Recreation Aotearoa Awards recognises the Council’s parks team

From the shores of Lyall Bay beach to the top of Mākara Peak, there is no shortage of green spaces to explore in Wellington. Maintaining the 4363 hectares of open spaces in the city is no easy feat – but it’s a job our Parks, Sport, and Recreation team love.

Two people leaning on bikes on a wooden platform on the top of a hill.

This work has been recognised recently at the Recreation Aotearoa Awards, which celebrates individuals, places, programmes, and projects that enhance people's wellbeing through recreation. Members of the Council’s team won three out of 12 categories.

Check out what the awards were below.

Mark Kent on his mountain bike wearing all the protective gear, perched next to a multi-directional sign post with about a dozen yellow signs pointing in different directions from the top of a hill. — Mākara Peak. Image by Caleb Smith.

Outstanding Park Award 2024 - Mākara Peak Mountain Bike Park

Mākara Peak Ranger Mark Kent, alongside the Mākara Peak Supporters (a volunteer group), won the Outstanding Park Award 2024 for the development of the Mākara Peak Mountain Bike Park. This award recognises an outstanding natural environment, which may or may not include built structures.

Mākara Peak Mountain Bike Park recently celebrated it’s 25th anniversary and is now seen as a jewel in the New Zealand Mountain biking scene, with over 45-kilometres of track available.

It’s recognised for the network of trails that suit all riding levels and has become a ‘must ride’ destination for both domestic and international riders. While it is classed as a mountain biking park, it’s also open to pedestrians, with approximately 15 percent of users being runners or walkers.

Skateboarder tests temporary installation equipment at MFC car park space. — Skate Pōneke pop-up installation.

Outstanding Research, Policy and Planning Awards 2024 - Skate in Wellington and the Community Facilities Plan

Taking out the Outstanding Research, Policy and Planning Awards 2024 was Play and Active Recreation Partnership Lead Alexi Trenouth, for her mahi on Skate Guidelines for Local Government. This award recognises applied work in research, policy development, or planning, with relevance and currency to the recreation industry.

Alexi’s task was to research the challenges and develop a framework to help Councils and communities to support the growth of skateboarding across the country.

Alexi spent hours investigating skateboarding culture; connecting with other Councils, sporting organisations, skate associations, photographers, videographers, sculptors of skateable art, women and girls’ clubs and disability advocacy groups from all over the world including the UK, Australia and the Netherlands.

The award also went to Principal Advisor Kristine Ford and Manager Strategy, Policy and Research Anita Coy-Macken for their visionary Te Awe Māpara - Community Facilities Plan.

This plan guides the Council’s decision-making about community facilities in Wellington. The plan includes 58 actions to undertake a variety of investigations in partnership with the community in response to identified delivery or facility issues.

A man standing with a shovel next to a tree stump. — Paul Andrews out in the field.

Ian Galloway Memorial Cup - 31 years of service

And finally, the Ian Galloway Memorial Cup was awarded to the Council Manager of Parks, Sports and Recreation Paul Andrews.

This award recognises excellence and outstanding personal contribution to the wider parks sector. It celebrates the innovative and pioneering contribution made to parks management by Ian Galloway, particularly during his time in Wellington City in the 1950s and 1960s.

This incredible recognition highlights 31 years of service that Paul has done in the Parks, Sport and Recreation team at Wellington City Council.

Header image credit: Caleb Smith.