New Zealand’s Places, Spaces, And People Honoured At 2025 Parks Awards

A record crowd gathered in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland tonight for the annual Recreation Aotearoa Parks Awards, a celebration of the people, places, and spaces shaping Aotearoa New Zealand’s recreation sector.

This year’s event also welcomed the New Zealand Cemeteries and Crematoria Collective (NZCCC) Ngā Rau Hotu, who joined the celebrations to honour leaders in the cemeteries and crematoria sector with the biennial Cemeteries Awards.

The evening kicked off with the ‘Active Park / Sportsground of the Year’ award, recognising adventure parks and sportsgrounds that support active, healthy lifestyles. The finalists were:

• McLean Park Skatepark, Kāpiti Coast District Council
• Motutawa Skatepark, Convic
• Te Wāhi Tākaro o Motupōhue Adventure Park, Invercargill City Council

Convic’s Motutawa Skatepark in Lower Hutt took out the top honour, while Invercargill City Council received a Merit Award for Te Wāhi Tākaro o Motupōhue Adventure Park.

Next was the ‘Healthy Park of the Year’ award, which celebrates parks that enhance community wellbeing and social connection. Finalists included:

• Kaipātiki Reserve, Resilio Studio and Auckland Council
• Kōpūrererua Valley, Tauranga City Council
• Te Awahou Riverside, Horowhenua District Council

Kaipātiki Reserve, a collaboration between Resilio Studio and Auckland Council, claimed the title, with a Merit Award presented to Tauranga City Council for Kōpūrererua Valley.

The ‘Playspace of the Year’ awards followed, recognising excellence in playgrounds and recreational playspaces, with separate categories for projects under and over $500,000. Seven finalists were named:

• Kaipātiki Reserve Wāhi Tākaro, Te Poari o Kaipātiki ki Kaipara, Resilio Studio and Auckland Council
• Rānui Domain Playground, Auckland Council
• Raumanga Scenic Reserve Playground, Whangārei District Council
• Papatakohe Park, Waipā District Council
• Te Papa Tākaro o Matua Iwi, Tauranga City Council
• Waitaha Reserve, Tauranga City Council
• Waterfront Playground, Tauranga City Council

Tauranga City Council dominated the category, winning both awards. Te Papa Tākaro o Matua Iwi was named ‘Playspace of the Year (within $500,000)’, while the city’s new Waterfront Playground received ‘Playspace of the Year (over $500,000)’.

Merit Awards in the over $500,000 category went to Tauranga City Council’s Waitaha Reserve and Kaipātiki Reserve Wāhi Tākaro, delivered by Te Poari o Kaipātiki ki Kaipara, Resilio Studio and Auckland Council.

The final award of the night, ‘Parks Person of the Year’, honours individuals who show outstanding leadership, innovation, and commitment to public parks. This year, the accolade was shared by two recipients: Simon Alefosio-Tuck from Rotorua Lakes Council and Howell Davies from Auckland Council.

Kieran Smith, Parks, Play and Open Spaces Programme Manager at Recreation Aotearoa, said the awards reflect the growing importance of open spaces in supporting thriving communities.

“Across Aotearoa, parks are more than playgrounds and sports fields — they’re places for communities to gather, connect, and recharge. This year’s finalists and winners set a powerful example of how these spaces can enhance wellbeing, sustainability, and community pride,” Smith said.

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