It was too good an opportunity to pass up. 

Auckland Council has spent more than $12 million expanding its Botanical Gardens.  

It's bought 1.6 hectares, the size of two soccer pitches, on Hill Road in Manurewa.  

More than 10 million dollars of the purchase price will be funded by debt. 

Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillor, Daniel Newman, says he lobbied hard for the purchase.  

He knows money's tight, but this was the only time they could buy this particular parcel of land. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

• Auckland Council buys $12 million worth of land to extend Botanic Gardens