Te Whau Pathway Opening — 20 March 2026

These photographs by Alisha Lovich capture the official opening of Te Whau Pathway, a shared walking and cycling route connecting communities along the Whau River in West Auckland.

On this day, the pathway was brought to life not just as infrastructure, but as a lived space—filled with people, movement, and connection. The images reflect a cross-section of that moment: local whānau walking the path for the first time, rangatahi gathering in groups, and community leaders marking the occasion alongside those who shaped the project behind the scenes.

Woven throughout the series are the details that give the pathway its character. Painted piles by Margarita Vovna add moments of colour and narrative along the edge of the route. The Mana Whau sculpture, developed by Unitec architecture students, stands as a marker of emerging voices shaping the identity of the space. Alongside these formal contributions, quieter gestures appear, cheeky gnomes planted discreetly along the path by construction team leaders, small acts of personality left behind by those who built it.

Te Whau Pathway is part of a wider vision to create accessible, connected public space supporting active transport, community wellbeing, and a deeper engagement with the natural and cultural significance of the Whau River.

This collection showcases a beginning: the first footsteps on a path that will continue to carry stories, journeys, and everyday life.

Te Whau Pathway is a shared path that will one day connect between the Waitematā and Manukau harbours. Once completed, the pathway will provide the opportunity for amazing recreational choices and safer and more sustainable alternatives for travel. You will be able to enjoy nature, take in scenic views of the Whau awa and access local parks. Te Whau Pathway Project aims to nurture a sense of pride, ownership and kaitiakitanga of the Whau River, one of the jewels in West Auckland’s crown.

This is OFF TRACK, a public art destination between New Lynn and Avondale along the NL2A pathway, a key link to the future Te Whau Pathway. True to its name, OFF TRACK embraces a kaupapa of serious play—inviting artists and communities to explore ideas beyond the ordinary.