In early November, The Landing was honoured to receive an Enduring Landscape Award from the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects [NZILA]. This is an award that celebrates landscapes that are at least 20 years old, actively used and managed, contributing to the wellbeing of people and place, and that demonstrate foresight, care and long-term value.
NZILA describes the awards as “an opportunity to recognise landscapes that continue to shape our communities and inspire the profession over time.”
Uniquely, the recipient of the award is the land itself, recognising that countless ideas and hands shape a landscape over many years, with nature also putting in its own work.
In the citation for The Landing’s award, the judges described it as:
“A defining Bay of Islands estate that demonstrates the enduring value of landscape-led design and land stewardship. Conceived to restore land degraded by overgrazing and rebalance natural systems with productive use and development, the project offers a compelling model for integrated rural design.”
The judges commended The Landing team’s approach, which weaves together restored native forest and wetlands, over 30 acres of vineyards, premium architecture, an on-site nursery, heritage site protection and coastal management.
Countless people have contributed to our landscape over the last 25 years, and undoubtedly countless more will contribute over the next 25. On top of the work our team and collaborators have done on the property itself, the judges’ citation noted that the neighbouring Rangihoua Heritage Park has also benefited from much time and expertise that has been donated to the park as a form of community support.
When The Landing came into our ownership in 1999, it had been used as farmland for many decades. At the time, the landscape was largely denuded of trees right down to the wetland edges, with no roads or the extensive catchment ponds that now weave through the centre of the property. More than 25 years on, photos of the same areas show a transformation that is hard to believe.
Considered design lines that work with and accentuate the natural landscape, lush and naturalistic plantings, native reforestation that attracts rich birdlife, sculptural insertions and fastidious season-by-season maintenance have all played their part in making this such a special place.
The Landing director Peter Jones says this award is a great chance to celebrate some of the people whose work is less acknowledged.
“Our wine and Residence businesses regularly pick up awards for their work, but this is a rare opportunity to recognise the work done behind the scenes by our landscape team over the past 25 years.
This is the essence of The Landing’s sustainability approach – a long-term project that encompasses ecological rehabilitation, biodiversity, design, wellbeing and economic sustainability, all recognised by an independent professional body. It is recognition of decades of hard mahi, foresight and patience.”
Our thanks go to the many people, both on our own team and our collaborators, who have contributed to this award-winning landscape.