Destination Kāwaroa, led by Taranaki Foundation with Ngāmotu, Ngāti Te Whiti, NPDC and NP Partners, transformed Kāwaroa Park into an intergenerational play and learning space celebrating the area’s nature, culture and stories. Featuring sensory play, water and hill elements, accessible facilities, and learning linked to NZ curricula, it has become a thriving, free hub for connection, recreation and cultural engagement, attracting up to 2,000 daily visitors since August 2025.

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Excellence in Māori-Council Partnerships - Te Tohu Waka Hourua (the Double Canoe)

Te Rere o Ōmanawa – Ōmanawa Falls

Tauranga City Council

Te Rere o Ōmanawa – Ōmanawa Falls is a $9 million project which has featured a unique level of co-design and collaboration between the project partners. The physical aspects of

Award Year: 2024

Excellence in Organisation and People Development

Toitū te Kotahitanga – Better Together

Whakatāne District Council

Toitū te Kotahitanga is Whakatāne District Council’s journey of transformation of its organisational culture and leadership capability. This led to staff developing and owning their vision and values and working

Award Year: 2023

Excellence in Digital Local Government

Christchurch City Information Network (CCIN) – Early Fire Detection Sensor Network

Christchurch City Council

This is a highly successful pilot project of a sensor network as a means for detecting fires in the Waitākiri / Bottle Lake Forest Park. The network sends warnings to