Keep NZ Beautiful Awards - Winner
Welcome to Whakatāne - judged The Most Beautiful Large Town Winner at the Keep NZ Beautiful Awards
Our community were truly humbled to be named Award Winner at the 2023 Keep NZ Beautiful Awards, aswell as Supreme Winner at the 2021 Awards. While this award acknowledges the undoubted beauty of our town and environment, it was noted by judges the strength of community.
For 2023 Whakatāne was awarded the title of Most Beautiful Large Town. The Keep New Zealand Beautiful Awards judges were impressed by the sheer amount of work going on in the environment space, and the efforts made towards creating a waste and climate-conscious future.
This included a new tree strategy aiming to increase canopy cover by 20 percent over the next 20 years, the new wetland ‘sponge park’ to help local streams recover from weed infestations, and a plan to rejuvenate nearby wetlands and restore the health of the Awatapu lagoon.
The judges also paid homage to the ‘dedication and passion’ of the Whakatāne people, and the district’s committed focus to Iwi engagement and community-led projects.
A huge thanks from us to all those who have been working hard on the actions that have secured this recognition.
Spread the word!
If you are a local Whakatāne district business or operator and want to show your support, you can download the badge below and use it in your marketing
This badge is free to be used in promotion of Whakatāne and the surrounding district. The badge has been created in consultation with the Keep New Zealand Beautiful Awards team, so we ask that it be used in its original form and not altered. To save simply click the link below, then RIGHT CLICK/HOLD (mobile) on the image and choose save/download.
For further information, email social@whakatane.com