What you told us: Te Mata Park 2026 Survey results

The results reinforced just how much the Park matters to people: 86% told us it’s significant or highly significant to their wellbeing, and 90% said they see Te Mata Park as unique compared to other recreational spaces.

Respondents were happiest with the quality of tracks, car parking and toilets, and many noted the native planting and restoration work happening across the Park. The most common areas for improvement were clearer track signage (especially where walking, biking and shared-use tracks meet), traffic and road safety, and dog waste issues and bin availability. Environmental protection and enhancement came through as the top overall priority, just ahead of recreation.

For the first time, we also asked about donations. 47% of respondents told us they’d donated before, most often to help protect and enhance the Park or to support land purchases through our One Giant Chance campaign in 2018-2019. For those who haven’t donated, the main barriers were finances, wanting to see their values reflected in how funds are used, not being sure where the money goes, and the ease of donating.

Many respondents asked us to make it easier to donate. Watch this space … an in-Park solution is in the works!

In the meantime, you can support the Park today via our website.

Thank you again for your input on the survey. It will guide our priorities in the years ahead.

Image credit: Tom Keefe.