# Regional parks of New Zealand

Regional parks of New Zealand are protected areas administered by regional councils, the top tier of local government. Regional parks are found across several regions of New Zealand: the Auckland Region, Waikato Region, Bay of Plenty Region, Hawkes Bay Region, Wellington Region and Canterbury Region. Regional parks in the Auckland and Waikato regions are administered by the Auckland Council, while parks in other areas are administered by regional councils: the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, and Canterbury Regional Council.

## History

Regional parks in New Zealand are large open spaces typically outside the metropolitan boundaries of cities; larger than city parks and smaller than the National parks of New Zealand. The first regional park in New Zealand was the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, which was established in 1964 when the Centennial Memorial Park of the Waitākere Ranges had its administration transferred from Auckland City Council to the Auckland Regional Authority. The first park purchased and established by the Auckland Regional Authority was Wenderholm Regional Park in 1965.
East Harbour Regional Park, managed by the Greater Wellington Regional Council, was the first regional park established in the Wellington Region in 1979.
The Local Government Act 2002 empowered other local government authorities outside of Auckland and Wellington to establish regional parks. The first of these was the Papamoa Hills Regional Park in the Bay of Plenty Region, established in 2004. The first regional park in the Canterbury Region was the Waimakariri River Regional Park, established in 2006/
In November 2010, local government reforms merged the different local government authorities of Auckland into a single unitary authority, the Auckland Council. During this process, areas of Franklin District and Manukau City were reassigned to the Waikato Region, including areas which included regional parks. Because of this, three regional parks are found in the northern Waikato, which are administered by the Auckland Council.

