Accessibility information: Parnell Festival of Roses 2019
Parnell Festival of Roses 2019
Event Accessibility Information
The event will be held on Sunday 17 November 2019 from 10.30am until 4pm.
Event location and entrance:
Dove Myer Robinson Park, 85 – 87 Gladstone Road, Parnell, Auckland.
The Parnell Rose Gardens are within Dove Myer Robinson Park.
There is no vehicle access to the park during the time of the event. Please refer to the parking section within this document for advice on mobility parking.
Entrances are located at:
- the corner of Gladstone and Judges Bay Road
- off Gladstone Road (pathway located opposite bus stop outside motel).
There are other pathways through-out the park that lead into the event site but these pathways can be steep in places.
Quiet times:
The first hour of the event will be the quietest. The main stage music is softer at this time and the park will be less active with people.
This part offers a variety of gardens and trees which provide shade and opportunities to move away from the crowd and noise if respite is needed during the event.
Getting to the event:
For information on accessible travel using public transport please visit at.govt.nz...
There are fewer services on weekends. Plan your journey at at.govt.nz...
Trains:
On Sunday 17 November, the train timetables on the Western and Onehunga Lines will be changed to provide earlier and later services. These changes have been added to AT Journey planner. We recommend pre-planning your journey.
Plan your journey at at.govt.nz...
Mobility ramps are located on the middle carriage of the 3 car trains, or the 2nd and 5th carriages on the 6 car trains.
A lift is located at each end of the Britomart platforms which go up to street level.
From Britomart you can catch the 755 bus departing from Bus stop 7028, 16-18 Commerce Street (Fort Street end) which is a 211mtr journey from Britomart.
Buses:
Within the City, all buses kneel to the kerb and also have a ramp, with specified areas on board for wheelchairs and priority seats at the front. Other accessibility features for visually impaired customers are on every bus.
Concessionary fares are available to passengers who hold one of the following photo ID cards: Auckland Transport Total Mobility ID card or Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind ID card.
Bus stop 7648 is directly outside the gardens.
Bus stop number 7655 is opposite the gardens outside the Rose Park Hotel. There is no drop kerb at this stop and no pedestrian crossing.
Mobility parking:
There is no ‘general’ access to the park for vehicles during the event due to the large number of people in attendance. The main park drive-way will be closed.
A limited number of temporary Mobility carparks will be created. Bookings are recommended due to the limited number. Book your carpark in advance by emailing parnellroses@aklc.govt.nz or text / call Brendan on 021 804 024 .
There is no cost for mobility parking.
Location of toilets:
Toilets will be indicated on all site maps which are located at the main event entrances.
The permanent public toilet facilities located on the park will be closed for this event. Temporary port-a-loo units will be supplied.
Rose Block - temporary port-a-loo units including 1 accessible toilet. Located near the rose gardens placed on the main drive-way directly in front of the permanent toilet block.
Stage Block – temporary port-a-loo units including 1 accessible toilet. Located on the pathway that runs alongside grassed area featuring the main stage.
Getting around the event site:
The event activities are planned to be easily accessed from the sealed driveway that runs through the park. There are slight gradients at each end of the driveway but is it flat through the food service area.
From the driveway you can access the path that will take you to the Pohutukawa area (harbourside of the park) which features entertainment and stalls.
There are a number of other paths that go to other areas of the park and some may be difficult for wheelchair users due to the materials used on the path or their current condition. Tree roots make some paths uneven and overhanging tree branches may need to be negotiated.
Given that the festival is in a park, some of the activities are on grass such as the Main Stage and the Rose Gardens.
Assistance Dogs:
Assistance Dogs are welcomed in all areas of this event. Dog drinking bowls will be place across the event site including at the Information tent located on the rose garden side of the food stall area. There is no specified toileting area for dogs.
Water and food:
Please bring your own bottle of water. Water can be purchased from food trucks.
Food Trucks will be located on the main driveway that runs through the event site.
First aid stations:
First aid will be managed by Red Cross and is located on the rose garden side of the food stall area. If you require first aid, at any time ask any of our event staff for assistance.
Audio described activities:
There is a programme of audio described activities for blind and vision impaired visitors from 10.30am – 12.30pm. Guides and audio description will be facilitated by the team at Audio Described Aotearoa. It is essential to register for the audio described walks. To register, please email Nicola at audiodescribedaotearoa@gmail.com or call or text 0210358513
NZSL interpretation:
There will be AUT sign interpreters available during the event. Interpreters are located at the Information Tent, where you can also book a time with them. When they are available you can use them to access most parts of the festival.
