Auckland City to honour Cornwall Park guardians

The Auckland City Council will honour The Cornwall Park Trust Board Inc at its full council meeting this Thursday night.

In recognition of the trust board’s long and outstanding contribution, Auckland City Mayor Hon John Banks will present chairman Dr Lindo Ferguson and trustees with a hand-scripted and city-sealed citation.

The special presentation follows the recent centenary celebrations of the gifting of Cornwall Park to the people of New Zealand by Sir John Logan Campbell – ‘The Father of Auckland’.

“For the past century the trust board’s stewardship of this magnificent gift has been truly outstanding. Auckland City believes in putting success on a pedestal. We applaud and appreciate the tireless work and commitment of present and all former trustees of this august body,” Mr Banks said.

Dr Ferguson said: “We are greatly honoured Auckland City is taking the time to make such a formal acknowledgment. We are looking forward to the occasion. Over the years the trustees have enjoyed a very good relationship with the council.”

Just four trustees sit on the board and no positions are remunerated. David Ellis, Michael Horton and John Clark join Dr Ferguson who has been a trustee since 1975. Distinguished past trustees have included former Auckland Mayor Sir Arthur Myers, B.P Stevenson and Sir Kenneth Myers.

The trustees follow their brief closely, managing the park in accordance to the founding deed and administering the substantial land endowments Campbell left to enable the park to be maintained and developed at no expense to the ratepayers. The pastoral farm also helps with the park’s running costs.

Cornwall Park covers 81-hectares. The trust board also looks after the 44-hectare One Tree Hill Domain, which it leases from the Auckland City Council.

“Campbell foresaw Auckland’s rapid growth and he knew only too well the necessity of public open space. As well as people being able to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life, he wanted city children to have easy access to farm animals.

“Because of the Cornwall Park Trust Board’s ongoing diligence and discipline, Sir John Logan Campbell’s legacy has endured and his great vision has been realised. For this we give thanks,” Mr Banks said.

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