New Zealand Gardens Trust

New Zealand Gardens Trust

New Zealand Gardens Trust
Abbreviation	NZGT
Established	2004
Founder	"The Founding Gardens" and Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture
Type	Charitable Trust
Purpose	To promote the best in New Zealand gardens and horticulture
Location	New Zealand
Website	www.gardens.org.nz

The New Zealand Gardens Trust (NZGT) is a charitable organisation that promotes garden tourism and horticultural excellence throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. It maintains a national register of assessed gardens, categorised by significance through a formal star-rating system, and supports garden owners through networking, education, and advocacy. ^[1]

History

• Established under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture (RNZIH) in 2004. ^[2]
• Became a stand-alone charitable trust in 2021, governed by its own deed and board. ^[3]
• The Trust’s purpose is to champion garden tourism as part of New Zealand’s cultural and environmental heritage. ^[4]

Garden ratings

Gardens are independently assessed every three years by professional landscape architect s, horticulturists, and plantspeople. ^[5] Ratings are published in the NZGT directory and categorised as:

• 6 Star – Garden of International Significance
• 5 Star – Garden of National Significance
• 4 Star – Garden of Significance
• 3 Star – Notable Garden

A separate “Collections” category recognises curated plant collections of note, without star grading.

Governanace

The Trust is overseen by a board of trustees. As of 2025, the chair is Hamish Saxton (Hawkes Bay), with trustees representing different regions across New Zealand. ^[6]

Operations are managed by a Trust Manager, responsible for assessments, marketing, communications, and member support.

The Trust Manager and Chief Executive is Victoria Read NZRAB of Martinborough.

Membership

• Garden Owner Members (assessed gardens)
• Collections Members (specialist plant collections)
• Friends of the Trust (supporters and enthusiasts)

Membership includes automatic affiliation with the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. ^[7]

Funding

The Trust operates as a charitable entity under the Charitable Trusts Act 2005, funded through membership fees, garden assessments, and support from RNZIH.

Gardens of significance

The Trust recognises and promotes gardens throughout New Zealand, with ratings awarded by independent assessors.

Six star - Garden of International Significance

• Ayrlies Garden
• Broadfield Garden
• Dunedin Botanic Garden
• Dunedin Chinese Garden
• Flaxmere Garden
• Greenhaugh Gardens
• Larnach Castle
• Mincher Gardens
• Nikau Grove
• Oakley Garden
• Ohinetahi
• Omaio
• Ōtari-Wilton's Bush
• Te Kainga Marire
• The Giant's House, Dunedin
• Tūpare (garden)

Five star - Garden of National Significance

• Auckland Botanic Gardens
• Auckland Domain
• Bradley’s Garden
• Butler Point Whaling Museum
• Cairnhill Garden
• Casa Rossa (garden)
• Christchurch Botanic Gardens
• Coldstream (garden)
• Cornwall Park, Auckland
• Eastwoodhill Arboretum
• Eliza's Garden Cottage
• Frensham (garden)
• Gillies Garden
• Glenfalloch Gardens ^[8]
• Gore Public Gardens
• Government House, Auckland
• Government House, Wellington
• Gwavas Garden
• Hereweka Garden
• Hlomo Hlomo
• Hobbiton Movie Set
• Hollard Gardens
• King Edward Park
• Leonie's Garden
• Loch Leven Garden and Nursery
• Longfield (garden)
• Monto Garden
• Oamaru Public Gardens
• Olveston (house)
• Omaka Lodge
• Paloma Gardens
• Paripuma
• Pukeiti (gardens)
• Pukekura Park & Brooklands
• Queens Park (garden)
• Sanderson Garden
• Stablehouse Garden
• Tauhara (garden)
• Thackwood Garden
• The Elms (garden)
• The Urban Jungle
• Timaru Botanic Gardens
• Totara Waters Subtropical Garden
• Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden
• Victoria Esplanade Gardens
• Wellington Botanic Garden
• Welton House
• Whangarei Quarry Gardens
• Wharepuke Subtropical Garden
• Winterhome (garden)
• Woodlands Homestead
• Wylde Willow Garden ^[8]

Four star - Garden of Significance

• Ambervilla (garden)
• Bannerman Park, New Zealand
• Bason Botanic Gardens
• Broadoak (garden)
• Brookfield Park
• Eden Garden
• Highwic
• Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens
• Lava Glass Sculpture Garden
• Longbush Cottage
• Ngahuha
• Ngata (garden)
• Openlands (garden)
• Ora Garden of Wellbeing
• Pegasus Bay Winery
• Rapaura Watergardens
• Seymour Square, Blenheim
• Shalendy
• South Domain
• The Rusty Acre
• The Sculpture Park at Waitakaruru Arboretum
• Waiongana Gardens
• Walter Peak High Country Farm Gardens
• Whitney (garden)

Three star - Notable Garden

• Anam Cara, New Zealand
• Oasis Cottage
• Whakapuni Station Garden

Collection

• Terrace Station (garden collections)

References

1. "About the Trust". New Zealand Gardens Trust. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
2. "Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture" . Retrieved 19 September 2025.
3. "NZGT Information Pack" (PDF). New Zealand Gardens Trust. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
4. "NZGT About Us" . Retrieved 19 September 2025.
5. "Register Your Garden". New Zealand Gardens Trust. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
6. "NZGT Information Pack" (PDF). New Zealand Gardens Trust. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
7. "NZGT Info Pack PDF, internal publication, publicly available" (PDF). Retrieved 19 September 2025.
8. "Dunedin, New Zealand," gonewzealand.com.au. Retrieved 19 September 2025.