Tauranga City Council’s commitment to creating inclusive, well-designed community spaces has been recognised on the national stage, with wins at the 2025 Recreation Aotearoa Parks Awards in Auckland this week.

Two category wins and two merit awards were received, reflecting efforts by council staff to work more innovatively and collaboratively within the city’s parks and recreation sector.

Among the winners were Te Papa Tākaro o Matua, which won Playspace of the Year (under $500,000), and Tauranga Waterfront Playground, awarded Playspace of the Year (over $500,000).

Two further projects received merit awards: Waitaha Reserve (Playspace of the Year – over $500,000) and the Kōpūrererua Valley restoration (Healthy Parks Award category).

The Matua and Waitaha Reserve projects were designed, delivered and project-managed in-house – an approach that ensured value for ratepayers and enabled community involvement from concept to completion.

“These awards recognise our focus on building spaces that are locally led and enjoyed,” says Deputy Mayor Jen Scoular.

“We’re committed to working alongside the people who use these spaces to make sure we’re creating play and recreation experiences that reflect community needs, values, and aspirations.”

The Te Papa Tākaro o Matua project involved the full renewal of an outdated neighbourhood park, drawing on the ideas of local hapū Ngai Tamarawaho, children and scout groups to reimagine the space. The result is a vibrant, inclusive park where all ages and abilities feel welcome.

In the city centre, the new Waterfront Playground has become a recreational destination that reflects the city’s cultural identity and connection to Te Awanui Tauranga Harbour. Local school children fed into its design and judges praised the project’s strong cultural narrative, use of natural materials, and ability to create connection and joy through play.

Waitaha Reserve was another in-house project that showcased Council’s internal design capability on larger-scale upgrades, working alongside hapū, Ngāti He. The Kōpūrererua Valley project was recognised for its long-term ecological restoration, which is balancing environmental outcomes with recreation access in one of the city’s largest natural corridors.

“We’ve had great feedback from the community that spaces like this are important to them. Having these projects recognised on the national stage reflects our efforts to be innovative and create places that people care about and want to use.”

Jen also acknowledges the community’s role in shaping the spaces.

“The most successful parks and play spaces are those created with the people who will use them.”

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