Recreational Services is New Zealand's largest parks specialist, having grown from a single maintenance contract in Auckland with Takapuna golf course with six employees to an established presence across 13 Council districts backed by a team of 600 employees. Today its service delivery spans Councils, stadiums, schools, golf courses, cemeteries, reserves, graffiti removal and specialist sports field construction and renovation projects.

When asked what the team is most proud of today, CEO Cameron Parr said, "Our people and our culture set us apart. Our pillars of professionalism, ownership, knowledge and people are based on the same family values as when the team consisted of six. Second to that is our collaborative and transparent relationships with our customers, doing what we say we'll do, and finding value to add back to our clients and the communities we work in. Parks are unique and require a team that is passionate about parks and open spaces."

Priding itself on 'creating exceptional spaces', the operation has evolved over the years to provide all aspects of parks maintenance with a service delivery covering 95% of all elements involved in managing and maintaining parks and open spaces, with only unrelated specialist work being subcontracted.

Managing Director Brett Turner had some exciting news to share about what the future holds, "After 30 years in operation, we are amazed at what we as Recreational Services have achieved. As we grew, our vision was clear that we didn't want to be the biggest but wanted to be the best in our industry and New Zealand. We aligned with people, staff, customers, and suppliers who shared our vision. Our vision also enabled us to make a strong, meaningful and lasting impact in the communities we work in. This extended to the wider parks industry by empowering those wanting a career in parks to become qualified and have access to work with some of the best in the industry.

Over the past year, the Directors have been reviewing the future of Recreational Services and the legacy to create something greater than ourselves, and how we continue building on our vision through the great work our teams do every day. Following an extensive process, we are excited to announce that Recreational Services have recently joined forces with two very similar Australian businesses, Green Options and Skyline Landscapes.

Each of the three companies has its own strengths and expertise. Bringing these strengths together enhances our abilities beyond what our industry has ever seen, providing a completely unparalleled depth of service to our customers. Looking back, I'm truly moved and grateful for the many lives we have impacted through our service delivery, and our amazing people is what makes Recreational Services the special place it is today."

The merger brings exciting opportunities for the group, especially when it comes to sharing industry knowledge, best practices, innovation and sustainability - an area where a lot of energy and financial investment has been made for many years by all three companies. In New Zealand, Recreational Services has been at the forefront of bringing many firsts to the parks industry and is excited to continue innovating and cross-sharing the journey in becoming carbon neutral.

In essence, as a group, the three businesses will continue operating as before but share the extraordinary coincidence of being founded on similar values, a passion for parks and open spaces, all family-operated and each bringing a 30-year industry track record - the makings of an incredible partnership that will continue creating remarkable parks and open spaces across Australasia.

Visit us: www.rs.kiwi.nz