The shortlist for the 2026 Resene NZILA Awards has been announced, recognising work that demonstrates exceptional rigour, ambition and contribution to landscape architecture in Aotearoa.

This year’s Awards attracted a high number of entries from across the breadth of practice, with the judging panel faced with an exceptionally strong field.

Reaching the shortlist required careful discussion and close assessment against the award criteria. Many strong entries could not be carried through, reflecting the depth and quality of the work submitted this year.

The difficult part was not finding strong work. It was determining which entries went beyond established best practice and most clearly demonstrated the new thinking, ambition and leadership that will help move landscape architecture forward.

Each entry was considered for the strength of its thinking, its response to people and place, and the contribution it makes to the profession. The resulting shortlist reflects work that is shaping stronger places, supporting communities and offering a glimpse of where landscape architecture in Aotearoa is heading next.

Congratulations to all shortlisted entrants and clients, and to the many collaborators, contractors, communities and project partners behind this mahi.

 

2026 shortlist

Parks, Open Spaces and Recreation

Te Kuru

• Location: Christchurch
• Entrant: Christchurch City Council
• Client: Christchurch City Council

Maungawhau Tihi Boardwalk (Stage 2)

• Location: Auckland
• Entrant: Isthmus Group Limited
• Client: Tūpuna Maunga Authority

Te Rimutahi

• Location: Auckland
• Entrant: LandLAB
• Client: Auckland Council

Te Kopikopiko o te Waka

• Location: Fox Glacier
• Entrant: Lucas Associates and Botanic Landscape Architects, in collaboration
• Client: Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai

Play Spaces

Old Papatoetoe Stadium Reserve

• Location: Auckland
• Entrant: Bespoke
• Client: Auckland Urban Development Office

Destination Kāwaroa

• Location: New Plymouth
• Entrant: New Plymouth District Council
• Client: Taranaki Foundation and New Plymouth District Council

Kaipātiki Reserve + Playspace

• Location: Auckland
• Entrant: Resilio Limited
• Client: Te Poari o Kaipātiki ki Kaipara

Civic and Urban Design

Peacocke Strategic Infrastructure Project

• Location: Hamilton
• Entrant: Adrian Morton Landscape Architects Ltd
• Client: Hamilton City Council

Elizabeth Street and Tunks Reserve

• Location: Tauranga
• Entrant: Isthmus Group Limited
• Client: Tauranga City Council

George Street Dunedin Retail Quarter

• Location: Ōtepoti Dunedin
• Entrant: Jasmax
• Client: Dunedin City Council

Whangarei Civic Precinct

• Location: Whangārei
• Entrant: Littoralis Landscape Architecture
• Client: Whangarei District Council

Takapuna Streetscapes

• Location: Auckland
• Entrant: Reset
• Client: Auckland Council

Residential and Gardens

Community Lane

• Location: Avondale, Auckland
• Entrant: Boffa Miskell Limited
• Client: Kāinga Ora

Ayrburn

• Location: Queenstown
• Entrant: Winton
• Client: Winton

Ti Point

• Location: Ti Point
• Entrant: Wraight + Associates Ltd
• Client: Jackie Petter and John Mangan

Institutional and Commercial

Auckland Airport – Transport Hub 01

• Location: Auckland
• Entrant: Isthmus Group Limited
• Client: Auckland International Airport Limited

AUT North Campus Heart Courtyard Landscape

• Location: Auckland
• Entrant: Jasmax
• Client: Auckland University of Technology

Ngā Mokopuna (The Living Pā)

• Location: Wellington
• Entrant: Wraight + Associates Ltd
• Client: Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington

Transport

Te Hononga ki te Awanui | Recreation Connection

• Location: Tauranga
• Entrant: Boffa Miskell Limited
• Client: Tauranga City Council

Te Ara Ki Uta Ki Tai Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive Shared Path

• Location: Auckland
• Entrant: Boffa Miskell Limited
• Client: NZ Transport Agency | Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and Auckland Transport

Te Ahu a Turanga – Manawatū Tararua Highway

• Location: Ashhurst to Woodville
• Entrant: Isthmus Group Limited
• Client: NZ Transport Agency | Waka Kotahi (NZTA), Te Ahu a Turanga Alliance

Te Whau Pathway

• Location: Auckland
• Entrant: LandLAB
• Client: Auckland Council

Landscapes of Care

Te Hurihanga ō Rangatahi - Youth Hub Christchurch - Stages 1 and 2

• Location: Christchurch
• Entrant: Field Studio of Architecture + Urbanism / Botanic Landscape Architects / Wood
• Client: The Youth Hub Trust

The Pā

• Location: Kirikiriroa Hamilton
• Entrant: Wraight + Associates Ltd and Jasmax
• Client: The University of Waikato - Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato

RM & Strategic Planning

Dunedin Waste Futures

• Location: Dunedin
• Entrant: Boffa Miskell Limited
• Client: Dunedin City Council Waste and Environmental Solutions Team

