It’s looking better than ever!
An Ecological Reserve and Sculpture Park at Pōkeno is an investment by the Hynds Foundation that extends our charitable work across four of our pillars – Environment, Education, Community Wellbeing, and Arts and Culture.
At the beginning of 2026, we reached a stage where we could begin to welcome community on an invitation basis. This phase allows us to understand how different groups interact with the environment, which will inform the park’s development. The transformation of two working hobby farms is not completed, but it has certainly come a long way.
2018:
62 and 10 Bluff Road are two hobby farms with extensive wetlands.
2020:
Hynds acquires both farms to extend its charitable support under the Environment pillar.
Plan for ecological and civil engineering outcomes.
Improved track access for park maintenance.
Seed sourcing from a mature stand of bush harvested for seedlings.
Prepared the ground for new planting.
2021:
Ecological regeneration plan underway.
Planting of 40,000 native shrubs, small trees and aquatic grasses with the support of Native Awa.
Pest control (rabbits, stoats, ferrets, rats).
Sculpture Park ambitions emerge.
Leo Lornie takes up residence with his wife Helen as the first park superintendent.
2022:
Ecological management – weeding and pest control.
60,000 additional plantings.
2023:
Boffa Miskell landscape consultancy commenced.
40,000 further new plantings.
Maturity of existing planting creates environment for specimen trees.
Weeding and pest control.
Walkways and roading progressed.
Acquisitions of the first four sculptures.
2024:
Boffa Miskell landscape plan completed.
Guardian Chief, Agnes, In Bloom and Palms x 3 installed.
Soil health is improving.
Planting is doing well – leading to reduced sediment runoff into waterways and increased birdlife.
Weeds and pests are under control.
2025:
6 sculptures relocated (3 by helicopter) from their previous home at Connells Bay, Waiheke.
7 new sculpture acquisitions.
Installation processes completed.
Further trail development.
2026:
Ecological management is advanced – park is on track for a sustainable system within a decade.
A trail map produced of our fully installed sculpture family – the first 4 has become 17.
We have begun to invite community groups in on a controlled and limited basis.
A design for the Visitor Centre is ready.
Leo and Helen move to Waiuku; into retirement but still close at hand.
A sculptures update
The park is now home to 17 works by established and emerging New Zealand artists: Amie Redpath, Wendy Hannah, Chris Moore, Jane Downes, Graham Bennett, Rob Suisted, Neil Dawson, Jae Hoon Lee, Rebecca Rose, Matthew Buscke, Matthew Williams, Isaac Watson, Sherie Kemp, Iain Cheesman, Simon Lewis Wards and Phil Dadson. The majority of works have been installed on the western side of the park, which was the first area of focus for native regeneration.