The Tūpuna Maunga Authority will be undertaking upgrade work on the dilapidated tennis courts and create a dedicated visitor bus drop-off area at Takarunga / Mt Victoria. The works seek to improve accessibility and the manuhiri (visitor) experience.
Upgrades starting late November / early December 2025
Court development:
The existing dilapidated courts will be transformed into a shared recreation space featuring:
- A dual basketball and tennis court layout.
- An active recreation area and a passive zone with integrated seating and accessible park furniture.
- Informal play features for tamariki (children).
- A new toilet block with accessible facilities.
- Native planting in and around the court area. Rain gardens and planting will also be included to improve stormwater management.
Bus drop-off:
The loop road downslope of the courts (above the Devonport School carpark entrance) will be widened to form a tourist bus drop-off bay. This will improve manoeuvrability and provide a safe drop-off zone.
A new landing and boxed steps will connect the drop-off zone to the tihi (summit) access road, improving pedestrian safety and access.
Featured designs:
Mana whenua artist Arapeta Hākura has contributed cultural narratives to the design. `Hononga a Takarunga’, representing unity, interconnectedness, and deep connection between people and place.
These narratives are expressed through decorative paving representing whāriki (welcome mats), patterned court surfaces, a games wall, and furniture inlays.
The bus drop-off area will include decorative road paving that highlights shared space and pedestrian priority.
Visitor access:
Courts:
There will be brief periods during construction when access to the tihi (summit) will be closed to vehicles to allow for the installation of a new wastewater line. Emergency services will have access at all times during construction.
Pedestrian access to the tihi will be available throughout the project but will be predominantly via the off-road track network. There will be no public use of the courts during the construction period.
Bus parking:
The loop road off Kerr Street will be closed while the new bus parking bay is built. Vehicles and pedestrians will not be able to use the section of road above the lower carpark through to beyond the Devonport Primary School staff carpark.
These closures will be in place during the December 2025 school holiday period to reduce disruption for the school. Traffic management and signage will be in place to manage these temporary road closures. Emergency services will have access at all times.
Construction dates and times
Construction is planned to start in early November 2025 and will continue over the summer months. Work will take place Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings (if required), between 7.30am – 5pm. Please note this timeline may be affected by weather or supply issues.
Health and Safety
The health and safety of visitors is important, so please follow the instructions of onsite construction staff and the temporary signage in place. Our construction workers are simply doing their job to make a better visitor experience for us all, please be kind.
Courts:
Bus Parking
