Sculpture Park at Waitakaruru Arboretum Celebrates International and National Honours

The park has attained a Five-Star rating as a Garden of National Significance, placing it among Aotearoa New Zealand’s most outstanding gardens. The rating acknowledges excellence in design, plant collections, and the distinctive experience the park offers visitors with its art-in-nature trail.  The NZ Gardens Trust judges recognised the significant transformation of the quarry over the past 34 years.  The Sculpture Park at Waitakaruru Arboretum — New Zealand Garden Trust

In January, the Arboretum also received an international accreditation as an Arboretum of International Standing with Grade II status reflecting internationally recognised standards in tree conservation, collection management, education, and long-term stewardship. Waitakaruru Arboretum - ArbNet

Together, the two honours mark an important milestone in the life of the arboretum. What began as a vision for rehabilitating a damaged landscape and evolved for it to become an accessible woodland park where imaginations are inspired, creative exploration encouraged and mental & physical health nurtured.

The Garden of National Significance award celebrates the arboretum’s contribution to New Zealand’s cultural and horticultural heritage, while the international arboretum accreditation confirms its role within a global community committed to the preservation and celebration of trees.

The Sculpture Park at Waitakaruru Arboretum is maintained by a charitable trust, owned by a stewardship foundation and supported by staff, volunteers, artists, and visitors who share a commitment to guardianship of the land. These awards honour decades of dedication and signal a strong and sustainable future for the park. 

The arboretum is open year-round and invites the public to experience its evolving landscapes, sculpture, and living collections of trees.