Winner of:
Excellence in Environmental Leadership Award

Shoreline Management Pathways Project 

Thames-Coromandel has undertaken shoreline management planning for its 400km of coastline to reduce risks to people, property, the environment, and tāonga associated with coastal hazards. The result is a set of 138 adaptation pathways specific to the aspirations and concerns of each community and the principles of kaitiakitanga. 

The judges said: Thames-Coromandel’s management planning provides tailored, flexible solutions to ensure future resilience of the Coromandel’s coastal communities. We were taken by the extensive community engagement on a highly complex set of decisions at the intersection of science, policy, and property rights. Sixty-six councils have a coastline making this one of the most transferable of this year’s entries. 

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
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Excellence in Cost-Effectiveness

Climate Resilience versus Recovery Costs for Transport Networks

Auckland Transport
Auckland Transport analysed 215 landslides from 2023 storms, showing prevention is far more cost effective than recovery. Preventative works cost as little as 15–30% of recovery, aligning with global findings.
Award Year: 2026
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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
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