Hamilton and Whanganui tie for New Zealand’s most beautiful city award

Hamilton and Whanganui have jointly won the crown of the most beautiful city in New Zealand at this year’s awards.

The duo were tied for first prize at the Keep New Zealand Beautiful Awards, and the judges split the category to include the two.

Whanganui was crowned the most beautiful small city and Hamilton as the most beautiful big city.

Judge and Keep New Zealand Beautiful CEO Heather Saunderson said the winners prioritize making their environments vibrant and litter-free.

“They are both river cities, they have a great focus on the arts and beautification, and they both have well-established world-class recycling facilities,” he said.

“The only tangible difference between the two is scale, so we decided to do something a little different this year and award them both with the Most Beautiful City award.”

Hastings was crowned the award for most beautiful large city and supreme towns and cities at night, with a community mural worth up to $ 10,000.

“Of all the towns and cities we visited, Hastings ranked highest in community beautification, but it also excelled on all other criteria, making it the clear winner of the Supreme Award,” Saunderson said.

Arrowtown established itself as the most beautiful small town.

For Whanganui, Thursday’s award was his second time on the podium, after beating Hutt City for the title of Most Beautiful City last year.

It also featured two of the three nominees for the Best Street award, with Victoria Ave and Rangiora St in the running. Last year, Ridgway St of Whanganui won the award.

But it wasn’t on the big night, as Cambridge’s Victoria St took the title at the virtual awards ceremony.

“This year, Covid-19 has changed the global landscape and its long-term effects remain unclear,” Saunderson said.

“Celebrating environmental excellence, small achievements and beautiful behavior, whether personal or professional, is more important now than ever.”

Progress Castlecliff was also in the spotlight, taking home the Community Group Award for its work to beautify the largest coastal suburb in Whanganui.

Ruakuri bush walk in Waitomo was judged as the best place for a hike.

And if you wanted to know where the best toilet in New Zealand is, there was also a winner, with the Hunua Falls toilets crowned the best throne.