Auckland Council is celebrating a double win on two fronts on the global and national stage, proving our city’s exceptional parks are far more than just grassy places to kick a ball, picnic or walk the dog; they’re living, breathing spaces where nature, people, and art come together in surprising and joyful ways.
At the World Urban Parks Symposium 2025 held in Istanbul, Türkiye on the weekend, Auckland Council walked away with three major international honours:
- Outstanding Large Urban Parks Award for Tōtara Park, Manurewa
- Outstanding New Park Award for Te Auaunga/Walmsley and Underwood Reserves, Mt Roskill
- Leading Parks Organisation Award for Auckland Council itself.
More than 100 parks projects from across the world were in the running. And our parks are not just winning on the international stage - back home, Auckland Council’s Waimahara project [Myers Park] also scooped up three pins at the prestigious Best Design Awards winning gold in the Toitanga and Spatial categories along with a ‘purple pin’ as the top project in the Toitanga category.
Together, these awards shine a spotlight on how Auckland’s parks are transforming into multi-faceted spaces that nourish the environment, connect communities, and immerse visitors in art and culture.
Parks with a creative twist
Auckland Council Senior Project Manager – Public Art, David Thomas says urban parks are not just places where we go to stretch our legs, catch up with friends, and breathe.
“They can also be places that feed the soul and spark the imagination. Projects like Waimahara show how art woven into public spaces can create deeper connections with the land, our stories, and each other.”
Waimahara, launched in December 2023, is no ordinary park feature. It’s a captivating, sensory experience in the heart of the city, an outdoor stage that celebrates Māori identity in Tāmaki Makaurau. Visitors are welcomed by light and audio effects inspired by birdsong, taonga pūoro and flowing water, designed to awaken senses and connect people to the ancient waters beneath the city.
For artist Graham Tipene [Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hāua, Ngāti Manu], who led the project, the goal was to push beyond the traditional gallery experience.
Entrance to the Waimahara underpass art installation in Myers Park
Entrance to the Waimahara underpass art installation in Myers Park
“A lot of art galleries, museums, you stand in front of the artwork and look at it. This piece of art I wanted you to walk into it, so that it is below you, above you, on the side of you. And then when you close your eyes, there’s the next part of the experience where it enters you and goes down inside you, so that it is all-encompassing.
“For us to have an opportunity like this to express our cultural narratives is important, and we’ve been given a massive opportunity to do that in Tāmaki, where Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei are the ahi kā. Being chosen to be the artist for this isn’t about me, it’s about us as an iwi and our cultural expression, and a reminder that we’re still here and still relevant,” Tipene adds.
The Best Design Awards judges agreed, honouring Waimahara with the Toitanga Award recognising Māori storytelling and artistic expression through collaborative design, and the Spatial Award, for transforming an unsafe, unloved corner of the city into a welcoming public environment.
“We’re pleased to have been recognised with a Toitanga Award for Waimahara,” says Thomas. “Graham artistically led and shaped the kaupapa, which resulted in this interactive public environment that reinforces manaakitanga and belonging, connecting indigenous insights, knowledge and technology.”
Celebrating excellence – globally
The wins at the World Urban Parks Awards were equally momentous.
The Walmsley and Underwood Reserves through which Te Auaunga [which means the swirling waters] runs, once an unloved linear park, have been reborn as a thriving recreational and community space. Flood protection now sits side by side with natural play areas, community spaces, and cultural storytelling woven into the landscape, acting as a blueprint for Auckland’s future blue-green networks.
Avenue of totara trees in Totara Park, Manurewa
Avenue of totara trees in Totara Park, Manurewa
Meanwhile, Tōtara Park shows how a much-loved green space can evolve as the city grows around it. Blending active pursuits such as mountain biking, swimming and horse riding with ecological restoration and passive recreation, it’s become a vibrant example of how rural character and urban life can thrive together.
“The winners represent the best of what our profession can achieve; parks and public spaces that connect communities, restore nature, and improve lives,” says Michael Boland, Chair of the WUP@10 Awards.
Parks with heart, soul and story
Auckland Council manages more than 4,000 parks and reserves, covering 53,000 hectares, over 10% of the region. These awards show the high quality work the Parks and Community Facilities departments do in planning for, protecting and maintaining these spaces.
Auckland Council’s General Manager Parks and Community Facilities Taryn Crewe says the team feels incredibly lucky to see Auckland’s parks recognised on the global stage as it shows the responsibility of stewardship is taken seriously.
“These awards celebrate the creativity, collaboration and hard work that go into making our parks so much more than just green spaces.
“Our vision has always been to make parks central to Aucklanders’ daily lives, whether that’s through a white-knuckle downhill ride, a family picnic, a quiet moment in nature, or discovering art and stories woven into the landscape,” Crewe says.
“Recognition like this shows the amazing job kaimahi are doing to plan, design, deliver and maintain open spaces that are not only beautiful, but truly world class.”
Whether it’s the rush of water at Te Auaunga, the whisper of history surrounding you at Waimahara, or a picnic beneath ancient trees at Tōtara Park, Auckland’s parks continue to prove the value of open spaces that welcome, connect, inspire and delight - where art and environment meet to make life richer for everyone who visits.
