Many parks are owned and managed by the North Shore City Council on behalf of the city’s residents. Others are managed by external agencies e.g. the Department of Conservation (DOC) is responsible for the management of North Head, Devonport; and Long Bay Regional Park falls under the care of the Auckland Regional Council (ARC).
Why are parks important?
Parks have a wide range of functions and offer many benefits to the community.
Parks help the environment by:
- providing healthy habitats for native plants and animals to live in
- absorbing noise pollution and contaminants from the air and water
- helping to sustain and enhance biodiversity (the diversity of life) within the city
- ensuring that our natural environment is protected, enhanced and promoted
Parks help people by:
- providing a space to exercise and play
- enhancing our quality of life
- giving people an opportunity to get out and see nature
Parks help the economy by:
- attracting tourists
- adding value to surrounding properties
Parks enhance culture by:
- protecting sites of cultural significance, such as pa sites and kumara pits
- giving people an opportunity for cultural expression, through festivals and events
- helping to interpret and teach people about cultural resources
If you would like to have a positive impact on the parks in your area, through volunteering, and would like more information, please go to our Get Involved page or contact the Citywide Parks Officer via Actionline, phone (09) 486 8600 or email actionline@northshorecity.govt.nz.
Fascinating facts
- 15 percent of North Shore City’s land area is covered by parks
- 700 hectares of ecologically important natural areas are protected within land owned by North Shore City Council
- 145 kilometres of the city’s coastline is in parks land (that is 78 percent of the western coastline and 53 percent of the eastern coastline)
- There are 122 playgrounds in the city
- Long Bay Regional Park is the only Auckland Regional Park in the city protected within land owned by North Shore City Council
