New Zealand Parks Agencies Managers Group
On Tuesday 7 November 2017 New Zealand’s Parks Agencies Managers, associate members and Generate members gathered at the Bellringer Pavilion, Pukekura Park, for a strategic forum to discuss industry related topics.
Generously hosted by New Plymouth District Council and sponsored by Bridge It New Zealand, with support from Wagner and Tiaki Engineering, the meeting provided opportunities to network with a wide range of industry professionals and to engage in active conversations about what members
The meeting began with a warm welcome and the 2017 summary/2018 programme by Geoff Canham – Coordinator of the Parks Managers Group.
The 2017 summary included updates from the following New Zealand Agencies Managers Group Meetings:
• 23 February 2017 at Belmont Regional Park, Lower Hutt.
• June attendance and liaison in San Francisco, hosted by Greg Moore and Michael Boland and their agencies. It included meeting with Yosemite National Park Conservancy CEO, and agency site tours, projects and operations North San Francisco Bay and Yosemite National Park.
• July 2017 trip to Sydney, Australia which included presentations as well as visits to Sydney Harbour and Cockatoo Island, and Bradley’s Head to Chowder Bay walk.
• Information circulated after the roundtable session included discussions around membership status, rebranding from New Zealand Parks Agencies Managers to Parks Agencies managers, KPI setting, Parks Management Course-Melbourne 2018, Melbourne School of Park Management and PALRC popular short course announced for 2018, Template for generally improving practices and reducing risk in using agrichemicals, and future of industry topics fed through to Green Pavlova for workshops and summaries made.
2018 Programme included:
• A review of terms of reference, including financial, options for new structure and logo
• TAPAF MOU
• Farming on parks – there will be a workshop held by Greater Wellington Regional Council in March 2018 for anyone with stock on their parks and reserves
• Meetings in May and for Southland Island
• Need for peer reviews
Bridge It New Zealand was introduced as the sponsor and invited us to a networking opportunity at Snug Lounge at the end of the day. Bridge It New Zealand has won NZ Excellence in Construction Awards in the past years and in 2016 was high commended for the construction of the Waimahanga Cycleway. They have built 400 bridge projects covering a variety of areas, using a variety of materials for new structures, repairs and maintenance, improvements and replacements, specialising in small to medium bridges around New Zealand
Rod Hillman, CEO of Ecotourism Australia, presented to us the updates from TAPAF and issues his industry is facing moving forward. They would like to work with the Parks Managers Group and share values.
Following a coffee refill came ‘The Value Proposition of Parks’ presentations which were made by Auckland City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council, which Generate members judged. Auckland noted there was value connecting people with nature, there was a service connecting to nature your way and a vision leading world class parks people love. Wellington noted parks have the power to bring people together; places are opportunities for summer events – programmes.
Both used well made videos to promote their parks, which is a great form of promotion/marketing, and can be used at open days, to show councilors the big picture, and for funders.
Round the table discussions were next, where all participants have the opportunity to share achievements, their focus, issues and challenges they are facing for the future and opening up for discussion about each to positively support and contribute to everyone’s approach for improving the industry.
At the working lunch we received an update by Karl Nesbitt (NZ Recreation Association) with the following:
• Parks Week 10-18 March 2018. Theme – Rocking your park
• NZRA maintenance standards coming out
• Playsafe – want NZ standards – cost $300 to be national through NZQA
• Cemeteries Conference March 2018 – review
• Working with other agencies e.g. retirement association, health association, LGNZ etc.
After lunch attendees went of a tour of Pukekura Park, hosted by New Plymouth District Council. Soon after, there was a Heads of Department Meeting for agency members.
Later in the evening we visited Snug Lounge for our networking opportunity, hosted by Bridge It New Zealand, followed by dinner at the Social Kitchen, where attendees could review the day and enjoy each others’ company.
Why was this meeting valuable to me?
I learned a lot through this experience - I was given the opportunity to network with managers and representatives from agencies in New Zealand and as a result, learn their perspectives about the issues, challenges and achievements we face. The 2017 summary shows there are some cool things that the Parks Managers Group are able to be involved with.
I gained more of the holistic view of where the parks and recreation industry is heading and the values/tools/resources we share. It shows there are many changes ahead we face but we are there to share them and learn from them with support and partnerships of other agencies.
Written by Cassie Scobie, Generate Steering Group Member, NZRA Regional Board Member for Otago/Southland and Parks Asset Planner with Invercargill City Council. Cassie’s attendance was kindly sponsored by Generate and the New Zealand Parks Agencies Managers Group.