St Bede’s students help create local park improvements

Over the last two years, some senior students have been developing ideas for improving Momorangi Reserve Park near the school under the guidance of Christchurch City Council urban planners.

In 2025, St Bede’s student Sione Nuku undertook a research project looking at traditional migration Vaka sail craft. With this in mind, he designed a picnic table for the reserve to be used by the community. It incorporates complex steel components manufactured using the college’s robot plasma cutter as well as outsourced steel fabrication processes. 

Recently, the college did a presentation to the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board. The board members reacted favourably to this design and look forward to the potential to develop upcoming local renewal projects.

“We are grateful for these real-world opportunities for St Bede’s College students and especially for the chance to give back to the Momorangi Crescent community,” wrote St Bede’s staff member Jim Harris.

The agenda for the the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board meeting on August 14 noted that a concept design for the reserve would be presented. The agenda item stated that the “renewal will also improve accessibility by providing a connecting path to the play area and an accessible picnic table to provide families with a safe space to gather and share kai. The picnic table is designed and manufactured by students at the nearby St Bede’s College”.

The Board voted to approve the concept design for the play space renewal at Momorangi Reserve and requested that council staff proceed with the development of the detailed design and construction phase.

FULL STORY

Vaka provides inspiration for picnic table (St Bede’s College)

Agenda of Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board – Thursday, 14 August 2025 (Christchurch City Council)

Minutes of Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board – Thursday, 14 August 2025 (Christchurch City Council)