Auckland Botanic gardens

In an extraordinary act of generosity, Auckland philanthropist Rosemary Platt has gifted 5.63 hectares (approximately 14 acres) of ecologically significant land to the people of Tāmaki Makaurau.

In exchange for this gift, Auckland Council has committed to protect the botanical site as a regional park in perpetuity so that future generations can access and enjoy its remarkable collection of trees and open space. 

Mayor Wayne Brown says the newly acquired land will become an important destination in the Auckland regional parks network, once it can be opened to the public.

“This is an overwhelmingly remarkable gift to the city. I’m delighted to be able to accept this impressive Greenhithe property on behalf of Aucklanders.

“We will honour accordingly the vision and meticulous work Mrs Platt and her late husband Graeme Platt have put into it since they bought it back in 1983,” Mayor Brown says.

“Thanks to Graeme’s pioneering expertise in horticulture, this property has become an impressive sanctuary of open space and rare tree specimens that are not found anywhere else.

“We are very lucky to be gifted these treasures and to receive the honour of looking after them into the future. It is a privilege to become part of such an inspirational story,” he adds.

Read the full story and watch a video flyover of the land on Our Auckland website.