22 September 2007

New Zealand’s most beautiful towns named

Kaiapoi and Gisborne have won Keep New Zealand Beautiful’s ‘Beautiful Towns’ award for 2007. Paeroa has been highly recommended

The awards have been presented as part of the celebrations of Keep New Zealand Beautiful’s 40th anniversary and annual meeting this weekend in Waitakere City by the society’s chairman, Hon. Roger McClay.

Entrant towns were judged for the top awards on the presence and enthusiasm of litter education and beautification projects; public involvement and achievement; and costs and benefits of the projects.

Keep New Zealand Beautiful’s chief executive, Barry Lucinsky, says he was amazed again this year at the pride locals showed in their towns.

“Entrants proved yet again that they don’t just care about their own little quarter acre. They’re concerned for the town, not just that it looks as good as it can but that it enhances pride and quality of life for all citizens.”

Mr Lucinsky says those towns that weren’t chosen for the awards should still reflect on the pleasure a well-supported community effort can bring and he encourages them to try again next year.

“We have this great belief that we’re a beautiful little country in which it’s fantastic to live. It is. But how does it stay that way? We think Beautiful Towns allows people to give back some of the enjoyment and to inspire others to look beyond their own gateway,” Mr Lucinsky says.

The award to Kaiapoi was for towns with populations of between 8,001 and 20,000. Gisborne won the category for towns and cities with populations of more than 20,000.

Last year’s winners were Alexandra/Clyde, Feilding and Rotorua.

Keep New Zealand Beautiful’s annual meeting is being held over the weekend at Lincoln Green Conference Centre, Waitakere City.

ENDS

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