The Gateway Heritage Avenue route is proposed as a uniquely Manukau alternative route for visitors traveling north from the airport into the city. The work is part of a wider Manukau City Council initiative called the Gateway Heritage Project (GHP). The GHP is currently a concept which could act as an umbrella framework to incorporate a number of culturally diverse projects.

Three key projects have been identified as anchor projects to take the GHP from a concept into a cultural tourism precinct. They are the Otuataua Stonefields, Villa Maria & Mangere Mountain.

The Mangere Gateway Heritage Avenue project has the potential to link all of the GHP projects, including the three anchor projects. It also has the opportunity to showcase the area's rich culture and environmental assets to international, national and regional tourists.

Rather than simply being a straightforward way-finding project there is the potential to develop the Gateway as a Heritage Learning Environment, where storytelling plays a key role in understanding different cultures and their relationships with particular places. The aim is to bring the stories to life in a manner, which enables the community to celebrate the unique character and heritage of this area.

With this approach, we hope to increase our understanding of who the people of the area are, where they came from, and some of the more complicated relationships between different people of different cultures and their respective relationships with the landscape.

In creating an overall concept to tie together the numerous cultural strands and stories, we developed an aesthetic of 'found objects': working spaces and features up as an eclectic mix of materials and forms, almost as though they had washed up along the coast. While appearing random, a strict design approach has been applied to each feature to ensure a tidy and cared-for aesthetic.

The design of the Mangere Gateway Heritage Avenue Is to be more than simply a place name, a directional sign, a bench seat, or a light. It is to be an experiential journey made up of interconnected elements of discovery, providing opportunities for residents and visitors to connect and reconnect with this unique part of Manukau City.

dates: 2004 - ongoing
values: consultancy $c120K including consultants construction several million, phased over a number of years
key staff: bridgit diprose, dave little, clynt ringrose
council procedures: creation of a steering group including MCC and external stakeholders and regular presentations to this group, other liaison as required including Iwi, branding groups, town centre manager and tourism experts. Presentations to the Economic Development Committee to get buy-in, tendering using MCC Parks short form contract. Integration of MCC Parks signage principles into generic Gateway signage.
client contact: vickie allan (mcc), phone 262 5294