New Plymouth in the running for New Zealand’s most beautiful small city

Featured news News Lifestyle
PUBLISHED: 6 SEP 2023

The finalists in Keep New Zealand Beautiful’s annual Beautiful Awards are out with New Plymouth in the running for the gong as New Zealand’s most beautiful small city.

Announced last night, we are in a two-horse race with our provincial neighbours, Whanganui, for the awards which will be announced in November.

We already know New Plymouth is beautiful place, with a lifestyle second to none thanks to the strategic planning and focus on environmental excellence, prosperity, creating thriving communities and delivering for our residents and visitors.

It would be great to add New Zealand’s most beautiful small city title to our list of accolades, which includes the LIVCOM World’s Most Liveable City in 2021 and 2008.

Entries had to demonstrate a commitment to the environment through the positive actions of councils, communities and local residents including litter prevention and waste minimisation initiatives, recycling and beautification projects.

New Plymouth’s entry highlighted our vision to be the Sustainable Lifestyle Capital of New Zealand, a place where people want to live, learn, work, play and invest in the future and our focus on kaitiakitanga over our spectacular natural beauty.

New Zealand’s longest running sustainability awards, the Beautiful Awards provide a benchmark for environmental excellence and recognise individual schools, community groups, towns and cities.  There are even categories for the best public toilet and best street.

Judges will meet with the finalists of each city this month before the winners are announced at an event at Parliament House on November 9.