Reviving Rathgar
A Community Comes Together
At the heart of every strong community are the people who believe in its potential, who refuse to accept "nothing ever changes" as the final word. For Lynnette Van Nes, Kerry Allan and Simon Vincent of Community Waitākere, that belief sparked a movement now known as Revive Rathgar — a project committed to transforming Rathgar Road into a safer, more connected, and vibrant place to live, work, and play.
Born out of conversations between Community Waitākere and Te Ohu Whakawhanaunga, Revive Rathgar is more than a project — it’s a kaupapa that brings together local whānau, schools, businesses, faith groups, and community organisations, all working alongside each other to reimagine and reshape the place they call home. Collaborators like Seed 2 Harvest, Herenga ā Nuku, and Te Ohu Whakawhanaunga are standing shoulder to shoulder with locals to make it happen.
“Too often, communities are asked what they want, only to be left waiting. We wanted to flip that script,” says Lynnette. “This isn’t about an organisation presenting solutions. It’s about empowering the people of Rathgar to lead the kōrero and make the asks themselves.”
From traffic congestion to a lack of safe pedestrian crossings and no public community spaces, locals have long voiced concerns — and the Revive Rathgar team is listening. The project kicked off in earnest with a community hui in August 2024, drawing in voices from all corners of the Rathgar neighbourhoods — from Lincoln Road to Swanson Road, from Universal Drive to Larnoch Road.