Green Strategy
- NZ Landscaper
- Nov 1
- 4 min read
From sales and marketing maestro to health and fitness, hospitality, and real estate, Brendon Fox’s journey into landscaping hasn’t followed a traditional path. But it’s precisely that diversity of experience that’s shaped the ethos of Green Fox, the Wanaka-based business he co-directs with his wife, Sarah Fox
Brendon’s early years were grounded in small business and brand strategy – and it shows in the way he approaches landscape design and delivery with care, foresight and strong attention to the overall experience
“I’ve run and sold my own small businesses in the past, as well as working as a chef and a personal trainer,” says Brendon. “I’ve always considered how I interact with clients as a key strength. Something I really enjoy is taking the reins off the client – being that person who says: ‘don’t worry, we’ve got this’.”
That philosophy has helped Green Fox position itself as a true ‘one-stop shop’ for outdoor environments. Based in Wānaka and working throughout the Southern Lakes region, the company employs 26 staff and delivers everything from design, planting, fencing and retaining walls to bespoke decks, saunas, spas and cold plunges, often wrapped into full-property transformations.
“Whether it’s a retaining wall, crazy paving, a plunge
pool or planting and maintaining gardens, we project manage it all,” says Brendon. “Clients know that if we say it’ll get done on time and to a high standard, it will.”
Looking after our backyard
While Green Fox offers a broad range of services, there’s one common thread that runs through them all– an emphasis on sustainable design and materials.
The business was recently audited by Wastebusters, an organisation that helps businesses to reduce waste, lower carbon and mitigate inefficiencies.
"The audit made us feel quite vulnerable, exposing our full business operation like that. But they came back and said we’re one of the best they’ve ever audited! That was a very proud moment.”
Brendon says Green Fox produces “very little waste” by using local products and creating landscapes that stand the test of time.
“For us, being sustainable goes beyond product and design, it also means creating an environment staff want to be a part of and we do that by paying a living wage and looking after our community.”
That same mindset carries over to planting, where native and edible species are frequently integrated into clients’ landscapes.
The Foxes are also quick to highlight that sustainability doesn’t mean compromising on creativity or ambition. The team’s portfolio includes helicoptering a custom-built pool into an exclusive Glenorchy property, and building high-end landscapes for ultra-private clients.
While Green Fox enjoys the work it does in the high-end space, it also values the work it does for community projects, like those carried out for the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust.
“We see them as a real privilege,” says Brendon. “We’re landscaping homes for people moving into their first property, and we want to deliver something exceptional. We go above and beyond on those jobs because they really matter.”
Strong local supplier partnerships enable Green Fox to deliver consistent quality and support local business – another mark of sustainable thinking.
They’ve built longstanding connections with a number of businesses, including Cluden Quarry, Mitre 10 Wanaka, Upper Clutha Transport, and Dusk Hedges, Wanaka – sourcing everything from rock and mulch to instant hedging, all with a focus on quality and local availability.
A badge of honour
A relatively new member of Registered Master Landscapers (RML), Green Fox is proud to be contributing to the broader industry as well. “It’s really important to support industry best practice and be part of an organisation that holds us to account. That’s how we’ll maintain high standards, no matter the job. It’s also a great way to network with other landscapers.”
Brendon says being able to show potential clients that Green Fox is part of a recognised industry body was an important driver in his decision to apply for RML membership.
"It was rigorous process to be accepted into RML which I appreciate, because it really is a badge of honour and shows that we can back our words with actions.” With the Young Landscaper of the Year competition set to return in 2026, Brendon says Green Fox is already thinking about who they might put forward.
“There’s one young guy, who’s really stepping up. I think he’d be a great person to enter the competition next year.”
For Brendon, the value of the competition isn’t about winning. It’s about exposure to high standards and professional benchmarks that build confidence and capability.
“We were all young once,” he says. “Any opportunity to get a young person to really understand what’s required – to see what good looks like, and the work ethic and morale behind that – I think that’s really important. Any touchpoint you can give them is
a win from my point of view.”
Continued growth
With Sarah leading the gardening side of the business – “she’s on fire at the moment” Brendon says – and him steering the hard landscaping and project management, Green Fox continues to grow as a flexible, design-led business with a strong sustainability ethos.
While many of their favourite projects are too private to showcase, Brendon says they’re proud of the spaces they’ve shaped for people to live, eat, play and unwind in.
“We’ve created so many beautiful environments – places with fruit trees, table tennis, even outdoor courts. It’s those layered, lived-in spaces that really stand out,” he says.
