Landscaping vision sought for Te Ahu Centre

A local landscape designer may have the privilege of adding the finishing touches to the nearly-completed Te Ahu Centre in Kaitaia.

Te Ahu Trust is seeking an experienced landscape designer who can create magical gardens while combining functionality with reality.

The trust is inviting expressions of interest from suitably-qualified and experienced people.

Trustee Phil Cross says the trust has some basic ideas about how it would like to see the centre landscaped, including plantings and gardens that:

• are easily and cost-effectively maintained

• are colourful and complement the building

• include trees with root systems that do not damage underground drains or paving

• are Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design-compliant

• reflect New Zealand’s indigenous fauna and flora (a number of native trees at the centre attract tui and kereru and the trust would like more)

• meet a number of ‘hard-scape’ requirements, including the need for a suitably-located flag pole, community notice boards, sculptures and artistic features, fun paving that links areas together, walks of honour and other features that encompass the many elements of Te Ahu.

Trustees are extremely receptive to fresh and wonderful ideas that will set off what is already a very special community facility.

“There are all sorts of opportunities with this aspect of the project,” Mr Cross says.

“We could even theme a planting that reflects the Maori medicinal properties of some of our indigenous plants.”

Suitably-qualified people will be invited to visit the centre, see the area they have to work with and provide the trust with a plan and cost for the landscaping work.

Mr Cross invites interested persons to email or send the trust a CV or letter highlighting relevant qualifications and landscaping experience.

Expressions of interest should be posted to the general manager, Te Ahu Charitable Trust, P. O. Box 227, Kaitaia 0441 or emailed to mark@teahu.org.nz


The closing date for expressions of interest is 5pm on Friday 30 September 2011.