Press Release
26 August 2008
Immediate use

New Zealand’s Beautiful Cities and Towns Decided soon

Civic spruce-ups are reaching their climax in many towns and cities across New Zealand as the Keep New Zealand Beautiful Society comes close to choosing its most beautiful city or town for 2008. The winner of this Coca Cola-sponsored initiative will be announced at the society’s annual meeting next month in Dunedin.

“Even in a country with as much beauty and potential as ours, the towns where local authorities and volunteers join to work for their town stand out," says Keep New Zealand Beautiful’s Barry Lucinsky.

"These are the towns where citizens just don't accept litter, graffiti and tatty amenities," he says. "If your town looks sad and tired, join a group and work to make it a place to admire and enjoy. We have thousands of volunteers who give from a few hours a month to many hours a week to put something back into the community. They have a ball and their towns begin to shine again."
Around New Zealand, teams of volunteers are putting the finishing touches to their beautification projects as judging begins.

Mr Lucinsky says judging covers a comprehensive check-list that includes such things as: litter education and beautification projects; public involvement, not just a local government project; a set of objectives and their achievement; and cost-benefit studies showing a reasonable result.

"We get such a kick out of seeing the work and effort that locals put in," Mr Lucinsky says. "And the effects roll on throughout the year and each year we gather more citizens who think like we do - that your backyard extends beyond your own fence and out into the community that you're part of."

The competition categories include:
A (Population 0 - 8,000) B (Population 8,001 - 20,000) C (Greater than 20,000)

Keep New Zealand Beautiful’s ultimate aim in running the Best Cities and Towns competition is to foster civic pride and make it routine, not an exception. Kaiapoi and Gisborne won Keep New Zealand Beautiful’s Beautiful Towns award for 2007. Porirua was highly recommended.

ENDS

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