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Pride of Place: powered by people

Pride of Place is all about harnessing the power of our community to create vibrant, thriving public spaces. While local councils can design and develop infrastructure, it’s the energy, creativity, and passion of community members that truly bring these spaces to life.

Since 2021, we have worked with our communities to develop Place Plans for each of our major towns, complemented by a wellbeing-focused approach for smaller ones. These plans incorporate local insights to support grassroots initiatives, enhance well-being, and lay the groundwork for future investments. They have also been used to secure external funding for transformative projects - big and small.

This project brings the community and Council together to turn public spaces into places full of life and meaning.

Join Pride of Place today and help shape the future of our towns - your way! 

Ready to share your idea or need help getting started? Contact a Community Development and Partnerships Advisor at [email protected] or call 0800 746 467. We’re excited to support you in making your vision a reality.

Looking for ways to get involved?

Pride of Place is all about teaming up with our communities to make our towns even better.

Check out the project pages below to get inspired and to get help to bring your ideas to life. 

Strategy and action plans

Looking for more detail?  Click on the town name below to see the town goals on the flip side and what is important to your community members or delve into the full strategy and action plan for each town by clinking the links below.

Matamata place goals

Matamata Place Plan Goals

1. Matamata’s town centre has a thriving social life, day and night, for all ages
2. Matamata’s town centre green spaces are well-used and celebrated
3. Matamata’s town centre is safe and easy to access on foot, bike or scooter for all ages and abilities
4. Mana whenua identity and stories can be seen in Matamata’s town centre
5. Matamata community can take the lead on making their town centre more vibrant
6. Matamata’s town centre supports a thriving local economy and celebrates its unique main street

Te Aroha place goals

Te Aroha Place Plan Goals

1. Te Aroha has a diverse and thriving social life, day and night, for all ages, with a focus on family
2. The Te Aroha community supports initiatives to maintain a tidy and well-kept town
3. Te Aroha is safe and welcoming at all hours, day and night
4. Te Aroha’s nature recreation is well-used and celebrated with a focus on Te Aroha Domain
5. Mana whenua identity and stories can be seen in Te Aroha town centre and on the maunga
6. Te Aroha town centre supports a thriving local economy and celebrates its unique main street

Morrinsville place goals

Morrinsville Place Plan Goals

1. Morrinsville is a destination for diverse social, cultural, and economic activities
2. Morrinsville’s town centre is physically accessible to all members of the community
3. Morrinsville’s town centre has a ‘town heart’ and places that enable a vibrant social life
4. Morrinsville’s community can take a lead on making their town centre more vibrant
5. Morrinsville’s town centre is greener
6. Multi-cultural identity and stories can be seen in Morrinsville’s town centre

Small towns place goals
For our smaller communities we support ideas that that will make a positive impact on the wellbeing of their host township. Whether it’s boosting the local economy, enhancing social connections, celebrating cultural heritage, or improving the environment, we’re here to support ideas that help your community thrive.
If you’ve got an idea that improves the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of our communities and has potential to make your town even better, we’d love to hear about it!

What's happened so far?

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The Brownies Fairy Garden Project

Matamata

Category: Parks and Environment

Status: Complete

The Matamata Brownies built ten miniature fairy gardens and placed them throughout Centennial Drive Park to create a free, family-friendly, outdoor experience for all to enjoy during the summer months. Locals and visitors alike were able to find their way to the fairy gardens through clues on Facebo...
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Address: Centennial Drive, Matamata 3400, New Zealand

Te Aroha Domain Restoration

Te Aroha

Category: Parks and Environment

Status: In progress

The Domain Restoration Projects focus on enhancing Te Aroha Domain by planting native vegetation in key areas. This series of efforts, led by Manukora and Keep Te Aroha Beautiful, aims to beautify the park and restore its natural environment Matamata-Piako District Council (MPDC) has played a cru...

Address: 76 Whitaker Street, Te Aroha 3320, New Zealand

Railway Park Development

Te Aroha

Category: Parks and Environment

Status: In progress

The Rail Park Redevelopment project, led by two dedicated neighbours who adopted the railway park between Ema and Burgess Streets, has successfully transformed an overgrown section of the rail trail into a vibrant and stunning park. Partnering with Hauraki Rail Trail and Manukora, they gained permis...

