Beautiful Whakatāne

Kia ora koutou, We were absolutely thrilled to recently be crowned supreme winner of New Zealand’s most beautiful town or city at the 2021 Keep New Zealand Beautiful Awards. COVID-19 delayed the event and shrunk the gala dinner ceremony, but nothing could dull the delight of being acknowledged for all the hard work our council, Iwi and community groups contribute, to not only keep Whakatāne beautiful, but also to regenerate our diverse environment for the benefit of future generations. The supreme towns and cities award winner is chosen from all entries and is the judges’ top pick from an already outstanding set of finalists. Here’s what the judges had to say about Whakatāne: “This is always a very hard award to judge and this year was no exception. The towns and cities submissions were of an extremely high standard, and the virtual tours provided great insight into the amazing environmental initiatives that have taken place.”

“Biodiversity is a huge focal point for those in Whakatāne. The community underwent a tree audit and created tree policies so that people have a better understanding of the value of trees and how their lifespan impacts us. They have also closed the gaps in understanding between rural areas and the township, bringing a tighter cohesion to environmental efforts. The community has also created a seed library, and are getting local children and youth involved in plantings – around 4,800 per year.”

Kia kaha,

Judy Turner

MAYOR, WHAKATĀNE DISTRICT