Papatoetoe Stadium Reserve
OVERVIEW
Papatoetoe Stadium Reserve is a precinct-scale public realm project in South Auckland. Bespoke Landscape Architects designed the scheme in collaboration with Auckland Urban Development office and associated partners.
Bespoke, LCE electrical engineers and Coll Electrical were all instrumental in achieving design intent for the lighting scheme.
The project involved the rejuvenation of an existing open space, key community facility entrance thresholds and carpark, integrating pedestrian and cycling infrastructure with community facilities to create a safe, functional destination for local residents.
MHL supplied WE-EF AFL120 street luminaires with Zhaga sensor modules and WE-EF FLC321 fittings across the precinct.
CLIENT
Auckland Council
TEAM
Bespoke Landscape Architects
Auckland Urban Development Office
LCE
Coll Electrical
PRODUCT
WE-EF AFL120
WE-EF FLC321
THE BRIEF
The brief from Auckland Urban Development Office (ex. Eke Panuku) centred on functional safety for a mixed-use public open space. The walkway, cycleway, and surrounding open area needed support safe passage through the precinct after dark without actively encouraging late-night use.
The precinct brings together four distinct environments within a single connected space: a public open area, dedicated pedestrian walkways, an adjacent roadway, and a community centre at its heart. Each carried its own functional lighting requirements, and the brief called for all of them to read as a coherent whole.
Sensitivity to the surrounding residential context was built into the brief from the outset. Rather than maintaining full output through the night, the specification called for luminaires to dim, reducing energy consumption and light spill to neighbouring properties when activity in the space was at its lowest.
The project also involved the rejuvenation of an existing building and carpark, with sustainability embedded in the approach throughout.
THE APPROACH
Auckland Urban Development Office (AUDO) were instrumental in establishing the precinct vision from the outset, with several separate entities contributing to the wider precinct development: Bespoke Landscape Architects (Papatoetoe Stadium Reserve) Boffa Miskell (Chambers Laneway) and Harrison Grierson (Cambridge Terrace Extension).
Tying the lighting together across all three scopes was a significant coordination effort, and MHL worked closely with all entities throughout to ensure continuity across the installation.
WE-EF AFL120 street luminaires with Zhaga sensor modules and WE-EF FLC321 fittings were used across the precinct. For the WE-EF AFL, the P66 optic was used, which is designed specifically for pedestrian pathway and cycleway applications. All luminaries where lit with 3000K for a warmer colour temperature.
Zhaga dimming technology underpinned the energy strategy. Luminaires activate at dusk at full output, dim to 20% at 10pm, ramp up in response to detected movement, and switch off at dawn, keeping energy use proportionate to actual demand at every hour and reducing light into the night sky.
CHALLENGES
Lighting a public open space well is a different challenge from most commercial or infrastructure projects. The primary consideration here was calibrating output to feel safe and comfortable for pedestrians without overlighting, which was a particular concern given the residential setting.
The merging of pedestrian and cycling zones within the same precinct added another layer of complexity. Each zone carried its own functional requirements, and the lighting had to transition smoothly between them without creating sharp contrasts or unclear boundaries for users navigating the space.
Coordinating across multiple project teams and contractors required close communication throughout, and MHL worked alongside Coll Electrical to keep the installation on track.
RESULTS
The completed precinct delivers a well-lit, navigable environment that supports safe passage after dark while remaining considerate of the surrounding neighbourhood. The Zhaga dimming system operates as intended: stepping down at 10pm, responding to movement, and switching off at dawn. Energy use is kept to what the space actually requires.
Papatoetoe Stadium Reserve is also the largest AFL installation to date by WE-EF completed in New Zealand.
PRODUCTS
WE-EF AFL120 (with Zhaga sensor modules)
Application: Walkways, cycleway, and open space
Chosen for: Performance across a mixed-use public realm; Zhaga dimming capability supporting responsive, low-energy operation; suitability for pedestrian and roadway-adjacent environments
WE-EF FLC321
Application: Precinct accent and area lighting