Address: 1c Millar Street, Te Aroha 3320, New Zealand

Morrinsville Skate Bowl Revival

Morrinsville

Category: Arts and Heritage

Status: In progress

The Morrinsville Skate Bowl Re-imagined project, led by Morrinsville Extreme Sports, is set to bring new life to the skate bowl through a creative community-driven initiative. The project includes a design competition inviting local residents to submit their artwork for a mural to be painted inside...

Address: Morrinsville Realignment, Morrinsville 3300, New Zealand

Peria Road Dog Park Upgrade

Matamata

Category: Parks and Environment

Status: In progress

Matamata Rotary and Peter Vossen Builders installed a stunning new weather shelter in Peria Road Dog Park allowing visitors to get out of the rain or hot sun and have a comfortable place to sit down. they also upgraded the existing gate into a double corral to enhance safety when entering or exiting...

Address: 6 Oakview Lane, Matamata 3400, New Zealand

Tom Grant Drive Play equipment

Matamata

Category: Assets and Infrastructure

Status: Complete

What began as a consultation on the location of a swing set, up for renewal in Matamata, soon became much more. The Tom Grant Drive Committee teamed up with Council and raised funds for a larger scale playground upgrade on their street with the help of a generous donation from the Langlands family....

Address: 66 Findlater Street, Matamata 3400, New Zealand

Bike racks

Matamata

Category: n/a

Status: Complete

In 2022 our Pride of Place team popped up all around Matamata to try and connect with people from all walks of life to understand your aspirations for your town centre. You let us know you’d like to see better walking and biking connections to the town centre, including quality bike racks in more lo...

Address: 11 Tainui Street, Matamata 3400, New Zealand

Tom Grant Drive Playground Donation

Matamata

Category: Parks and Environment

Status: Complete

Tom Grant Drive Committee Received a generous donation from community members’ of $20,000 in order buy new equipment for the Tom Grant Drive Playground. They purchased two new picnic tables, a new carousel, two new rockers and safety padding. MPDC seeing their donation brought forward their planned...

Address: Tom Grant Drive, Matamata 3400, New Zealand

Sculpture Rescue

Matamata

Category: n/a

Status: Complete

The Hetana Sculpture Relocation project involved moving selected sculptures to new locations along the Hauraki Rail Trail (HRT) to enhance the trail's cultural and visual appeal. This initiative was a collaborative effort between the Matamata-Piako District Council (MPDC), the former president of th...

Address: 28a Arawa Street, Matamata 3400, New Zealand

Hetana Arawa Laneway

Matamata

Category: Arts and Heritage

Status: Complete

The Hetana - Arawa Laneway Activation project aimed to revitalise a key pedestrian route by introducing a haiku poetry mural. Matamata-Piako District Council (MPDC) collaborated with a local business owner who agreed to feature the mural on her building, enhancing both the aesthetic and interactive...

Address: 55 Arawa Street, Matamata 3400, New Zealand

Memory Meadow Matamata

Matamata

Category: Parks and Environment

Status: Complete

The Memory Meadow project is a collaborative effort to support the Cancer Society’s cause by establishing a daffodil plantation. Matamata-Piako District Council (MPDC) partnered with The Warehouse Matamata, Taku Wairua, local schools, and the Cancer Society to bring this initiative to life. The Canc...

Address: 69 Everad Avenue, Matamata 3400, New Zealand

Hetana Bluebells

Matamata

Category: Parks and Environment

Status: Complete

The Hetana Bluebells project, led by Keep Matamata Beautiful, aimed to enhance our local green spaces by planting over 8,000 bluebell bulbs under the Hetana Street Oaks. MPDC supported promoting activity, supporting with project and horticulture advice and b providing tools, materials and MPDC St...

Address: 45 Broadway, Matamata 3400, New Zealand

Arawa Social Seating

Te Aroha

Category: Assets and Infrastructure

Status: Complete

The Arawa Street - Social Seating project, led by Matamata-Piako District Council (MPDC), is designed to invigorate an underutilised space at the corner of Arawa and Tui Streets. Funded by Transport Choice, this initiative aims to enhance the area with a vibrant and functional seating solution. M...

Address: 35 Kenrick Street, Te Aroha 3320, New Zealand

Domain Fernery Project

Te Aroha

Category: Parks and Environment

Status: Complete

Local Resident and Native Gardening Enthusiast –Mary Hansen designed a stunning fern garden for Te Aroha Domain, the fernery replaced the abandoned aviary. Mary worked with volunteers and sponsors to procure, develop and maintain the fern garden which showcases attractive new Zealand native plants a...

