Walter Nash Park: Common Ground

18/06/2026

The Walter Nash Park courts resurfacing and sports activation launch has finally been confirmed for Saturday, 27th June ( 28th if weather necessitates)

Please share the appropriate poster with any of your local networks ( such a lot to choose from thanks to BNZ and NZ Basketball tech wizards )



The resurfaced courts and new sports posts, hoops and nets are already being utilised by all ages and we look forward to seeing you there to celebrate and thank all who have partnered to make this happen.



With all the activities, kai, music and games on the day it will be great to have helping hands on deck, so contact Whaea Sue if you can assist in any way. NZ Basketball and Hutt City Council are sorting all the major roles but we want to show our thanks by supporting the day and the wonderful resources that have been gifted to our community. eg anyone who would like to put their artistic skills to use, a few big cards we can all sign and gift on the day would be awesome or if you can help pump up balls that have been donated, that’s another job to be done before the 27th.



Our usual playday activities as well as other sports gear and bikes will be out alongside the basketball stars, so be assured there’s something for everyone at any age to enjoy.



Tātou Tātou Taita!

10/06/2026

Thanks to Isbella and her whānau for their continued support of Common Ground. Isbella’s latest art creation from our local community thanking Erica and Struan for their pātaka kai installation, was this beautiful rock painting. We finally presented it last week and it was gratefully received. Isbella also had the opportunity to admire the treasure trove of art that encompasses Erica and Struan’s home.



Court update – although we are still awaiting the posts which are being couriered from Auckland, we are going ahead with our regular playdays at the park starting tomorrow, 10th June from midday ( fingers crossed the weather holds up) If Eddie and Johnny are working on site we will work around them. The date for the activation event will be confirmed once the court works are completed but the last date flagged by NZ Basketball was 27th or 28th June. That will be a day to celebrate all the work that has been carried out around the courts and upskill on our basketball moves.



The Ara Tūao / community volunteer expo flier attached also reminds us to thank all the volunteers that currently assist at playdays. Regina, Alexa and Caro’s team from Taita College are magic in keeping us all supported as well as whānau that contribute in so many ways. Kia kaha tātou!

02/06/2026

Hope everybody enjoyed the long weekend. The park courts are looking great but there are still sports posts to install. Eddie and Johnny were there Friday, digging and pouring concrete and that needs ten days to cure before the posts can go in so we won’t be back on board for playdays until 10th of June at this stage. Paku is waiting patiently.



We are also waiting to confirm the activation event with Basketball NZ , Hutt City Council, Nuku Ora and community partners. Saturday, 20th June is the likely date, but more on that soon.

28/05/2026

If you are looking for something to do for Samoan Language week here it is.

Workshop Details:
Location: Naenae Library Hub
Date & Time: Thursday 4th June, 3.30pm – 5.00pm and Friday 5th June, 10am – 12pm
More information & Free registration:

This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data.

26/05/2026

Kia ora koutou,

Some snaps of the mahi happening at Walter Nash Park.

Playdays is on hold while this mahi is being done.

15/05/2026

A few more basketball photos from our 2018 archives and some updates on the courts.

Resurfacing will go ahead next week, Wednesday 20th, Thursday and Friday 22nd and the courts will be unavailable for a couple of weeks after that as markings and new posts are sorted. We will soon be able to let you know of a big activation day where we can celebrate the new improved space with NZ Basketball in partnership with BNZ, Nuku Ora, Healthy Families, Hutt City Council and our local community sharing time and resources to play. A Saturday date will be confirmed soon, once the mahi is completed but just wanted to put out the taster that there will be plenty of food, fun, music and action for everyone coming up that should keep the Winter blues at bay.



We’ll keep you posted on that and please make the job of our contractors easy and give them a real welcome to our community. It needs us all working together and the success will be shared.



Tātou Tātou Taita

30/04/2026

A huge thank you to Marie from Nuku Ora for contributing resources to our playday at the park on Wednesday. The basketballs and tennis balls were put straight out on the courts for play by our eager tamariki and rangatahi coaxing our mātua to join in the fun. Hewan was busy creating chalk art on the concrete as balls bounced around. We appreciate all the volunteers on hand to help out.



Thanks also to Noah and Trinah who created a card for our friend Jack. For years, Jack has made and repaired wooden toys for local whānau as well as being hands on help and great listener to any visitors to the park. In his 80th year now, he is having to rest up awhile but he remains an important part of the Common Ground team

22/04/2026

Kia ora koutou,

No playgroup today due to weather conditions.

Stay dry and warm

14/04/2026

Play day with Barnardos this Wednesday
15th April 10am–1pm at Walter Nash(Common Ground)☀️☀️

All ages are welcome, so feel free to come along.

There will be toys, bikes, morning tea to enjoy ☺️🧸📕🚲
We’ll also have an ECE teacher joining us for some fun activities ✨

Please note: The usual Wednesday Playday (run by Whaea Sue) won’t be open during the school holidays😢