Barry Curtis Park, which is located next to FGS North Island and is one of New Zealand’s biggest parks, was officiated on 5th April. Prime Minister Hon. John Key, head of Labour Party Hon. Phil Goff, the first Chinese Ethnic Minister in New Zealand, Minister of Ethnic Affairs Mrs. Pancy Wong, ex-Mayor of Manukau City Sir Barry Curtis, Mayor of Manukau City Mr. Len Brown, vice Mayor Mr. Gary troup, the first Korean MP Ms. Melissa Lee and local government representatives of Auckland were among those who attended the opening ceremony.
After the Buddha’s Birthday Celebration, Venerable Abbess Manshin led Prime Minister Hon. John Key and twenty committee members of BLIA North Island, YAD and Venerables to the park to join in the opening ceremony.
During the opening ceremony, senior Maori representatives for Kaumatua and Kapa Haka Group, together with Catholic Representative Reverend Nicolson used traditional Maori and Catholic customs and rituals to conduct the blessing ceremony. Reverend Nicholson invited Venerable Abbess Manshin to pass her blessings through the Buddhism way. Together, Abbess Manshin and Reverend Nicolson conducted the holy water cleansing ceremony to signify the importance of multiculturalism in New Zealand.
Under the glistening sun, Prime Minister Hon. John Key, ex-Mayor of Manukau City Sir Barry Curtis began the round of speeches with their deep and meaningful sharing, which expressed all the twists and turns of the park’s construction process.
Manukau City Mayor Len Brown expressed his appreciation for all those who attended the ceremony. During his speech, Mayor Brown briefed everyone with the formation, planning and future development of the park. The future for the park entails development based on cultural education and the greening of the environment with more variety of trees; in an effort to balance the eco-system and highlight the natural beauty of Aotearoa.
Barry Curtis Park is situated on 95 hectares of land, and officially opened on 6th April after nine years of designing, planning, tree planting and bridge building. This park will be the permanent residence for the historical Cryers Road rock. Trees such as kahikate 、kowhai、manuka and totara were planted around the park.
Furthermore, the park is located between both St. Paul’s Catholic Church and Fo Guang Shan North Island, and together with Fo Guang Shan, it will be an important landmark in Auckland.