Address: 12 Wilson Street, Te Aroha 3320, New Zealand

Te Aroha Rotary Bench Seat upgrade

Te Aroha

Category: Assets and Infrastructure

Status: Complete

Te Aroha Rotary approached MPDC offering to fully restore the town centres Victorian style bench seats. The seats had begun to deteriorate badly with lichen, broke boards and flaking paint. Rotary took away one bench seat at a time, repainted the steel frames, replace the timber boards and fully res...

Address: 161 Whitaker Street, Te Aroha 3320, New Zealand

Te Aroha Community Led Dog Park

Te Aroha

Category: Parks and Environment

Status: Complete

Local resident and ‘Dog Whisperer’ Ginny Stephens approached council to establish a community led dog park at the former grazing paddock under the railway bridge. Ginny used her own money to buy a professional ride on mower, and received generous donations from AgPlus who service her equipment. Ginn...

Address: 50b Kenrick Street, Te Aroha 3320, New Zealand

Whitaker Street Pot Plants

Te Aroha

Category: Assets and Infrastructure

Status: Complete

Te Aroha Rotary successfully secured Council's Pride of Place Community Community-Led Initiatives grant to deliver the "Whitaker Street Pot Plant Project". Rotary received of $1,500 of funding to purchase elegant acacia wood pots and a selection of durable shrubs and annuals to enhance the main stre...

Address: 160 Whitaker Street, Te Aroha 3320, New Zealand

Stanley Ave Centenary Planting

Te Aroha

Category: Parks and Environment

Status: Complete

The Stanley Ave Centenary Planting project, led by Keep Te Aroha Beautiful, marked a special milestone by planting five new copper beech trees to celebrate the 100th anniversary of tree planting on Stanley Avenue. This commemorative effort aimed to honour a century of green space enhancement in the...

Address: 59 Stanley Avenue, Te Aroha 3320, New Zealand

PoP up Pickleball

Te Aroha

Category: Assets and Infrastructure

Status: Complete

The Pop Up Pickleball project aimed to introduce and promote pickleball, New Zealand's fastest-growing sport, which is accessible and enjoyable for all ages. Aroha Pickleball successfully applied for Pride of Place grant funding to test a three-month free pickleball club at the underused court in Te...

Address: 76 Whitaker Street, Te Aroha 3320, New Zealand

Morrinsville Seed Library

Morrinsville

Category: Parks and Environment

Status: Complete

Local food resilience and garden enthusiasts created a seed library in Morrinsville where people can donate saved seeds form their gardens and ‘check out’ seed they might like try growing at home. The project aims to preserve heritage and rare food plant seeds, but is open to storing flower seed and...

Address: 56-60 Canada Street, Morrinsville 3300, New Zealand

Memory Meadow Morrinsville

Morrinsville

Category: Parks and Environment

Status: Complete

The Cancer Society approached MPDC to establish a ‘Memory Meadow’ plantation in its towns. Taku Wairua offered to plant 160 daffodil bulbs at Allen Street Reserve Morrinsville. Each spring there will be a stunning display of daffodils The Cancer Society hope that people might consider supporting the...

Address: 24 Canada Street, Morrinsville 3300, New Zealand

Te Aroha Domain gets Permanent Pickleball Lines

Te Aroha

Category: Assets and Infrastructure

Status: Complete

In May 2024, local community member Katrina Sweetman introduced a successful pickleball pop-up at the Te Aroha Domain courts, supported by a Community-Led Initiatives Grant from Matamata Piako District Council. The pop-up was so popular that Katrina took pickleball indoors to Silver Fern Farms Event...
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Address: 76 Whitaker Street, Te Aroha 3320, New Zealand

A Local Conservation Effort

Te Aroha

Category: Parks and Environment

Status: Complete

Alongside Ngāti Tumutumu Trust and the Department of Conservation (DoC), our Community Development and Partnerships team worked with the community to host the free event, "Pests, Predators, and Protectors: A Local Conservation Effort" on 20 March at Te Aroha Domain Pavilion. Set against the backdrop...
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Address: 18 Wilson Street, Te Aroha 3320, New Zealand

