Te Ara Awataha is a 1.5km green corridor located in the heart of the new Northcote town centre and housing redevelopment. Designed by Isthmus in conjunction with Kāinga Ora, Panuku Development, and Healthy Waters (Auckland Council) the Greenway makes it fun and convenient for people to walk and cycle, play and meet one another within the neighbourhood. Linking up Northcote’s existing parks and open spaces, it features a a learning landscape co-designed with local school children. It’s an integral part of the larger Northcote Masterplan. As a key spatial corridor the Greenway project is characterised by the physical presence of the Awataha Stream. The stream begins at the spring or ‘puna’ in Jessie Tonar Scout Reserve and flows mostly underground toward the Waitematā Harbour.

Through a process of regenerative design with mana whenua kaitiaki the project identified the potential to open up and reveal (daylight) the stream along long stretches of the Greenway. The Awataha Greenway will have an important role in reconnecting to a place-sourced identity in an increasingly urbanised environment.

The controlled flow of the stream will assist with stormwater management. While carefully selected planting and habitat creation will contribute to the North–West wild-link.