A long-awaited expansion of a popular regional park in Auckland has been approved.
The Auckland Council has purchased a 78 hectare block of land off Te Ahu Ahu Road, adding to the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park.
Councillor Christine Fletcher said the plan has been in the pipeline since the 1970s, as it links two disconnected parts of the parkland.
She said the creation of the Hillary Trail in 2010 added a further incentive.
Trampers will soon be able to journey along the coast, west of Piha, and avoid the busy, and often dangerous, Piha Road, Ms Fletcher said.
The block is costing the council $3 million.
