For many of us parks have been a haven during COVID-19. They have helped our communities remain healthy, active, and
connected during the pandemic. Recreation Aotearoa are thrilled to announce that 24 parks across New Zealand, including
two first time recipients, have just been awarded the internationally recognised Green Flag Award®.
The Green Flag Award® recognises and rewards parks and green spaces providing high quality and innovative recreational
experiences for our communities. The award sets a benchmark standard for recreational outdoor spaces worldwide. Parks
are awarded based on a criterion marked by experienced Green Flag Award® judges throughout the country.
The 2020 Green Flag Award® winning parks are:Randwick Park, AucklandAmbury Regional Park, AucklandKing Edward Park, HaweraThompson House, LevinQueen Elizabeth Park, MastertonHenley Lake, Masterton (first time recipient)Te Mata Peak, HastingsWellington Botanical Gardens, WellingtonBolton Street Cemetery, WellingtonOtari-Wiltons Bush, WellingtonHolben Reserve, Foxton (first time recipient)Auckland Domain, AucklandGisborne Botanical Gardens, GisborneTECT Park, Western BOPCornwall Park, HastingsPukekura Park, New PlymouthHavelock North Village Green, HastingsFlaxmere Park, HastingsWaikumete Cemetery, AucklandDriscoll Reserve, HorowhenuaParrs Park, AucklandLong Bay Regional Park, AucklandSanders Reserve, AucklandTawharanui Regional Park, Auckland
The Green Flag Award® is a great way for our local parks to enhance public attraction and engagement, maximise funding
and revenue opportunities, and give communities a sense of civic pride.
Recreation Aotearoa Parks and Open Spaces Manager, Annette Richards, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many of our parks
investing time into creating spaces where our communities can connect and find joy. It is significant for us to be able
to recognise these parks with this award. But it’s about so much more than winning an award. It’s about embarking on a
journey with all the people that make providing quality horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability, access,
community involvement and a warm welcome for our visitors and locals possible.”
The winning sites will be gifted a Green Flag to fly proudly in their parks for the public to see.
You can visit the Green Flag Award® website to find out more about the programme, the winners, and how to get your parks
involved: https://www.greenflagaward.org/