Mount Maunganui North – Plan Change 33 Landscape Qualifying Matters

• Location: Tauranga
• Entrant: Isthmus Group Limited
• Client: Tauranga City Council

Priority Area Landscape Schedules

• Location: Queenstown Lakes District
• Entrant: Bridget Gilbert, Helen Mellsop, Jeremy Head and Brad Coombs
• Client: Queenstown Lakes District Council

Master Planning and Urban Design Strategy

National Custodial Estate Open Space Guidelines

• Location: National
• Entrant: Boffa Miskell Limited
• Client: Department of Corrections

Queenstown Lakes Blue-Green Network Plan

• Location: Queenstown
• Entrant: Boffa Miskell Limited
• Client: Queenstown Lakes District Council

Westport Master Plan – “Cutting Our Own Track”

• Location: Westport
• Entrant: Isthmus Group Limited
• Client: Buller District Council

Te Āhuru Mōwai – Vision Framework

• Location: Porirua
• Entrant: Isthmus Group Limited
• Client: Te Āhuru Mōwai

Walter Peak Rural Tourism Zone

• Location: Queenstown
• Entrant: Patch Ltd
• Client: RealNZ

Rotokauri Greenway

• Location: Hamilton
• Entrant: Reset
• Client: Hounsell Holdings Ltd / Hamilton City Council

Tauranga Historic Village, Masterplan

• Location: Tauranga
• Entrant: WSP NZ
• Client: Tauranga City Council

Landscape Management

Ko Te Pūkākī 2040 - Tirotiro Whānui Regeneration Plan

• Location: Auckland
• Entrant: Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and LandLAB
• Client: Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei

Planting our Place and Waiwhakaiho Wildlink

• Location: New Plymouth
• Entrant: New Plymouth District Council
• Client: New Plymouth District Council

Tūrangi Reserves Management Plan

• Location: Tūrangi
• Entrant: Taupō District Council and Tūrangitukua Charitable Trust
• Client: Taupō District Council and Tūrangitukua Charitable Trust

Landscape Planning & Assessment

Ōtaki to north of Levin: Te Pae o Tararua Highway

• Location: Levin
• Entrant: Ōtaki to north of Levin: Te Pae o Tararua Highway Project Alliances
• Client: NZ Transport Agency | Waka Kotahi (NZTA)

Research & Communication

Designing Aotearoa New Zealand with nature: landscape regeneration of Western Waiheke Island

• Location: Western Waiheke Island, Auckland
• Entrant: DJScott Associates Ltd
• Client: Springer Nature

Ko Te Pūkākī 2040 - Tirotiro Whānui Regeneration Plan

• Location: Auckland
• Entrant: Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and LandLAB
• Client: Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei

AT blue-Green Infrastructure

• Location: Auckland
• Entrant: Resilio Limited
• Client: Auckland Transport

Student

Paihia - Where moana, whenua and tangata meet

• Location: Far North
• Student: Olivia Hawtin
• University: Lincoln University

Whakaraupō: Interwoven Rhythms - a Chorus of Life

• Location: Christchurch
• Student: Allessandra Kitley
• University: Lincoln University

Mahitahi - Weaving Water, Place & People

• Location: Nelson
• Student: Josh Whelan
• University: Lincoln University

He Iti Pounamu

Waka Moana Daldy Street Taonga Toi

• Location: Auckland
• Entrant: Graham Tipene and LandLAB
• Client: Auckland Council

Dallington Bridge Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor

• Location: Christchurch
• Entrant: Isthmus Group Limited
• Client: Christchurch City Council

Karanga Jump Platform

• Location: Auckland
• Entrant: LandLAB
• Client: Auckland Urban Development Office

Heke Rua Archives

• Location: Wellington
• Entrant: Boffa Miskell Limited
• Client: Department of Internal Affairs

Enduring Landscape

New Plymouth Foreshore

• Location: New Plymouth
• Designed by: Isthmus in collaboration with Richard Bain Landscape Architects

The Landing

• Location: Purerua Peninsula, Kerikeri
• Designed by: The Landing and DJScott Associates Ltd

Waitangi Park

• Location: Wellington
• Designed by: Wraight and Associates with Athfield Architects

 

*Project, entrant and client details are shown as submitted.  

 

What happens next

Shortlisted entries in the design categories will now progress to site visits with the judging panel, while the remaining categories move into final judging.

Awards of Excellence and category winners will be announced at the 2026 Resene NZILA Awards Gala Dinner on Thursday 5 November at One NZ Stadium in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Ngā mihi nui to our judging panel for the care and rigour they are bringing to the process, and to Resene, our naming rights sponsor, for their ongoing support of the Awards programme.

Tickets for the Resene NZILA Awards Gala Dinner, along with registrations for the Firth NZILA Wānanga, are now available. Register here.