A recent MBIE determination highlights what landscapers need to consider when boundary fencing forms part of a residential pool barrier

New research into native planting damaged by the 2024 Port Hills wildfire suggests plant selection, weed control and design could all play an important role in creating more fire-resilient landscapes

Rising diesel costs are flowing through to concrete, aggregates and landscape materials, with suppliers adjusting fuel surcharges and leaving landscapers with another variable to account for when pricing work.

A New Zealand native evergreen has scooped a gold medal on the world stage, winning the Retailers’ Choice Award at AmericanHort Cultivate’26 – North America’s premier horticultural trade event

Primary ITO has welcomed plans for new industry-led secondary school subjects, saying they could create stronger pathways into training and employment

New research into native planting damaged by the 2024 Port Hills wildfire suggests plant selection, weed control and design could all play an important role in creating more fire-resilient landscapes

Research from the University of Canterbury and Earth Sciences New Zealand suggests that under a warmer climate, future storms similar to Cyclone Gabrielle could become more extreme, triggering tens of thousands more landslides in vulnerable areas of the North Island and highlighting the need for targeted planning. In 2023, Cyclone Gabrielle triggered an estimated 800,000 landslides across the North Island, which researchers say makes it one of the most extreme landslide even

New Zealand’s vocational education reforms have fundamentally changed how landscapers are trained, with independent providers delivering workplace learning and a new industry-aligned body responsible for qualifications and standards. The changes follow the Government’s reform of the vocational education system, which has seen the former Te Pūkenga model dismantled and vocational education return to independent providers. For the landscaping sector, this marks a significant sh

New Zealand’s top emerging landscaping talent will gather in Christchurch this September for the 2026 Young Landscaper of the Year competition, with Mitre 10 continuing its support of the industry’s future leaders. Taking place at Christchurch Botanic Gardens on 19 September, Young Landscaper of the Year (YLOY) brings together the best talent from across the country – 30 years of age or under – to test their skills, knowledge and professionalism in a demanding one-day compet

As New Zealand's cities continue to grow, new research suggests incentives could play an important role in helping retain established trees during housing intensification. As part of his PhD in Forestry at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC), Dr David Pedley investigated whether incentive schemes could encourage property developers to preserve mature trees on development sites. The study explored the views of property developers involved in housing int

BRANZ-funded research shows that up to 80% of plastic waste can be diverted from landfill – offering practical insights for landscapers aiming to improve onsite sustainability through better planning and material management. The research examined 7.2T of plastic waste collected from six separate construction sites in Auckland, which was separated and categorised into 46 groups. In total, 4.5T was kept out of landfill. The best-performing site diverted about 80% of its plastic

Landscape professionals in Australia’s capital are pushing back against a proposed licensing framework – a discussion that may sound familiar to New Zealand contractors navigating our own regulatory environment. The Landscape Association (TLA) in Australia is leading a renewed campaign to have structural landscaping formally recognised within the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government’s trade licensing review, arguing that excluding the sector risks creating unnecessar

Regulatory changes for the construction industry are reshaping the operating environment. We’re here to help business owners and landscapers stay up to speed when undertaking consented work Recent months have seen developments in building regulation and related systems that have implications across the sector. This overview brings together four key updates. Granny flat exemptions From 15 January 2026, new rules allow certain small, standalone dwellings – commonly referred to

Recently announced legislative updates will make it easier to build granny flats – but what will that mean for landscapers? This article provides some answers The Government has passed the Building and Construction (Small Standalone Dwellings) Amendment Bill, enabling simple detached dwellings of up to 70m² to be constructed without a building consent from early 2026. At the same time, a proposed National Environmental Standard (NES) is intended to remove the need for resourc

The Government has announced the biggest overhaul of New Zealand’s building consent system in two decades, with a liability shift likely to affect landscaping projects that require consents Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has said he will shift liability in the construction industry from joint and several liability to a proportionate model. Currently, councils can be forced to shoulder the majority of costs when building failures occur, even if they were only pa

Tauranga horticulture professional Zoë Taylor was a finalist in the 2025 Wāhine Toa Award – a prestigious category at the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Excellence Awards, recognising the achievements of tradeswomen across New Zealand’s construction, building and infrastructure sectors Currently working as a Team Gardener at Arvida Bethlehem Country Club, Taylor leads a five-person team maintaining 172 villas cross the retirement village’s expansive gro

Primary ITO has confirmed it will continue supporting New Zealand’s landscaping workforce through a major overhaul of the vocational education system, which will see Te Pūkenga disestablished and replaced by an industry-led training model Tertiary Education Minister Penny Simmonds announced in July that the Government would wind down Te Pūkenga, the national polytechnic network, and shift to a new framework, where work-based training is delivered by approved providers under t

This is a column by landscapers, for landscapers. In it, you’ll find knowledge, views and insights from professionals just like you, who are currently working in the industry Interviewee: Liz Bennett Location: Auckland Role: Director – Busy Lizzy Gardens Landscaping is a super rewarding career and I would encourage anyone who loves working outdoors to get involved. There are not many women in management roles – but we actually find it helpful to be a little unique and sta

Landscaping is more than just curb appeal – it’s a powerful tool in achieving a more sustainable environment One area in which...

Landscapers could find business improving over the next 12 months, with data released by Stats NZ and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand indicating that residential construction may pick up According to recent data from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, total monthly new mortgage lending for April 2025 was $7.6bn – a rise of 28% when compared to April 2024 and up from a low of $4.1bn in January 2023. Furthermore, the number of new mortgage commitments has increased by 22.7% from