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)

Joint Land Ownership – the Right Thing to Do

Tauranga City Council

Te Manawataki o Te Papa – the Heartbeat of Te Papa – is a transformative redevelopment of Tauranga’s Civic Precinct, which will reinvigorate its city centre and make it the

Award Year: 2023

Excellence in Digital Local Government

Members Choice

Turning The Tide: Large Woody Debris AI-assisted Removal

Gisborne District Council

Tairāwhiti developed an AI-assisted system to manage large woody debris (LWD) after severe weather and Cyclone Gabrielle. Using aerial and drone imagery with a Multi-Criteria Assessment, the programme prioritises risks,

Award Year: 2026

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