Our Playground
We have been committed to providing our school and community with playgrounds that enhance our environment and provides plenty of opportunities for open ended play for students of all ages. Our two play areas have been inspired by the koura (crayfish) and the pāpaka (mud crab). The concept was designed by Adrian Taylor (Jasmax) and Project Managed by Tina Dyer (Play Central).
Pāpaka
The mud crabs living in the mangroves are also known as the tunnelling mud crab and act as ‘ecosystem engineers’. They build labyrinths of burrows beneath the mangrove mud which provides an essential nutrient and chemical flushing function as the tidal waters flow through them. When the tide is out, the holes of the Pāpaka are exposed in the surface of the mangrove mud.
A common theme expressed in the play workshops was the desire for undulating topography and creating intimate places for bases, look outs and imaginary play. The mounded up holes of the Pāpaka have inspired the shaping of the land with circular holes at the tops of each mound with natural play and landscape elements integrated throughout them.
Koura
Living in the mangrove ecosystem, the koura inhabits an intermediary zone between the land and sea, not entirely terrestrial and not entirely marine. The koura finds shelter under rocks and vegetation or create fan shaped burrows in the mangroves, lakes and streams. The hiding places of the koura in the mangrove mud have inspired the squiggly shaping of ‘wetpour’ mounds which host a variety of play elements. This flexible and open arrangement allows play and movement to go through, across, over, along and extend out from the mounds, providing endless ways to use the space and have fun.