Serving Up Fun: Pickleball Takes Off in Matamata

Matamata

Category: n/a

Status: Complete

Matamata Pickleball officially launched in February this year at the covered courts at Matamata Primary School, thanks to the efforts of local community member Carol MacLeod and her team of supporters. The launch event was a fun evening filled with activity and laughter, drawing over 40 participants...
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Address: 6 Meura Street, Matamata 3400, New Zealand

Whānau, Wellbeing, and Whanaungatanga

Waharoa

Category: n/a

Status: Complete

In December 2024, Te Hauora o Ngāti Hauā hosted “Christmas at the Hauora” in Waharoa — a vibrant community wellness event aimed at promoting health and connection through kaupapa Māori values. This free expo welcomed hundreds of people, offering health checks, immunisations, and direct access to ove...
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Address: 2 Cadman Street, Waharoa 3401, New Zealand

Analogue Aotearoa

Te Aroha

Category: Arts and Heritage

Status: Complete

On the weekend of 1st and 2nd of November 2025, Te Aroha hosted a unique celebration of traditional photography with the debut of Analogue Aotearoa - a festival dedicated to analogue film and tintype photography. Delivered by local photographer Adrian Cook, the event brought together artists, enthus...
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Address: 134 Whitaker Street, Te Aroha 3320, New Zealand

Teaming up with Rangatahi to Lead the Way – From Ideas to Action!

Morrinsville

Category: n/a

Status: Complete

Over the past six months, our Community Development and Partnerships team has partnered with Mana Rangatahi, a local youth group supported by Te Ahurei a Rangatahi. Together, we’ve worked to empower young people to lead positive change in their community. This collaboration was supported by the Prid...
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Address: 318 Thames Street, Morrinsville 3300, New Zealand

Push the Light

Morrinsville

Category: Arts and Heritage

Status: Complete

On 7 September 2025, the Morrinsville Gallery hosted Push the Light, a powerful presentation by artist Charlotte Giblin during the inaugural Aotearoa Eating Disorder and Body Image Awareness Week. Through art and storytelling, Charlotte opened hearts and minds to the realities of eating disorders. A...

Address: 167 Thames Street, Morrinsville 3300, New Zealand

Game On: Morrinsville Disc Golf Course Opens!

Morrinsville

Category: Parks and Environment

Status: Complete

On 16 November 2025, Morrinsville celebrated the opening of its brand-new 9-hole disc golf course, a project led by local community member Hamish Furniss to bring a fun and inclusive activity to Morrinsville for everyone to enjoy. Disc golf is easy to learn and people of all ages and abilities ca...
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Address: 36 Anzac Avenue, Morrinsville 3300, New Zealand

Local Volunteers Lead Whitaker Street Makeover

Te Aroha

Category: Arts and Heritage

Status: Complete

In November 2025, buildings on Whitaker Street in Te Aroha saw a noticeable transformation as local community members came together to support a Pride of Place project led by local resident Ross Miller. Together, volunteers removed outdated and broken signage above three buildings in the centre of t...

Address: 136 Whitaker Street, Te Aroha 3320, New Zealand

Tom Grant Drive Fruit Tree Project

Matamata

Category: Parks and Environment

Status: Complete

Hinuera Te Poi Lions have donated and planted 9 hardy and healthy fruit trees along Tom Grant Drive for all to enjoy. The varieties include Feijoa, Lemon and Mandarin. The trees are monitored and maintained by Te Poi Lions MPDC supported by granting approval to undertake a trial, advised on poten...

Address: Tom Grant Drive, Matamata 3400, New Zealand

From Wetlands to the Summit: Guided Walks with Search and Rescue

Te Aroha

Category: Parks and Environment

Status: Complete

This summer, Te Aroha Paeroa Search and Rescue (TAPSAR) brought adventure to Te Aroha with three free guided hikes for locals! The series kicked off with a relaxed wander through the Howarth Memorial Wetlands in early January, followed by a more challenging climb up Hamilton Street Track and down...
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Address: 1 Wilson Street, Te Aroha 3320, New Zealand

Sharing the Art of Harakeke

Morrinsville

Category: Arts and Heritage

Status: Complete

On 20 January 2026, the Morrinsville Museum coordinated a full day Learning the Art of Harakeke workshop with a local weaver, for children aged 8–14. Supporting activities were held at the Morrinsville Library and Morrinsville Art Gallery as part of the programme. Participants learned about the tika...
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Address: 41 Canada Street, Morrinsville 3300, New Zealand

