Brook Park - Motokiora in Te Kuiti provides a leisure reserve for the enjoyment of resident and visitors. It is also the site of a fortified Maori Pa known as Motakiora.

The Park is mostly of a moderate to steep slope, with some areas of gum and pine plantations and small pockets of native bush.

There is a system of marked walking tracks allowing short easy walks, to moderately long and strenuous walks.

Natural Features of this Park include a significant and notable collection of tree species, both exotic and native. A tree collection has been augmented by the Barry Blackman collection of conifers. Mr Blackman donated his collection of approximately 300 plants, which were transplanted from his property and from Redwood Park in Te Kuiti, to Brook Park - Motakiora in the autumn of 2007.

A carpark is located at the Te Kumi Road entrance to the Park. Pedestrian access to the band rotunda and the wider reserve is available through the sign-posted gate in the carpark.

Disc Golf – Brook Park Course

The Brook Park course has a short course available to everyone, including those who just want to have a ‘taste' of the game.

On the Disc Golf Signs there is a QR code that will take you to a link to an App that gives you a live GPS map of the course and will signal where you are at any time. This helps with following the course and playing the holes in the correct order. Score cards and discs are available from Te Kuiti Applianceplus, loan discs are available for a gold coin donation.

Below is an insight into the game of disk golf. We would like to encourage everyone to give it a go:

The Game:
Instead of a ball and clubs, players throw a plastic disc (or “Frisbee”) into a standing metal basket (which has loose hanging chains to help catch the disc). Players throw from a designated tee towards a target basket, and, as in ball golf, try to do so in as few throws as possible. A course typically has 9 or 18 “holes” (fairways with tees and baskets).

Disc golf can be played on your own, in an informal group with friends, at organised times on weekends and summer evenings, in club leagues, or in weekend tournaments. Players of differing skill levels can play together, thus all members of a family can play as a group, or an inexperienced player can happily play in the same tournament as someone with years of experience.

There is no requirement to book a “tee time”, players are free to play as and when it suits them.

Not much equipment is needed: loose casual clothing, a bag of discs (1-3 is enough for a beginner), and suitable footwear (e.g. sneakers).

Come out and give it a go!

Brook Park Bookings

Groups who wish to make a booking for the use of the park for an event should make their booking at the Waitomo District Council Office front desk. Liz Riley is the council contact person for any queries.

Friends of Brook Park

Waitomo District Council adopted a Brook Park Management Plan, which provides for the administration and development of the reserve through the establishment of a “Friends of Brook Park” group. This group is called the Brook Park Incorporated Society and consists of local residents who work together to identify projects from the management plan and develop them over time, raising funds where necessary to support this work.

Membership

Whether it is holding working bees, organising volunteer days, other events, or fundraising to provide fun activities such as disc golf and the annual fireworks display, the Brook Park Committee is always busy.

If you wish to be part of an active and dedicated community voluntary group, feel free to contact Brook Park Committee Chair Guy Whitaker on [email protected]

We are a small voluntary group who are looking for more support, with several options available, including:
• joining the newsletter mailing list to keep up to date with news and happenings
• attend a working bee or volunteer day and give a hand with work on a particular project
• Become a life member ($100 contribution) If there is anyone who you think would enjoy being involved in the Park, please pass on this newsletter and invite them to join in.

Wednesday Working Groups

This group meets on a Wednesday 9am at the gate into the park behind Bosco’s. Anyone interested can just turn up.
Contact person for this is Sue Wagstaff. 021 02734160

Park Maintenance

Great progress has been made by the work of committee members and the dedicated Waitomo Council team led by Tim. Users of the park will be aware of all the weed control, track maintenance, tree maintenance to keep park users safe and the installation of picnic tables. These tables have been made at The Menz Shed here in Te Kuiti, some have been sponsored and some donated. This project is ongoing and tables are being strategically placed around the park. We thank The Menz Shed for their excellent work and encourage the community to make use of them.

Newsletters

To keep up to date on what's happening at Brooke Park, sign up to receive newsletters here