We’ve partnered with Matamata Futures to design an upgrade to the Matamata Domain playground. Official consultation kicked off in early May 2023, when Matamata Futures asked the community what they liked about the current playground and what they’d like to see included in the upgrade.

There were loads of great ideas, and we now have a concept plan that shows what the playground could look like. This playground concept has been designed with Te Aranga Design Principles and includes different types of play areas for developmental learning. It will utilise different forms of ‘play’ to promote fun and development in children – like formal play, informal play, imagination play, social opportunities, water play, advanced play, and nature play.

To create a really special space for our community and take full advantage of this once-in-a-generation opportunity, our concept design will cost more than the $1.5 million Council has committed to the project. To reach the higher $2.5 million target, Matamata Futures is fundraising for an additional $1 million to include all of the things you said you wanted. Read more about the wor Matamata Futures are doing here.

Then we went back to the community with the concept plan to find out which parts of the playground they loved and which bits they could live without (see submissions at the bottom of the page). That's going to help us create the final design, by knowing what can be left out in case the fundraising doesn’t reach its $1 million target. We’ll get the final playground design signed off within the next few months so that we're ready to go when the funding becomes available in July 2024. 

Stay up to date with the progress by signing up at mpdc.govt.nz/sign-up (select Matamata Domain Playground Upgrade in the Projects section). 

We created some interactive puzzles to help capture the communities must-have items. Thank you for all your feedback, the consultation ran from 22 November to 9 December, and we had 151 submissions! 

There were four different ways to interact:

• Digital - This was an interactive, online version of the puzzle, perfect for older children or adults to submit their ideas. 

• Printable – This wss a 2D version of the puzzle, ideal for kids at home who need an activity. 

• Library – A large 2D version of the puzzle was stationed at the Matamata Library as a fun activity.

• Physical – We also created some 3D block puzzles that children could play with and complete. These were used at several different events:

Matamata Primary School Gala, 23 November

Play Day in the Park, 25 November

Matamata Twilight Market, 1 December 

Market and Craft Fair, 9 December

You can see the photos of all the final submissions below...

See the concept plan here: 

Matamata Domain Playground Concept Design (pdf.11,361KB)