the South Kaipara Peninsula in Rodney has been bought by the Auckland Regional and Rodney District Councils for a new park.

From having none just months ago, the area will now have two regional parks. In addition to the as-yet-unnamed park, the regional council was this month given an 843ha property on the Tapora Peninsula - just across the harbour from the latest buy.

The new park at South Head will continue to be managed as a farm but the public will have access to it by Christmas.

Regional council parks committee chairwoman Sandra Coney said a camping ground was still "a few years away" but carparking and walking facilities were already in place.

"People will be able to walk on the property and walk down to the beach and picnic by Christmas."

Ms Coney said the property offered a range of activities for visitors. It had a sandy beach suitable for swimming, and a pristine freshwater catchment in neighbouring Lake Ototoa.

The farm also bordered a Department of Conservation scenic reserve, and at its highest point, commanded a view of the Tasman Sea and Kaipara Harbour.

"I'm told it's also a good fishing spot," said Ms Coney.

The new park is the first bought with the help of revenue collected under a new component to regional council rates.

Ms Coney said a portion of the $2.5 million from the parkland acquisition rates this year would go towards this purchase.

"It's a way of saying to the public of Auckland, 'You're going to see things for your money'.

"This is an important opportunity for the ARC to be able to protect this part of South Head for future generations and ensure it will not be subdivided or developed commercially," she said.

The new park will be the seventh in the Rodney district.

Mayor John Law, whose council will contribute $1 million to the purchase, said the property was one of the most beautiful in the district.

The Rodney council would work with the regional council to plan the park's future, and already Mr Law envisioned two camping grounds - one on the foreshore and the other on the lake's edge.

He said a walkway spanning the peninsula had also been talked about.