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Seventeen gardens across New Zealand have received star ratings from the New Zealand Gardens Trust, marking one of the strongest assessment years in the organisation’s history.
The newly rated gardens span from Northland to Otago and reflect a wide range of styles, scales and settings. Seven gardens have been awarded Five Star status, recognising them as Gardens of National Significance.
New Zealand Gardens Trust chair Hamish Saxton says the 2025 assessments highlight both quality and diversity.
“This is an exceptional year,” Hamish says.
“The number of gardens recognised, combined with their consistently high standard, speaks to the skill, vision and long-term care evident in gardens across Aotearoa.”
The newly awarded Five Star gardens are:
- Silkwood Lodge Garden, Northland
- Pōhutukawa House, Auckland
- The TreeChurch and Gardens, Waikato
- Fernside, Wairarapa
- Red Sheds, Wairarapa
- Barewood, Marlborough
- Doctor’s Point Garden, Otago
Lead assessor Paul Roper-Gee says the assessments reflected a balance of maturity and innovation.
“We saw long-established gardens refined over decades alongside newer gardens with exceptional clarity of intent,” Paul says.
“Across the country, both large and small gardens are being designed and cared for to a very high standard.”
The New Zealand Gardens Trust assesses registered gardens using a nationally recognised star-rating system, designed to guide visitors and promote excellence in garden tourism and horticulture.
