Dunedin (9 February): The Dunedin Chinese Garden has been designated a Garden of National Significance, joining a select group of gardens across the country.

The New Zealand Gardens Trust, which is an arm of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture Inc, confirmed the honour this week, which Mayor Dave Cull has said is “wonderful and very timely news”.

“We look forward to the Garden management team taking full advantage of the opportunities this represents.”

Gardens of National Significance are ones which the Gardens Trust has assessed formally and concluded they are worth promoting as gardens which visitors can have confidence in the levels of presentation, design and plant interest.

“National gardens are outstanding in most ways, and have a distinct identity of their own, a character that gives them an edge.”

Garden Manager, Margo Reid, says she and her team are delighted by the honour. “The Garden is very excited to be recognised in this way - we think it confirms the Garden’s unique place in the Southern Hemisphere.”

“The Garden was built as a gift not only to the city but to the country, which was acknowledged by the Government when they gave $3.75m towards the Dunedin Chinese Garden Trust project.

“We will be celebrating the assessment with all our partners in Shanghai who will, no doubt, be delighted to learn of this honour that has been bestowed on the Garden.”

Last year the Dunedin Botanic Garden was designated a Garden of International Significance.

ENDS

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