Margaret Mahy playground a winner

It’s become a favourite with Christchurch residents and now the Margaret Mahy Family Playground has won national recognition in the Keep New Zealand Beautiful Awards.

The central city playground, which opened in 2015, is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and is nearly always packed with children enjoying themselves on the extra-wide slide, the water play area, flying fox and spiral slide.

The Margaret Mahy Playground is a firm favourite with the public.

The Margaret Mahy playground won the Resene Kiwi’s Choice award for Best Public Spot in New Zealand based on factors such as its location, facilities, popularity and uniqueness.

Judges said it was a “place of colour, noise and laughter” amongst the demolition, road works and building sites.

“Equipped with disability friendly equipment and a special sand pit area, the playground has become an iconic destination spot in Christchurch, loved and used by all age groups.”

The Beautiful Awards were announced at a gala evening last Friday in Auckland. Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel was presented with the trophy by Keep NZ Beautiful Chair Alexandra Davids in Christchurch today.

Council Head of Parks Andrew Rutledge says the award is fantastic.

“We’re really pleased the playground has been recognised on the national stage. Local people love it and it’s been a major success in providing families with a place to have loads of fun in our central city.”

Ms Davids is delighted the Margaret Mahy Playground won the Kiwi's Choice award, which was won last year by Akaroa.

"We've kept the award within the city's boundaries, which is a great achievement because it is a really important award,'' she says. 

Other Beautiful Award winners were Dunedin, as the Most Beautiful City, while Taupo and Raglan took out the Most Beautiful Large and Small Town awards respectively.