Entries are now open for Young Landscaper of the Year, offering a career-defining opportunity for rising talent. Hosted alongside the Landscape Legacy Awards, which honour those who have helped shape the profession, the benefits of taking part extend well beyond the day itself. Thinking of entering yourself or one of your team? Below we highlight what contestants can expect. Designed to challenge and develop emerging professionals, Young Landscaper of the Year (YLOY) has evol

In September 2026, Christchurch will host the next Young Landscaper of the Year competition and Legacy Awards Designed for landscapers aged 30 and under, Young Landscaper of the Year (YLOY) is a national event that continues to elevate the next generation of industry leaders. The competition is a rigorous test of practical ability, technical knowledge and professional capability. Finalists complete a series of challenges reflecting the breadth of modern landscaping – from con

Christchurch City Council now requires its landscape contractors to be members of Registered Master Landscapers (RML) or hold equivalent qualifications, as RML launches a new recruitment tool to support members nationwide Christchurch City Council (CCC) has become the first local authority to formally recognise RML as a qualification benchmark for contractors, reinforcing the value of RML membership and strengthening the organisation’s profile nationwide. CCC has updated its

The Landscapes of Distinction Awards weekend once again proved the power of bringing the industry together in celebration. With that positive energy still fresh, RML looks ahead to another signature event – Young Landscaper of the Year – set to provide the same networking buzz and spirit of friendly competiton Held across the weekend of 26 July, the Registered Master Landscapers’ Landscapes of Distinction Awards (the Awards) kicked off with an AGM on Friday 25 July, during

Kūmānu Environmental has received the Special Feature Award at the 2025 Landscapes of Distinction Awards for its standout work on Te Pā Harakeke Judges said it was “a prime example of how a single project can seamlessly integrate complex stormwater management, tidal flows, ecological restoration and an ever-evolving play space”. Under the leadership of Richard Smethurst and Euan Milne, Kūmānu Environmental transformed an underutilised estuarine site in Nelson into a public pl

A bold, resort-style garden in Strowan has won Onlandscapes’ Watford Street project the People’s Choice Premier Award for 2025 The design, by Botanic Landscape Architects a nd delivered under extreme time pressure into a family-ready oasis. Working around tight access, underground services, established trees and an existing earthquake-damaged pool, the Onlandscapes team executed a multi-layered brief that included an outdoor kitchen, a custom fire unit, pergolas, a golf putti

Evie Smith took top honours with Rachel’s Garden, a layered and sophisticated response to a steep and community-connected site in Te Kōwhai Her design, praised by judges for its clarity, balance and ecological integrity, explores the garden as a space for both private reflection and public generosity. The 3,158m² site drops 9m from house to stream, with Te Otamanui Stream forming the lower boundary. Smith retained the site’s open character and existing movement patterns – inc

Luijten Landscaping won for its vibrant and technically ambitious redevelopment of the Otāhuhu Primary School free play area – a project that redefined a neglected site into a flagship space for active learning and inclusive adventure The redevelopment turned an underused area into a sculpted, multi-functional landscape at the heart of the school. “The impact on our students has been immense,” said school leadership. “It has significantly boosted engagement, attendance, and m

South Pacific Landscapes emerges victorious at the 2025 LOD Awards on completion of a five-year transformation of an historic Havelock North estate South Pacific Landscapes has completed one of its most ambitious residential projects to date with the unveiling of Kopanga – a five-year transformation of an historic Havelock North homestead into a formal garden estate. The project brings together classical landscape forms with contemporary materials and detailing, featuring ex

Kūmānu Environmental’s epic undertaking helped transform a flood-ravaged valley into a thriving public asset and ecological success story An ambitious ecological restoration effort on Nelson’s eastern fringe has earned accolades at this year’s awards, with Kūmānu Environmental’s Mahitahi and Groom Creek Redevelopments winning the Premier Environmental/Revegetation Award for a project that has revitalised an entire river corridor. Complex project done well What began as a sto

Luijten Landscaping has won the Premier Design Award for its clever planning, lush planting and innovative pool fencing on a tight suburban site The Orewa Sub-Tropical Retreat project turned a residential garden into a lush, resort-inspired haven – wowing judges and clients alike. It was praised for its spatial clarity and well-resolved layout, realising the homeowners’ vision of a Balinese-style retreat while integrating existing structures and natural contours. Maximising s

Second Nature’s verdant Ponsonby garden project – ‘Urban Sanctuary’ – was selected for this year’s Supreme Award and won both Best Softscape Project of the Year and Best Maintenance Project of the Year Celebrated for its serene structure, artistic planting and masterful upkeep, the ‘Urban Sanctuary’ project wowed judges across disciplines. What starts as an understated suburban driveway quickly opens into an expansive and immersive landscape, revealing one of the most detaile

This is a column by landscapers, for landscapers. In it, you’ll find knowledge, views and insights from professionals just like you, who...

Working as a contractor or sub-contractor for councils can be an excellent way to ride the ups and downs of New Zealand’s residential...

In the dynamic world of landscape construction, where aesthetics often dominate the conversation, Kūmānu Environmental leads with...

Tickets are now on sale for the Landscapes of Distinction Awards (the Awards) dinner, held at The Hilton in Auckland. The Awards offer an...

This is a column by landscapers, for landscapers. In it, you’ll find knowledge, views and insights from professionals just like you, who...

The Landscapes of Distinction Awards Dinner (the Awards) offer an unparalleled opportunity for the landscaping industry to come together...

Registered Master Landscapers chair Janet Clarke shares changes to this year’s Landscapes of Distinction competition Feedback from our...

This is a column by landscapers, for landscapers. In it, you’ll find knowledge, views and insights from professionals just like you, who...