Accolades galore for our District's Premier Park
Hāwera's King Edward Park maintained its 5-star status from New Zealand Gardens Trust (NZGT) as a Garden of National Significance, and has again been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award.
South Taranaki District Council Places and Spaces Volunteer Co-ordinator Alice Arnold says it has been a combined effort to have the Park presented to such a high standard as it continues to evolve.
"Retaining these awards reaffirms that the Park truly is a treasure to our community as well as for visitors to our district," says Alice. "Having a dedicated Horticulture team, as well as acknowledging the role the community has made both contributed to maintaining the Park to a high standard."
Community involvement has been through groups such as The Friends of Hāwera Parks Inc, Te Paepae o Aotea students and Waimahi youth employment skills programme.
It is not the first time the South Taranaki District Council’s Premier Park has received such an award. In 2017 the Park received the first of a series of accolades that recognised the quality of the Park and its standard of presentation. Reviewed for the first time by NZGT, an organisation established to promote the best in New Zealand gardens and horticulture, the Park was awarded a four-star rating to be registered as a Garden of Regional Significance. In late 2018 a further assessment by the NZGT acknowledged the ongoing development of the Park with the award of a fifth star. Receiving the award for 2024 endorses King Edward Park as a Garden of National Significance through until 2028.
The Green Flag Award is internationally recognised as an award that acknowledges well managed parks, green spaces and recreational outdoor facilities. King Edward Park won its first Green Flag Award in 2018. Assessed across 27 criteria including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability, community involvement, safety and a sense of welcome, the Park was then one of only 22 facilities across Aotearoa to achieve this result. The Park has continued to receive its Green Flag status since 2018.
