Taupō District Council partnered with developers and Tūwharetoa Settlement Trust to deliver Oroko Rise, an innovative affordable housing project. Combining private expertise, iwi leadership, and council planning, it increases supply without ratepayer subsidy. Launched in 2025 with strong demand, it provides a scalable model showing how collaboration can deliver sustainable, community-focused housing solutions.
Entry credits:
Taupō District Council
Thankyou to our award sponsor:
Morrison Low Advisory
See more award winning entries
Excellence in Placemaking
Rotorua Lakefront Redevelopment – creating a worldclass lakefront experience
Rotorua Lakes Council
Rotorua has a rich history as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s key tourism destinations, a title that our community has been proud to hold for many generations. Our unique natural
Award Year: 2024
Excellence in Environmental Leadership
Supreme Award
Pathways to the Sea Strategy – Ngā Rerenga ki te Moana
Waikato District Council
Waikato Regional Council’s Ngā Rerenga ki te Moana Strategy improves safe fish passage through flood infrastructure, especially pump stations that harm native tuna. Based on six years of research with
Award Year: 2026
Excellence in Organisation and People Development
Whangārei’s Organisational Strategy
Whangārei District Council
The Whangārei Organisational Strategy is a ground-up development to build a more inclusive, cohesive and effective organisation. The strategy had been driven (somewhat unusually) by the second and third tier
Award Year: 2021
