From a toxic site to a waterfront park
The Fruitgrowers’ Chemical Company at Mapua was once known as New Zealand’s most contaminated site. MfE teamed up with the Tasman District Council to transform this toxic environment into a parkland.
When Fruitgrowers’ Chemical Company opened its factory in Mapua in 1932 it brought jobs and opportunities to the area. But over the next 50 years, it also poisoned the land and nearby estuary with toxic pesticides.
The factory closed in 1988 and the clean-up of this contaminated site began.
MfE joined forces with the Tasman District Council to manage the complex job of cleaning up this site.
Today the site is a waterfront park. It includes seating, boardwalks, plants, and an amphitheater enjoyed by Mapua's residents.