Draft:New Zealand Gardens Trust
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| Abbreviation | NZGT |
|---|---|
| Established | 2004 |
| Founder | "The Founding Gardens" and Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture |
| Type | Charitable trust |
| Purpose | To promote the best in New Zealand gardens and horticulture |
| Location | |
| Website | www.gardens.org.nz |
The New Zealand Gardens Trust (NZGT) is a charitable organisation that promotes garden tourism and horticultural excellence throughout New Zealand. It maintains a national register of assessed gardens, categorised by significance through a formal star-rating system, and supports garden owners through networking, education, and advocacy.[1]
History
[edit]The New Zealand Gardens Trust was established under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture (RNZIH) in 2004[2][3] and became a stand-alone charitable trust in 2021, governed by its own deed and board.[4] The Trust’s purpose is to champion garden tourism as part of New Zealand’s cultural and environmental heritage.[1]
Governance and funding
[edit]The Trust is overseen by a board of trustees, who represent different regions of New Zealand.[4] Operations are managed by a trust manager, responsible for assessments, marketing, communications, and member support. The trust manager and chief executive is Victoria Read NZRAB of Martinborough.
The Trust operates as a charitable entity under the Charitable Trusts Act 2005, funded through membership fees, garden assessments, and support from RNZIH.
Membership
[edit]- Garden Owner Members (assessed gardens)
- Collections Members (specialist plant collections)
- Friends of the Trust (supporters and enthusiasts)
Membership includes automatic affiliation with the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture.[4]
Garden ratings
[edit]The Trust recognises and promotes New Zealand gardens that are open to the public, whether privately owned or public parks. Gardens are assessed and rated by independent assessors – professional landscape architects and horticulturists – and are visited and re-assessed every three years.[2][5] Ratings are published in the NZGT directory and categorised as:
- 6 Star – Garden of International Significance
- 5 Star – Garden of National Significance
- 4 Star – Garden of Significance
- 3 Star – Notable Garden
A separate "Collections" category recognises curated plant collections of note, without star grading.[5]
List of assessed gardens
[edit]Six star - Gardens of international significance
[edit]Five star - Gardens of national significance
[edit]- Auckland Botanic Gardens
- Auckland Domain
- Bradley’s Garden
- Butler Point Whaling Museum
- Cairnhill Garden
- Casa Rossa (garden)
- Christchurch Botanic Gardens
- Coldstream (garden)
- Cornwall Park, Auckland
- Eastwoodhill Arboretum
- Eliza's Garden Cottage
- The Elms (garden)
- Frensham (garden)
- Gillies Garden
- Glenfalloch Gardens[6]
- Gore Public Gardens
- Government House, Auckland
- Government House, Wellington
- Gwavas Garden
- Hereweka Garden
- Hlomo Hlomo
- Hobbiton Movie Set
- Hollard Gardens
- King Edward Park
- Leonie's Garden
- Loch Leven Garden and Nursery
- Longfield (garden)
- Monto Garden
- Oamaru Public Gardens
- Olveston
- Omaka Lodge
- Paloma Gardens
- Paripuma
- Pukeiti
- Pukekura Park & Brooklands
- Queens Park (garden)
- Sanderson Garden
- Stablehouse Garden
- Tauhara (garden)
- Thackwood Garden
- Timaru Botanic Gardens
- Totara Waters Subtropical Garden
- Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden
- The Urban Jungle
- Victoria Esplanade Gardens
- Wellington Botanic Garden
- Welton House
- Whangarei Quarry Gardens
- Wharepuke Subtropical Garden
- Winterhome (garden)
- Woodlands Homestead
- Wylde Willow Garden[6]
Four star - Gardens of significance
[edit]- Ambervilla (garden)
- Bannerman Park, New Zealand
- Bason Botanic Gardens
- Broadoak (garden)
- Brookfield Park
- Eden Garden
- Highwic
- Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens
- Lava Glass Sculpture Garden
- Longbush Cottage
- Ngahuha
- Ngata (garden)
- Openlands (garden)
- Ora Garden of Wellbeing
- Pegasus Bay Winery
- Rapaura Watergardens
- The Rusty Acre
- The Sculpture Park at Waitakaruru Arboretum
- Seymour Square, Blenheim
- Shalendy
- South Domain
- Waiongana Gardens
- Walter Peak High Country Farm Gardens
- Whitney (garden)
Three star - Notable gardens
[edit]Collections
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "About us". New Zealand Gardens Trust. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ a b Boyd 2023.
- ^ "Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture". Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ a b c "NZGT Information Pack" (PDF). New Zealand Gardens Trust. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ a b "Register your garden". New Zealand Gardens Trust. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ a b "Dunedin, New Zealand," gonewzealand.com.au. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
Sources
[edit]- Boyd, Penny (23 March 2023). "New Zealand Gardens Trust". Landscape Architecture Aotearoa. Tuia Pito Ora New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
External links
[edit]