Much Ado About Something Wonderful

Te Aroha

Category: Arts and Heritage

Status: Complete

On 14 March 2026, Te Aroha Domain became an open air theatre as Summer Shakespeare delivered a free outdoor performance of Much Ado About Nothing. Led by local actor Ciaran Warner - who also played the villainous Don John - the lively afternoon performance drew more than 80 people and made the most...
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Address: Boundary Street, Te Aroha 3320, New Zealand

Starfish Community Colour Burst event: A colourful success!

Matamata

Category: Events and Festivals

Status: Complete

On the 9th of November 2024, Railside by the Green in Matamata was filled with energy as the Community Colour Burst, organised by Starfish Health and Wellbeing Centre and supported by F45 Matamata, artist Liam Atkins, and MPDC Pride of Place, proved a huge success. The chalk powder paint obstacle co...
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Address: 41a Hetana Street, Matamata 3400, New Zealand

Matamata's Superhero & Princess Day - a huge success

Matamata

Category: Events and Festivals

Status: Complete

Matamata was transformed into a magical world on Sunday 2 March 2025 as more than 300 people attended Superhero & Princess Day at Railside by the Green, where characters such as Moana, Elsa, Batman, and Spiderman entertained families with singing, dancing, and fun games, alongside local heroes from...
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Address: 41a Hetana Street, Matamata 3400, New Zealand

Raungaiti Underpass Art Project: community-led transformation at the Waharoa underpass

Waharoa

Category: Arts and Heritage

Status: Complete

The Waharoa underpass beneath State Highway 27 (SH27) was once a dark, graffiti-covered tunnel that tamariki and whānau avoided. Through the Raungaiti Underpass Art Project, it is being transformed into a brighter, welcoming space that reflects local identity and creativity. The work has been led by...
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Address: 6425 State Highway 27, Waharoa 3474, New Zealand

Tautoru (Tailored Education) Open Day

Matamata

Category: Learning Initiatives

Status: Complete

The Matariki – Tautoru Official Open Day was a community-led event held in August 2025, created to bring whānau and the wider community together to celebrate the mahi of Tautoru and its rangatahi. The kaupapa focused on connection, celebration, and visibility, using mahi toi such as korowai and pōta...

Address: 112 Rawhiti Avenue, Matamata 3400, New Zealand

HERE IS HELP TO HEAR Expo

Matamata

Category: Health, Safety, and Wellness

Status: Complete

The Pride of Place team was proud to support the 'HERE IS HELP TO HEAR Expo', hosted by the Matamata Hearing Association - a local not-for-profit charity - on 6 September 2025 at the Matamata Civic Centre. This free public event gave locals the chance to connect with speakers, hear personal stories,...
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Address: 11 Tainui Street, Matamata 3400, New Zealand

Pride of Place teams up with Blue Light to bring big-screen fun to Matamata

Matamata

Category: Arts and Heritage

Status: Complete

More than 100 locals turned out on 23 August 2025 for the Matamata Blue Light free family movie afternoon, featuring the Minecraft movie. Families arrived at the Matamata-Piako Civic and Memorial Centre with bean bags, picnic mats, and popcorn, ready for a relaxed and fun-filled event. Supported...
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Address: 11 Tainui Street, Matamata 3400, New Zealand

Waharoa community shines at whānau fun day with help from Pride of Place

Waharoa

Category: Events and Festivals

Status: Complete

The Waharoa Tennis Courts were alive with laughter and connection last October (2025) as Waharoa Together Greatness (WTG) hosted their first-ever Whānau Fun Day - a celebration for the community, by the community. Organised by a passionate group of young Waharoa mums and supported by council’s Pr...
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Address: 27 Ward Street, Waharoa 3401, New Zealand

CultureFest - a world of flavours, colours and traditions

Matamata

Category: Arts and Heritage

Status: Complete

The Matamata-Piako Multicultural Society brought colour and connection to the district on Saturday 22 November with their 2025 CultureFest. The idea for the event was sparked by a group of community members from diverse ethnic backgrounds who wanted to showcase and celebrate the cultural richness wi...
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Address: 115 Broadway, Matamata 3400, New Zealand

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