20 November 2025
Seven sites in Australia and twenty-three in New Zealand raised a flag high in celebration, as winners were recognised on both the local and international stage.
An impressive 17 organisations are involved in the programme in the region - six in Australia and eleven in New Zealand. Participants range from local district and city councils like the Horowhenua and Queanbeyan, to parks trusts or management organisations like Te Mata Park Trust in Hastings and City Parklands in Brisbane.
This year there were were seven first time winners in New Zealand and Australia - including the first University campus site: Monash University Clayton Campus, Victoria.
(Cover image above: Mayor Wendy Schollum of Hastings District Council, New Zealand raises the flag with the parks team)
Green Flag Award accreditation is open to any public green space that is free and open to the public. Around the world there are over 30 university campus winners in Ireland, Finland, Spain, Sweden, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Mr Simon Kupec - Monash University Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice-President said:
“It’s an honour to receive a Green Flag Award for our Clayton campus and be the first university in Australia to receive this award. This recognises Monash’s deep commitment to creating sustainable, inclusive and vibrant spaces for our students, staff and the wider community.”
Lochiel Park, one of Australia's longest winning applicants picked up an award for the sixth year in a row. Whilst Brisbane's City Parklands celebrated it's ninth consecutive win for Roma Street Parklands.
Mayor Jill Whittaker OAM of Campbelltown City Council, Australia said:
“Receiving the international Green Flag Award is a tremendous honour for our community. It highlights how Council, the Friends of Lochiel Park and other volunteers work together to help our green spaces flourish — and shows what we can achieve when we cultivate our parks side by side.”
Elsewhere in Australia Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council, Toowoomba Regional Council and Western Downs Regional Council all picked up awards for meeting the standard on their well managed parks and green spaces.
In New Zealand, joining 17 recertified winners; six new parks gained recognition with an award, such as Kaipātiki in Auckland Council and Motutawa Avalon Park in Hutt City Council.
Mayor Wendy Schollum of Hastings District Council said:
“Our teams know how important these places are to our city and district, that they need to be looked after well and made as accessible as possible to everyone in our community. It’s wonderful that the efforts of Council and Te Mata Park Trust are following international best practice and ensuring our parks are safe, attractive and responsive to the changing needs of those who use them.”
Mayor Bernie Wanden of Horowhenua District Council said:
“We are delighted to have retained six Green Flags across Horowhenua. This recognition reflects the pride our communities take in these spaces and the collective effort that goes into caring for them. Our Parks & Property team, together with our dedicated contractors, work hard to maintain high-quality places for people to connect, play, and enjoy for generations to come.”
The Green Flag Award is managed in Australia by outdoor spaces planning and management consultants Xyst Australia. And in New Zealand by non-profit recreation industry experts Recreation Aotearoa.
Kieran Smith - Parks, Play, and Open Spaces Manager at Recreation Aotearoa said:
“This award continues to highlight the exceptional standards across Aotearoa’s parks, recognising those who care for and maintain these vital community spaces,”
“Parks are at the heart of our communities. They are places for connection, relaxation, play, and learning. What makes the Green Flag Award so valuable is how applicants use it — to demonstrate their success, gain constructive feedback, and share knowledge with industry experts. It supports continuous improvement and showcases the outstanding work happening in parks across the motu"
Explore all the winners
The Green Flag Award winners’ map features accredited parks and green spaces around the world, including Turkey. Explore the various profiles to learn more about our current winners.
As the Green Flag Award programme continues to grow around the world, so too does our judging reach. In the past 12 months new judges have been trained in Finland, Ireland, Belgium, Portugal and the USA.
To find out more about the Green Flag award or to apply for an award, whichever country you are based in, visit the Green Flag Award website or alternatively click here.
