Dunedin, you wee beauty!
DUNEDIN has been named the most beautiful city in New Zealand.
The city was awarded this title at the Keep New Zealand Beautiful awards in Auckland last night.
With its ‘‘outstanding’’ environmental and sustainability initiatives, the southern city beat other finalist Hutt City.
Dunedin’s submission highlighted the city’s recycling initiatives, focus on heritage, Keep Dunedin Beautiful’s volunteer cleanup efforts and Taskforce Green’s graffiti removal programme.
The judges said the Dunedin City Council was supported by a very engaged and active Keep Dunedin Beautiful group and the submission exhibited a strong sense of community pride.
Together both groups had implemented exceptional recycling initiatives to further engage the community, with outstanding results.
The focus on heritage conservation also fitted naturally with the essence of the city, the judges said.
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said the award was a recognition of the tremendous number of people and organisations who made Dunedin the great and beautiful city it was.
‘‘From the council’s view you can’t just focus on one thing and the city’s got to work well, be good and look great and this award is just one part of that,’’ Mr Cull said.
Other winners included Raglan (most beautiful small town and supreme winner) and Taupo (most beautiful large town).
Keep New Zealand Beautiful chief executive Heather Saunderson said the awards celebrated the incredible inroads into sustainability, environmental excellence and community beautification that New Zealand was making as a nation.