Future recreational use of A F Thomas Park

The Auckland Anniversary floods in 2023 impacted hundreds of people in the Wairau area and many community members are still dealing with the effects.

After considering many different options to protect the community from future flooding, council has approved a plan to transform A F Thomas Park into a multi-purpose place that supports both flood resilience and recreation. The project will restore a natural wetland and create areas within the park that temporarily hold excess water during heavy rain to reduce the risk of downstream flooding.

When dry, these spaces will provide open green parkland for walking, play, and community connection.

These major stormwater works will:

• reduce flood risk for more than 150 homes and three care homes
• improve access to North Shore Hospital, supermarkets and local schools.

These stormwater works will also mean changes for how people use the park for recreation. The project will enhance A F Thomas Park as a place for everyone to enjoy. This project is a once in a generation chance to shape new recreational opportunities for everyone in the community.

Golf has a long history here, and we know it matters to many. Golf will be considered as part of this consultation and your views will guide future decisions and ensure a balance of recreation options for all users.

Download the full consultation document [PDF 2.7MB].

What we want your feedback on

The Kaipātiki Local Board wants your feedback on the types of recreation and open spaces that will best serve the community’s needs including:

• keeping the area mostly for golf
• a balance of golf and other recreational uses
• new open spaces and facilities for different activities

Your feedback will help us to design a park where everyone can enjoy, play and connect now and in the future.

When you can have your say

This consultation was open for feedback from Monday 20 October to Sunday 23 November 2025.

How you can have your say

We will update this page with how you can share your feedback once the consultation opens.

To have your say, you can:

• complete our online feedback form
• scan and email your completed form to afthomaspark@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
• post your completed form to:

Attention: A F Thomas Park Recreation
Auckland Council
Freepost number 190198
Private Bag 92300
Victoria Street West Auckland, 1142

Questions/patai?

You can email AFThomasPark@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz for more information.

Check out the Wairau flood resilience project to learn more about flood resilience works in Wairau area.

Deliberative Forum

As part of the wider engagement on the future recreational use of A F Thomas Park, the project team, along with an independent facilitator, hosted a deliberative forum over three weekends during November.

This involved a representative group of community members who were recruited to participate by a third-party agency. The forum participants reflected the age, gender and ethnic demographics of the North Shore and Albany Wards. At the end of the forum the participants produced a consensus-based report with recommendations to the Kaipātiki Local Board on how they should proceed with decision-making.

The forum members' report is available to read here.

The board has committed to giving the deliberative forum report serious and respectful consideration, alongside all other consultation feedback and technical advice. Taken together, this information will inform the board’s public decision on the future use of A F Thomas Park.

What is deliberative democracy?

Deliberative democracy invites ordinary members of the community into detailed discussions about complex issues or decisions that affect them.

In deliberative forums, a demographically representative panel of community members come together to build their understanding about an issue, weigh up the evidence, identify possible options and deliberate on the priorities. This work helps the forum participants make recommendations that councils or governments can use to inform and support their decision making.

The decision-makers agree in advance that they will listen to, and carefully consider, the suggestions of the panel when they make their decision.

For more information on this process you can email the project team at AFThomasPark@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.