## List of regional parks

This table lists current regional parks from north to south.
| Regional Park | Region | Area km$^2$ | Established | Location | Description |
| Te Ārai Regional Park | Auckland Region | 4.77 | 2008 | 36°09′36″S 174°38′46″E﻿ / ﻿36.160°S 174.646°E﻿ / -36.160; 174.646 | Coastal park at Te Ārai |
| Glenfern Sanctuary Regional Park | Auckland Region | 0.83 | 2016 | 36°09′47″S 175°21′22″E﻿ / ﻿36.163°S 175.356°E﻿ / -36.163; 175.356 | Native forested area on Great Barrier Island |
| Pākiri Regional Park | Auckland Region | 2.51 | 1970 | 36°15′36″S 174°44′56″E﻿ / ﻿36.260°S 174.749°E﻿ / -36.260; 174.749 | Coastal park in the northern Auckland Region and nesting area for the New Zealand fairy tern |
| Ātiu Creek Regional Park | Auckland Region | 8.43 | 2008 | 36°19′48″S 174°21′50″E﻿ / ﻿36.330°S 174.364°E﻿ / -36.330; 174.364 | A working sheep and cattle farm on the eastern shores of the Kaipara Harbour, near Wellsford |
| Tāwharanui Regional Park | Auckland Region | 5.88 | 1973 | 36°22′19″S 174°49′37″E﻿ / ﻿36.372°S 174.827°E﻿ / -36.372; 174.827 | Coastal farmland at the end of the Tāwharanui Peninsula, which includes the fenced Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary |
| Scandrett Regional Park | Auckland Region | 0.48 | 2004 | 36°26′35″S 174°46′26″E﻿ / ﻿36.443°S 174.774°E﻿ / -36.443; 174.774 | Coastal park near Warkworth |
| Te Rau Pūriri Regional Park | Auckland Region | 3.49 | 2005 | 36°29′13″S 174°15′50″E﻿ / ﻿36.487°S 174.264°E﻿ / -36.487; 174.264 | Regenerating forest and farmland park on Te Korowai-o-Te-Tonga Peninsula. |
| Mahurangi East Regional Park | Auckland Region | 1.90 | 1988 | 36°29′28″S 174°44′31″E﻿ / ﻿36.491°S 174.742°E﻿ / -36.491; 174.742 | Eastern headland of the Mahurangi Harbour, and Scott Point, the headland of the Te Kapa Peninsula. Formerly a part of the Mahurangi Regional Park. |
| Mahurangi West Regional Park | Auckland Region | 1.00 | 1988 | 36°30′32″S 174°43′08″E﻿ / ﻿36.509°S 174.719°E﻿ / -36.509; 174.719 | Western headland of the Mahurangi Harbour |
| Te Muri Regional Park | Auckland Region | 4.44 | 2010 | 36°31′08″S 174°42′22″E﻿ / ﻿36.519°S 174.706°E﻿ / -36.519; 174.706 | Coastal park and farmland near Te Muri Beach. |
| Wenderholm Regional Park | Auckland Region | 1.49 | 1965 | 36°32′13″S 174°42′36″E﻿ / ﻿36.537°S 174.71°E﻿ / -36.537; 174.71 | Coastal park between the Puhoi River and Waiwera River |
| Shakespear Regional Park | Auckland Region | 3.77 | 1967 | 36°36′29″S 174°49′23″E﻿ / ﻿36.608°S 174.823°E﻿ / -36.608; 174.823 | Coastal headland of the Whangaparāoa Peninsula, primarily farmland with areas of regenerating forest |
| Long Bay Regional Park | Auckland Region | 1.77 | 1970s | 36°40′30″S 174°44′42″E﻿ / ﻿36.675°S 174.745°E﻿ / -36.675; 174.745 | Beach, sand dune and forested area to the north of the North Shore |
| Whakanewha Regional Park | Auckland Region | 2.47 | 2007 | 36°49′19″S 175°04′37″E﻿ / ﻿36.822°S 175.077°E﻿ / -36.822; 175.077 | Coastal park on Waiheke Island |
| Muriwai Regional Park | Auckland Region | 4.36 | 1981 | 36°49′52″S 174°25′30″E﻿ / ﻿36.831°S 174.425°E﻿ / -36.831; 174.425 | Coastal sand dune, wetland and golf course adjacent to Muriwai beach, featuring a mainland gannet colony |
| Motukorea Browns Island Regional Park | Auckland Region | 0.6 | 2018 | 36°49′52″S 174°53′42″E﻿ / ﻿36.831°S 174.895°E﻿ / -36.831; 174.895 | Island in the Hauraki Gulf |
| Ōmana Regional Park | Auckland Region | 0.42 | 1970 | 36°52′52″S 175°01′23″E﻿ / ﻿36.881°S 175.023°E﻿ / -36.881; 175.023 | Coastal park near Maraetai |
| Duder Regional Park | Auckland Region | 1.65 | 1995 | 36°54′22″S 175°05′02″E﻿ / ﻿36.906°S 175.084°E﻿ / -36.906; 175.084 | Working farm and regenarating forest on the Whakakaiwhara Peninsula, east of Auckland |
| Mutukāroa / Hamlins Hill Regional Park | Auckland Region | 0.48 | 1997 | 36°55′12″S 174°49′55″E﻿ / ﻿36.920°S 174.832°E﻿ / -36.920; 174.832 | Working farm and regenerating native forest in Auckland |
| Waitawa Regional Park | Auckland Region | 1.88 | 2008 | 36°56′17″S 175°08′24″E﻿ / ﻿36.938°S 175.140°E﻿ / -36.938; 175.140 | Coastal park and working farm to the west of Kawakawa Bay |
| Tawhitokino Regional Park | Auckland Region | 0.41 | 1981 | 36°56′38″S 175°12′40″E﻿ / ﻿36.944°S 175.211°E﻿ / -36.944; 175.211 | Area adjacent to Tawhitokino beach |
| Ambury Regional Park | Auckland Region | 1.24 | 1987 | 36°56′53″S 174°45′58″E﻿ / ﻿36.948°S 174.766°E﻿ / -36.948; 174.766 | A working sheep farm and bird sanctuary on the shores of the Manukau Harbour, Māngere Bridge. |
| Orere Point Regional Park | Auckland Region | 0.43 | 1981 | 36°57′22″S 175°13′52″E﻿ / ﻿36.956°S 175.231°E﻿ / -36.956; 175.231 | Small forested and coastal park near Ōrere Point |
| Waitākere Ranges Regional Park | Auckland Region | 172.10 | 1964 | 36°58′01″S 174°31′01″E﻿ / ﻿36.967°S 174.517°E﻿ / -36.967; 174.517 | Native bush and coastal park in the Waitākere Ranges |
