Free Nature Play Session Heads to Muriwai Regional Park Parks

Free Nature Play Session Heads to Muriwai Regional Park

Families around Muriwai will soon have the chance to take part in a free outdoor play session aimed at getting tamariki and whānau reconnecting with the natural environment.

The Adventurous Nature Play picnic, funded by Rodney Local Board, will be led by nature play facilitators Om and Harry. The session draws on the idea that play doesn’t need to be confined to playgrounds or organised sports — local parks and bush areas can offer just as much, if not more.

Activities will include stick games, a guided bush walk focused on identifying edible and useful native plants, camp building using tarps and hammocks, and mud play involving sculpting and pinch pot making. The session wraps up with group games back at the meeting point.

While the session is facilitated, organisers say there is deliberate space built in for children and parents to direct their own play — a core principle of the nature play approach, which research has linked to benefits in creativity, resilience and physical development.

The event also has a cultural learning element, with facilitators incorporating discussion around caring for Papatūānuku (the earth) throughout the activities.

The picnic is open to all ages and abilities, though organisers note the terrain may not suit those with limited mobility. Anyone with accessibility questions is encouraged to contact Om and Harry directly ahead of time.

Attendees are asked to bring comfortable outdoor clothing, sturdy shoes, a picnic kai, a change of clothes, and curiosity. The event is smoke-free and alcohol-free.

The session is one of several community initiatives supported by Rodney Local Board, which funds programmes designed to encourage whānau connection and outdoor engagement across the region.