About Meadowood Centre
About Meadowood Centre
Meadowood’s story is one of neighbours building something bigger than themselves. It began with a simple belief: a growing community deserved a place to gather, support one another, and shape its own future. That spirit is what led residents to form Meadowood Centre Incorporated, first registered in 1991 and later recognised as a charitable entity in 2008. The Auckland Council would come to own the community centre building, while the Incorporated Society took responsibility for the crèche building—an early sign of the shared stewardship that still defines the centre today.
Meadowood Society is managed by the Meadowood Board by local community members, who all voltuneer their time and are passionate about serving their local community, fostering a thriving, connected community and are always interested in having new members join us.
The community centre itself started life in 1990 as a condition of a local subdivision, built not as a purpose‑designed facility but as a modified home. Its interior was finished by volunteers—ordinary residents who picked up tools and created a space for their neighbours. At the time, Meadowood served around 500 homes, many of them young families and new immigrants who quickly made the centre a hub of activity and connection.
As the surrounding areas of Meadowood, The Palms, and Unsworth Heights expanded to 1,600 homes by 1994, the centre’s popularity outgrew its walls. The community needed more space and a dedicated crèche. Residents, the Sunnynook Community Crèche, and the Council joined forces, and with Ministry of Education funding, the crèche opened its doors in 1998.
Growth continued. In 2000, more than 100 groups and residents backed a major application to expand and renovate the community centre. The North Shore City Council approved the project, and in 2001 the transformed centre reopened—three times its original size and ready to support a wider range of programmes and people.
Recognition soon followed. In 2005, Meadowood Community Centre received the Supreme Award for Excellence in community development and accounting practices. In 2006, the crèche underwent another expansion to meet new licensing standards, funded through a mix of grants and community fundraising. Two years later, the crèche earned its own award for excellence in accounting practice.
Through every milestone, one constant has remained: the Meadowood Board—local residents who volunteer their time because they care deeply about creating a thriving, connected community. Their work, and the willingness of new members to join them, keeps the centre evolving while staying true to its roots.
Meadowood’s history is ultimately a story of people who saw potential in their neighbourhood and chose to build it together. If you would like to be part of shpaing Meadowoods future, we'd love to hear from you - enquire house@meadowood.co.nz
Meadowood residents have always been strong advocates for their community, this is why in 1998 Meadowood Centre Incorporated was registered as an Incorporated Society in 1991 and as a charitable entity under the Charities Act 2005 on 12 March 2008.
The Auckland Council owns the community house building and Meadowood Centre Incorporated owns the community crèche building.
Meadowood Centre is managed by the Meadowood Management Committee with local community members, they all Voltuneer their time and are passionate about serving their local communities to have a thriving, connect community.
We are always interested in having new members join us.
In 1990 the Meadowood Community Centre was built by a developer as a condition of the consent for the subdivision. It was constructed not as a purpose built facility, but as a modified residential home layout. The shell was constructed by the contractor with the interior finishing and fit out done by volunteer workers from the community at large. At the time it was built, the area served by the community centre consisted of approximately 500 homes. The demographics showed clearly that couples with children were the majority and it was also significant that new immigrant families in the area used the community house extensively and this group of people was increasing.
Continued development in Meadowood, The Palms and Unsworth Heights areas in 1994 meant an increase of homes to 1,600. The community centre reached its capacity and lack of space was a problem. The committee considered a number of options to increase the available space and to accommodate a crèche. The decision was taken to locate the crèche as a separate unit and to extend the existing community house. And in 1995 the Sunnynook Community Crèche, Meadowood residents and the Council began working together to build a crèche.
In 1997 with funding from the Ministry of Education building of the crèche began and opened in 1998.
In 2000 the community centre made an application with the support of over 100 groups and local residents to the North Shore City Council Grants Programme for financial support for the extension and renovation of the community house which was approved by the NSCC. The community house trebled in size and capacity and reopened on 26 February 2001 with the major transformation and improved facilities providing new opportunities for the community.
In 2005 Meadowood Community House was named the supreme award winner of the 2005 North Shore Community and Social Services Community Award for Excellence in community development and accounting practices, which have supported expansion to meet local community needs.
In 2006 the Committee undertook the project of extending the crèche to meet the new Ministry of Education licensing requirements. The total cost of the project was $85,000 and was funded by the ASB Community Trust, North Shore City Council Community Facilities Fund, and 20% contribution from Meadowood Centre Incorporated, which was raised by the community.
In 2008 Meadowood Community Crèche was awarded the North Shore Community and Social Services Community Awards for Excellence, Accounting Practices Award for professional standards in accounting practice.