| Tāpapakanga Regional Park | Auckland Region | 2.47 | 1995 | 36°58′44″S 175°15′29″E﻿ / ﻿36.979°S 175.258°E﻿ / -36.979; 175.258 | Coastal farmland and forested ares at the mouth of the Firth of Thames |
| Auckland Botanic Gardens | Auckland Region | 0.65 | 1982 | 37°00′47″S 174°54′25″E﻿ / ﻿37.013°S 174.907°E﻿ / -37.013; 174.907 | Botanical garden in Manurewa, South Auckland. While officially a regional park by the Auckland Council, the botanic gardens are not managed under the regional park plan, and does not incorporate the term 'regional park' into its name. |
| Waharau Regional Park | Waikato Region | 1.69 | 1979 | 37°02′24″S 175°17′24″E﻿ / ﻿37.040°S 175.290°E﻿ / -37.040; 175.290 | Park between the Hunua Ranges and Firth of Thames |
| Hunua Ranges Regional Park | Waikato Region, Auckland Region | 178.42 | 1965 | 37°04′S 175°11′E﻿ / ﻿37.07°S 175.18°E﻿ / -37.07; 175.18 | Mountain range south-east of Auckland, featuring areas of native forest and water reserves |
| Whakatīwai Regional Park | Waikato Region | 3.24 | 1967 | 37°04′23″S 175°16′48″E﻿ / ﻿37.073°S 175.28°E﻿ / -37.073; 175.28 | Coastal park between the Hunua Ranges and the Firth of Thames |
| Āwhitu Regional Park | Auckland Region | 1.55 | 1975 | 37°05′38″S 174°39′04″E﻿ / ﻿37.094°S 174.651°E﻿ / -37.094; 174.651 | Regional park composed of farmland, wetlands and regenerating forest on the eastern Āwhitu Peninsula |
| Papamoa Hills Regional Park | Bay of Plenty Region | 1.82 | 2003 | 37°43′59″S 176°17′17″E﻿ / ﻿37.733°S 176.288°E﻿ / -37.733; 176.288 | Native bush, open farmland and archaeological site southeast of Tauranga |
| Onekawa Te Mawhai Regional Park | Bay of Plenty Region | 3.62 | 2010 | 37°59′24″S 177°10′01″E﻿ / ﻿37.990°S 177.167°E﻿ / -37.990; 177.167 | Headland of the Ōhiwa Harbour in the Bay of Plenty Region |
| Tūtira Regional Park | Hawke's Bay | 4.64 | 1999 | 39°14′02″S 176°53′35″E﻿ / ﻿39.234°S 176.893°E﻿ / -39.234; 176.893 | A land use demonstration park between lakes Tutira and Waikopiro, with campgrounds and walking tracks. |
| Waitangi Regional Park | Hawke's Bay | 3 | 2000 | 39°33′50″S 176°55′26″E﻿ / ﻿39.564°S 176.924°E﻿ / -39.564; 176.924 | 5 km long coastal located between Awatoto and Haumoana, known for wildlife, sports and the Atea a Rangi star compass. |
| Pākōwhai Regional Park | Hawke's Bay | | 1973 | 39°36′11″S 176°52′12″E﻿ / ﻿39.603°S 176.870°E﻿ / -39.603; 176.870 | The smallest of Hawke’s Bay’s regional parks. Popular for dog walking. |
| Pekapeka Regional Park | Hawke’s Bay | 0.98 | 1990s | 39°43′16″S 176°46′05″E﻿ / ﻿39.721°S 176.768°E﻿ / -39.721; 176.768 | One of the few remaining wetland areas in Hawke’s Bay, and a site of restoration. |
| Queen Elizabeth Park | Wellington Region | 6.38 | 1953 | 40°57′54″S 174°58′08″E﻿ / ﻿40.965°S 174.969°E﻿ / -40.965; 174.969 | |
| Akatarawa Forest | Wellington Region | 155.00 | | 41°02′28″S 175°02′13″E﻿ / ﻿41.041°S 175.037°E﻿ / -41.041; 175.037 | Native forest north of Upper Hutt |
| Battle Hill Farm Forest Park | Wellington Region | 4.80 | 1987 | 41°03′36″S 174°56′24″E﻿ / ﻿41.060°S 174.940°E﻿ / -41.060; 174.940 | |
| Kaitoke Regional Park | Wellington Region | 28.6 | 1983 | 41°04′08″S 175°11′56″E﻿ / ﻿41.069°S 175.199°E﻿ / -41.069; 175.199 | |
| Pakuratahi Forest | Wellington Region | 80 | | 41°08′28″S 175°09′40″E﻿ / ﻿41.141°S 175.161°E﻿ / -41.141; 175.161 | |
| Belmont Regional Park | Wellington Region | 32.92 | 1986 | 41°11′24″S 174°52′30″E﻿ / ﻿41.190°S 174.875°E﻿ / -41.190; 174.875 | |
| Wainuiomata Regional Park | Wellington Region | 3.40 | 2022 | 41°16′45″S 174°59′04″E﻿ / ﻿41.2792°S 174.9844°E﻿ / -41.2792; 174.9844 | |
| East Harbour Regional Park | Wellington Region | 23.39 | 1979 | 41°17′S 174°55′E﻿ / ﻿41.29°S 174.91°E﻿ / -41.29; 174.91 | Regional Park in three sections: the Northern Forest, an area southwest of Wainuiomata and east of the Wellington Harbour which includes the Butterfly Creek valley, Parangarahu Lakes Area, the area east of Pencarrow Head which includes Lake Kohangapiripiri and Lake Kohangatera, and Baring Head / Ōrua-pouanui |
| Ashley Rakahuri Regional Park | Canterbury Region | 4.17 | 2012 | 43°16′54″S 172°34′50″E﻿ / ﻿43.2816°S 172.5806°E﻿ / -43.2816; 172.5806 | Banks of the Ashley River / Rakahuri and Okuku Rivers |
| Waimakariri River Regional Park | Canterbury Region | 150 | 2006 | 43°26′10″S 172°34′26″E﻿ / ﻿43.436°S 172.574°E﻿ / -43.436; 172.574 | Banks of the Waimakariri River |
| Ferrymead Regional Park | Canterbury Region | 0.76 | 2018 | 43°33′58″S 172°42′07″E﻿ / ﻿43.566°S 172.702°E﻿ / -43.566; 172.702 | On the southern banks of the Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River, surrounding Ferrymead Heritage Park |
| Lake Tekapo Regional Park | Canterbury Region | 1.65 | 2008 | 44°00′S 170°30′E﻿ / ﻿44.00°S 170.5°E﻿ / -44.00; 170.5 | Eastern shores of Lake Tekapo |

