Reserve in Papanui named Withers Family Park

Council has accepted the Environment and Infrastructure Committee’s recommendation to name the neighbourhood park at 5 Vagues Road the Withers Family Park.

Aaron Keown, deputy chair of the Committee said he was privileged to be part of the Council that honoured the contribution the Withers family made to this great city.

“Norm Withers was on the Shirley/Papanui Community Board from 2001 to 2010, having been nominated as a result of his stance as a "justice campaigner". His mother, Nan, was savagely assaulted in their menswear shop,” he says.

“Norm presented 380,000 signatures to Parliament which exceeded the required number of registered electors to force a referendum on the issues regarding violent crime penalties, victim consideration and the justice system reform, “ he says.

Mr Withers was Deputy Mayor from 2007 - 2010. While in office he received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to sport and the community.  His daughter, Katrina was a Black Ferns cricketer and was a member of the team that won the world cup.

An interpretive panel is to be incorporated within the concept plan for the park to show the family connection.