Upgrade of Pukekura Park Icon Starts Soon

A major upgrade of the iconic Fernery and Display Houses in Pukekura Park starts next week.

The first part of the project is to improve a track from the TSB Stadium car park to enable equipment and vehicles to access the Fred Parker Lawn, after which work on the Fernery and Display Houses will begin.

The upgrade will see house one’s roof replaced, a new propagation glasshouse and staff facilities, and new irrigation and ventilation systems.

“House one – the small fernery at the entrance – is one of the facility’s oldest sections,” says Manager Parks Mark Bruhn. “The roof dates from the 1960s and is in poor condition so it needs replacing.

“We’re taking the opportunity to upgrade a number of other areas so that staff are more able to keep the Fernery and Display Houses operating to its high standard.

“The public can rest assured that none of the tunnels will be touched.”

The project will take 20 weeks to complete. During most of that time the front entrance will be closed to the public but access will be available from Horton Walk at the rear of the tropical house.

The Council aims to have the public areas open in time for the Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular at the end of October, but this depends on the upgrade’s progress.

This is the third stage of a project that began 14 years ago.

In 1998 the roofs over the fernery’s second and third houses were replaced and raised 2.5m. In addition, a disabled access was built between Kibby House and the second house, and a hothouse for growing plants was added.

The second stage of the upgrade was completed in 2000 with a revamp of Kibby House. The house’s area was increased by about 25 per cent, a new roof was installed to trap sunlight and heat, a purpose-built indoor propagation area was created and access for people with limited mobility improved.

The Fernery and Display Houses opened in 1928 and the facility is recognised internationally by horticulturalists for its house design, propagation expertise and consistently high-quality plant displays.