## List of regional council administered areas

This table lists areas administered under regional park systems or by regional councils, from north to south.
| Regional Park | Region | Area km$^2$ | Established | Location | Description |
| Mount Smart | Auckland Region | 0.22 | 1985 | 36°55′05″S 174°48′43″E﻿ / ﻿36.918°S 174.812°E﻿ / -36.918; 174.812 | Domain and stadium in central Auckland, which came under the administration of the Auckland Regional Authority in 1985, later the Auckland Regional Council from 1989. Until the dissolution of the Auckland Regional Council in 2010, Mount Smart Domain was mentioned in regional park documents. |
| Te Motu a Hiaroa / Puketutu | Auckland Region | 0.187 | N/A | 36°57′54″S 174°44′46″E﻿ / ﻿36.965°S 174.746°E﻿ / -36.965; 174.746 | Island in the Manukau Harbour, South Auckland. While officially designated as a regional park by the Auckland Council, the island is currently leased by Watercare Services, who are reconstructing the quarried hills with biosolids. Once filling operations have ceased by 2049, the island is planned to be redeveloped into a regional park and cultural centre, including a marae and wānanga. |
| Hutt Water Collection Area | Wellington Region | 89 | 1951 | 41°00′36″S 175°09′18″E﻿ / ﻿41.010°S 175.155°E﻿ / -41.010; 175.155 | |
| Whitireia Park | Wellington Region | 1.8 | 1976 | 41°06′00″S 174°51′14″E﻿ / ﻿41.100°S 174.854°E﻿ / -41.100; 174.854 | Southern headland of Porirua Harbour. While it shares features with regional parks and is listed alongside other regional parks of Wellington, it is not a regional park due to being administered by the Whitireia Park Board. |
| Hutt River Trail | Wellington Region | | | 41°09′43″S 174°58′39″E﻿ / ﻿41.1619°S 174.9774°E﻿ / -41.1619; 174.9774 | Walking and cycling path along the banks of the Hutt River |
| Wairarapa Moana Wetlands | Wellington Region | 90 | | 41°14′02″S 175°11′35″E﻿ / ﻿41.234°S 175.193°E﻿ / -41.234; 175.193 | Lake Wairarapa, Lake Ōnoke and a section of wetlands on the eastern shore of Lake Wairarapa |
| Wainuiomata Water Collection Area | Wellington Region | | | 41°15′43″S 175°00′36″E﻿ / ﻿41.262°S 175.01°E﻿ / -41.262; 175.01 | Proposed site of the Puketahā wildlife sanctuary. |
| Northern Pegasus Bay | Canterbury Region | | | 43°16′05″S 172°43′12″E﻿ / ﻿43.268°S 172.720°E﻿ / -43.268; 172.720 | Shores of Pegasus Bay north of the Waimakariri River mouth |