Last updated October 2026
René Shadbolt was a New Zealand nurse who served in the Spanish Civil War and later ran Hokianga Hospital as matron, and a West Auckland park carries her name.
The Sister Rene Shadbolt Skatepark is in Tiakina / Sister Rene Shadbolt Park on Portage Road, Green Bay, where Te Whau Pathway passes through. Its centrepiece is a concrete bowl, backed up by a spine, quarter pipes, a hipped mini ramp, ledges, rails and a stair pyramid.
A shelter with seating sits beside the skate area, and there’s a basketball half-court next door. Accessible toilets and sports fields round out the park.
Practical Information
- Location
- Tiakina / Sister Rene Shadbolt Park, 130 Portage Road
- Suburb
- Green Bay, West Auckland
- Features
- Bowl, spine, quarter pipes, hipped mini ramp, box jump, ledges, rails, hubba, stair pyramid
- Suits
- All ages and abilities (Skate Finder)
- Shelter
- Covered shelter with seating beside the skate area
- Toilets
- Accessible toilets, plus toilets and changing rooms by the sports fields
- Upgraded
- Transition extension completed December 2016
- Nearby
- Basketball half-court, sports fields, Te Whau Pathway, Craigavon Park
- Cost
- Free
- Managed by
- Auckland Council (Whau Local Board area)
About Sister Rene Shadbolt Skatepark
The park’s namesake had a remarkable life. According to her Wikipedia biography, René Mary Shadbolt (1903–1977) was one of three New Zealand nurses who served in the Spanish Civil War, worked at a military convalescent hospital during the Second World War and was matron of Hokianga Hospital in Rawene from 1949 to 1967. She was appointed an MBE in 1969 and died in Henderson. The council now pairs her name with Tiakina in the park’s dual name.
The skatepark has grown in stages. In 2016 RICH Landscapes designed an extension to give the existing park more transition, and its project photos show a quarter pipe extension to a box jump and a curved rollover into a hipped mini ramp. That work was completed on 22 December 2016.
Today, skate directories describe a mix of bowl and street. Skate Finder lists a deep bowl, a spine and various transition elements, along with a stair pyramid, on a smooth concrete surface. RideMyPark adds a handrail, flat rails, quarter pipes, ledges, a bank and a hubba. Council photos show the bowl area and the shelter, with trees behind.
Around the Park
Tiakina / Sister Rene Shadbolt Park is a sports park as well as a skate spot. It has several sports fields with toilets and changing rooms, a separate accessible toilet block and a section that runs alongside Portage Road.
Te Whau Pathway passes through on its way to Green Bay Beach, and Craigavon Park is right next door. Dogs have a dedicated exercise area in the park. Check the council park page before you visit for any closures.
Where to Learn More
Auckland Council: Tiakina / Sister Rene Shadbolt Park: facilities, photos and park rules.
RICH Landscapes: Sister Rene Shadbolt Park Skatepark: photos of the 2016 transition extension.
Skate Finder: Sister Rene Shadbolt Skate Bowl: a quick guide to the bowl and spine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Sister Rene Shadbolt Skatepark?
In Tiakina / Sister Rene Shadbolt Park, 130 Portage Road, Green Bay, West Auckland. Some skate guides list the address as 200 Portage Road.
Who was Sister Rene Shadbolt?
René Shadbolt was a New Zealand nurse who served in the Spanish Civil War and was matron of Hokianga Hospital in Rawene from 1949 to 1967.
What features does the skatepark have?
A concrete bowl, a spine, quarter pipes, a hipped mini ramp, a box jump, ledges, rails, a hubba and a stair pyramid.
Is it good for beginners?
Skate Finder says it suits all ages and abilities.
Are there toilets?
Yes. The park has accessible toilets and a toilet and changing room block by the sports fields.
Is there shelter?
Yes. A shelter with seating sits beside the skate area.
What else is nearby?
A basketball half-court, sports fields, Te Whau Pathway and Craigavon Park.
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