Landscape architecture shortlist spans gardens, streets and enduring spaces

Projects ranging from residential gardens and play spaces to transport links and long-term landscape planning are in contention for the 2026 Resene NZILA Awards, with winners to be announced in Christchurch on 5 November

The breadth of landscape architecture across New Zealand will be celebrated when the profession gathers for the biennial awards at One NZ Stadium | Te Kaha in Christchurch.

New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects Tuia Pito Ora (NZILA) President Ralph Johns says the nationwide shortlist demonstrates the “scope, vitality, depth and breadth” of work undertaken by landscape architects on projects of every scale.

“This is a dedicated profession that applies its expertise to ensuring that the towns, cities and communities we all call home are made more liveable, and that landscape architecture, in both its design and planning capacities, makes our environments better than we find them.”

Gardens, play spaces and public places

The Residential and Gardens shortlist includes Community Lane in Avondale, entered by Boffa Miskell for Kāinga Ora; Ayrburn in Queenstown, entered by Winton; and Ti Point, entered by Wraight + Associates for a private client.

Play Spaces contenders are Old Papatoetoe Stadium Reserve in Auckland, entered by Bespoke; Destination Kāwaroa in New Plymouth, entered by New Plymouth District Council; and Kaipātiki Reserve + Playspace in Auckland, entered by Resilio.

The Civic and Urban Design category includes Hamilton’s Peacocke Strategic Infrastructure Project, Tauranga’s Elizabeth Street and Tunks Reserve, Dunedin’s George Street Retail Quarter, Whangārei Civic Precinct and Takapuna Streetscapes. 

Together, these categories illustrate the variety of settings in which landscape design contributes to everyday community life.

Landscapes shaped over time

Johns expects strong interest in the Enduring Landscape category, which recognises places that continue to shape communities and inspire the profession.

Three landscapes are shortlisted: The Landing at Purerua Peninsula near Kerikeri, New Plymouth Foreshore and Waitangi Park in Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington.

The category acknowledges that enduring landscapes develop over time through the contributions of many hands, recognising their continuing significance beyond the completion of an initial project.

Auckland has the strongest regional showing, with around 16 shortlisted locations. Queenstown and Tauranga feature four times each, while Christchurch, Hamilton, New Plymouth and Wellington each feature three times.

Other shortlisted locations include Porirua, Westport, Tūrangi and the coastline near Fox Glacier.

Public investment features strongly

Local government clients are represented across more than 20 shortlisted projects, highlighting councils’ involvement in commissioning landscape architecture.

Central government clients include Kāinga Ora, NZ Transport Agency | Waka Kotahi and the Departments of Conservation, Corrections and Internal Affairs. Projects for Auckland University of Technology, Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Waikato also feature.

Beyond built projects, the shortlist includes landscape management, planning, research and communication. Examples include the Tūrangi Reserves Management Plan and New Plymouth’s Planting our Place and Waiwhakaiho Wildlink.

Judging includes site visits for shortlisted design projects, followed by final deliberations across the design and planning streams.