There will also be a NZSL ‘Tour of the Roses’ - for these, please meet at the information tent 5mins prior to the talk. The schedule is as follows:
12.40pm – 1.10pm NZSL Tour of the Roses
Further help:
We hope this document is helpful for you to plan your visit to Parnell Festival of Roses 2019. If there is something you need to know which is not included here please get in touch with Brendan from the council events unit.
Accessibility Contact Person – Brendan van den Berg, Auckland Council Events
Email parnellroses@aklc.govt.nz
Call on landline 09 890 2404
Call or text on mobile 021 804 024
What's your favourite tomato recipe?
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.
Poll: When should the tree go up? 🎄
From what we've heard, some Christmas trees are already being assembled and decorated.
What are your thoughts on the best time to get your Christmas tree up?
-
5% Second half of November
-
43.8% 1st December
-
16.6% A week before Christmas
-
33.2% Whenever you wish
-
1.4% Other - I'll share below
The Persistent Student (Day 3)
In a small town on the North Island of New Zealand, there was a young Māori student named Te Rangi who lived with his whānau in a rural area. Te Rangi was a high school student, studying for his NCEA qualifications, and he had a particular passion for performing the haka—a traditional Māori dance that his iwi (tribe) had been practicing for generations.
Te Rangi was also a member of his school’s kapa haka group, a team that performed Māori cultural songs and dances for various competitions and events. However, unlike many of his classmates, Te Rangi wasn’t raised in an urban environment where Māori language and traditions were easily accessible. He had learned haka from his kuia (grandmother) and his uncle, but he was aware that many of the other students in his kapa haka group came from whānau that were more involved in te ao Māori (the Māori world) and were better at mastering the haka and te reo Māori.
The school year was coming to a close, and the big regional kapa haka competition was approaching. Te Rangi felt the pressure. He knew his group had strong performers, but he was worried about his own ability to perform well under the scrutiny of judges, especially when it came to the solo haka part of the competition. This section of the performance required deep emotional connection, precision in movements, and the ability to lead with confidence—skills Te Rangi was still developing.
One week before the competition, something unexpected happened. The kapa haka group’s tutor, who had been guiding them for months, fell ill and could no longer lead the group. The students were told they would have to perform without their tutor, and the responsibility fell on the shoulders of the older students in the group, including Te Rangi. They would have to organise their own rehearsals and make sure everything was ready in time for the competition.
Most of the students were worried and frustrated. They felt like they had lost their guide, and many of them struggled to stay focused. Te Rangi, however, decided that he wasn’t going to let the situation stop him. While the others were distracted by the uncertainty, he started staying after school to practice his haka on his own. He would go to the marae (Māori meeting house) in the evenings to connect with the land and the spirit of his ancestors, seeking the strength to improve his performance.
He practiced the haka over and over, refining his movements, listening carefully to the words, and even studying the history and meaning behind the chants. He sought advice from his uncle and aunties, who taught him the deeper significance of the haka beyond the movements—the emotional strength, the mana (prestige), and the connection to whakapapa (ancestry).
On the day of the competition, Te Rangi was ready. When it came time for his solo haka, the crowd was captivated. His movements were sharp, his voice was strong, and his eyes burned with the confidence and pride that only someone who had connected deeply with their culture could express. He led the haka with such conviction that the audience felt the spirit of his ancestors rise with him.
In the end, his school didn’t win first place at the competition. But Te Rangi’s performance stood out, and he was praised by the judges for his commitment to his culture and his ability to overcome adversity. His classmates, who had been doubtful and distracted, were inspired by his persistence and determination. They, too, began to practice harder, and the group as a whole performed better than they had imagined.
While Te Rangi didn’t walk away with a trophy, he left the competition with something far more valuable: the knowledge that perseverance, hard work, and dedication to his roots had led to a performance that he could be truly proud of. He had earned respect from his peers, from the judges, and from himself.
---
Moral of the Story:
Te Rangi’s success came not from being the best dancer or having the most natural talent, but from his dedication to improvement and his unwavering focus. His story teaches that no matter what challenges or obstacles one faces, if you persist and put in the effort, you can overcome them and grow stronger. Whether it's in the haka, a classroom, or any other aspect of life, persistence and dedication are the keys to success.
Loading…
