News

Find the latest news, updates, and stories from across our industry.

 

For media enquiries, please email Olivia Silverwood on olivia@nzrecreation.org.nz.

If you would like to receive our media releases, email marketing@nzrecreation.org.nz.
 

Aquatics
Awards
Five people stand smiling at a camera, two of them are holding awards. There is one lady and four men. They're all wearing leis.

Our annual Aquatics Awards recognise the innovation, leadership, and dedication at the heart of New Zealand’s aquatics sector. The Aquatics Awards 2025 were held on Thursday 21 August in Ōtautahi Christchurch. The awards ceremony brought together professionals from across the motu to celebrate this year’s outstanding achievements.

Accessibility
Media release
Outdoors
Parks, Play and Open Spaces
Four people cycle down a mountain bike track. In the background is hills that are covered in clouds

New guidance aims to improve safety, consistency, sustainability and accessibility across New Zealand’s mountain bike trail network.

Aquatics
Awards
A badge saying Aquatics Awards Finalists announced on a gradient teal background

We’re excited to reveal the finalists for this year’s Aquatics Awards — a celebration of excellence, innovation, and commitment across the aquatic sector in Aotearoa.

Awards
Recreation Aotearoa
A photo of Sarah Murray with the copy C.K Doig Leadership Award, Winner: Sarah Murray, Chief Executive Recreation Aotearoa, NZ Sport and Recreation Awards on a black background

We’re delighted to announce our Chief Executive, Sarah Murray, has recieved the C.K. Doig Leadership Award at Sport NZ’s annual New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards, held in Wellington tonight.

Recreation Aotearoa
A waka heads out to sea

We’re proud to share the next step in our collective journey — Te Whai Oranga 2025–2030.

Recreation Aotearoa
A large group of people gather in a conference room, they are sitting at round tables

Last month, we announced changes to our membership structure and renewal process for 2025/26. The new membership structure simplifies membership management, improves billing efficiency, and allows organisational members to include their full teams within a membership tier.

Community
The night sky with mountains below, the Matariki star cluster is showing

As Aotearoa prepares to mark Matariki on Friday 20 June, recreation professionals across the motu play a vital role in bringing people together through meaningful, inclusive programmes. 

Awards
A green award graphic with the words Parks Awards along the top, Recreation Aotearoa in the middle, and 2005 down the bottom

A record crowd gathered in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland tonight for the annual Recreation Aotearoa Parks Awards, a celebration of the people, places, and spaces shaping Aotearoa New Zealand’s recreation sector.

Awards
An image of an awards badge with the copy Parks Awards 2025 around the top and Recreation Aotearoa in the middle

Tauranga is proving itself a leader in parks and recreation, taking home multiple honours at the Recreation Aotearoa Parks Awards held tonight in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

Awards
A young man stands on a hilll, there is a mountain behind him

Wellington City Council’s River Foster has been crowned the 2025 Young Amenity Horticulturist of the Year. The winner was announced at the Recreation Aotearoa Parks Awards in Tāmaki Makaurau tonight, following the competition at Auckland Botanic Gardens on Monday.