About Us

The New Zealand Gardens Trust is an organisation made up of people who are passionate about gardens and wish to share their amazing range of plants, along with traditional and innovative garden experiences and design.

Established as a Trust of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture in March 2004 to promote the best in New Zealand gardens and horticulture, The New Zealand Gardens Trust has set up a system to assess all gardens and provide visitors with information that truly reflects the garden experiences. The Trust is governed by a group of eight dedicated Trustees supported by a part-time Manager. Details can be found here.

Associates of the Trust are made up of both private and public garden owners and managers who open their gardens to visitors. There is also Friends membership for those who wish to maintain a network with our gardeners and gardens, receive the Trust newsletters and have the opportunity to attend conference.

Being part of the Trust provides Associates with an opportunity to network with other garden lovers, share their ideas and offer plants too. A highlight is the annual conference packed with garden visits, talks and the opportunity to share stories and experiences.

Guide to the star ratings

Six-star - Garden of International Significance.
These gardens provide New Zealand’s top garden experiences. These gardens achieve and maintain the highest levels of presentation, design and plant interest throughout the year. They are the complete package which inspire garden lovers and deliver an experience above all other gardens.

Five star - Garden of National Significance.
These are highly recommended gardens for their presentation, design and plant interest throughout the year. They have a distinctive identity of their own and a character that gives them an edge. They may have special features that may appeal to those with special interests.

Four-star - Garden of Significance.
These gardens display a good degree of design and plantsmanship. They have a consistent level of maintenance or important plant collection that distinguishes them from a registered garden.

Three-star - Notable Garden.
Each garden in this category has been inspected to ensure that the information published describes each garden accurately. They are of reasonable standard and especially maintained during their identified optimum season.

NZGT Founding Gardens

NZGT Gardens Trust was established in 2003 through the generosity of our ‘Founding Gardens’. These Founding Gardens each donated NZ$2000, which enabled us to undertake our first round of garden assessments, to commission a website, and to hold our inaugural seminar.

For this NZGT and gardening fraternity is indebted. Click here to view the list of our Founding Gardens.

NZGT Membership

Do you wish to list a garden?

Are you interested in becoming a Friend of NZGT?

Click here to go to the membership section on our web site.