Celebrating Chinese Kiwi heritage in New Windsor

A rich Chinese heritage is recognised and celebrated in Whau, with a local park now carrying the name of its last private owner, Avondale Market gardener Lowe Nam.

The site at 72-80 Tiverton Road, New Windsor, has officially been named Lowe Nam Reserve by Whau Local Board, recognising the lifelong contribution of the Lowe family to the area.

The park's previous name, Te Kotuitanga, has been relocated to Olympic Park, which will now be known as Te Kotuitanga / Olympic Park.

Whau Local Board chair Kay Thomas says the decision reflects pride in the area's diverse history.

"The Lowe family were much respected in Avondale. Families like the Lowes played a huge part in the growth of Whau. For decades their gardens fed our communities, and their hard work and perseverance helped lay the foundations of the Whau we know today.

Chinese market gardener Lowe Nam purchased the Tiverton Road block in 1955 during a post-war period when many Chinese families established gardens in Avondale, particularly on Rosebank Peninsula, before urban growth and industry transformed the area.

He worked the land until his passing in 1991 at the age of 90. The property remained with the Lowe family until its transfer to Auckland City Council in 2007.

Olympic Park's new dual name Te Kotuitanga, meaning the "dovetailing" or "joining" of canoes in te reo Māori, has a long history. It is supported by Te Kawerau ā Maki and was recorded in the Journal of the Polynesian Societyin the 1920s.

Local historians believe it has stronger connections with the western side of Whau, making it a more fitting name for Olympic Park than the New Windsor site.

The Avondale-Waterview Historical Society has been advocating for the name change since 2015. President Lisa Truttman says the outcome has been worth the wait.

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