Live stream: auckland_akl_western_springs.mp3
Recording: A quick demo - Jack Gittings
Te Wai Õrea (Western Springs Park), Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), Aotearoa (New Zealand)
mouthfull radio
Latitude: -36.865594408320035°
Longitude: +174.72552984702483°
Te Wai Õrea, 'the waters of the eel', is the customary name for this location. Underground rivers run through ancient valleys created by the eruptions and lava flows of the surrounding volcanic field. There are vast grass areas for park activities, a small lake (or large pond) in the centre with ducks, swans, pūkeko, these sounds of playing, waters flowing, birds singing, and footsteps pacing are what make up the environment audibly. Jack Gittings will walk a loop of the lake during this stream, taking time to sit and listen.
Mouthfull Radio will be streaming the entire REVEIL12
Mouthfull Radio will be streaming the entire REVEIL12
The park is the site of a natural freshwater aquifer, where water comes through the surface through cracks in basalt lava flow from Te Tātua a Riukiuta. Prior to European settlement, the land was primarily a pūriri lava rock forest ecosystem,[1] a now rare ecosystem consisting of plants growing in a minimal soil environment, growing amongst rock and leaf humus.
Historically, Western Springs was one of two major wetlands in the central Auckland area and was a significant site for Tāmaki Māori who valued it for its clean, clear water and for the harvesting of ōrea or New Zealand long fin eels.
A traditional Māori story involves Ruarangi, a chief of the supernatural Patupaiarehe people, escaping a siege on Ōwairaka / Mount Albert through lava tunnels and emerging at Te Wai Ōrea.
Historically, Western Springs was one of two major wetlands in the central Auckland area and was a significant site for Tāmaki Māori who valued it for its clean, clear water and for the harvesting of ōrea or New Zealand long fin eels.
A traditional Māori story involves Ruarangi, a chief of the supernatural Patupaiarehe people, escaping a siege on Ōwairaka / Mount Albert through lava tunnels and emerging at Te Wai Ōrea.
Later history
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The Western Springs lake and pumphouse in 1880
In 1830-40, during the Māori musket wars, Ngati Tahinga, Waiohua and Te Taou lived in the wider area, which was named Te Rehu.
In 1877, an earth dam was constructed to create a larger artificial lake, in order to serve as the source of Auckland's drinking water. The Western Springs lake was the source for Auckland's drinking water for the next 30 years. The English name was chosen to differentiate the springs from those at Auckland Domain, which was the previous major water source for Auckland. The springs were used until 1928, when they were superseded by damming projects in the Waitākere Ranges.
In 1922, the Auckland Zoo was opened adjacent to the lake, followed by the Western Springs Stadium in 1929 and Museum of Transport & Technology in 1964. During the Depression in the early 1930s, the area adjacent to Motions Road was developed as a camping ground. During World War II, the camping ground was used as a military camp for the United States Armed Forces. Afterwards, Western Springs was proposed as a site for an amusement park in 1953, however this did not eventuate due to a lack of funding.In 1961, the Auckland City Council parks department began administering the area, and in 1977 it was officially opened as a public park.
In 2001, The New Zealand Circle of Friends Memorial Garden, was established in the park's Kānuka Grove, including a stone memorial engraved with the names of 50 people who have died from HIV/AIDS in New Zealand.
The Fukuoka Gardens was developed in the park in 1989, gifted to Auckland by Fukuoka in recognition of their sister city relationship. This garden was officially added to the park in 2017, and includes a pavilion, waterfall, pond and over 1800 native Japanese and New Zealand species.
source^ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Springs_Reserve