Recreation Aotearoa to stage the southern hemisphere's biggest parks conference in Rotorua

Recreation Aotearoa has announced details of its 2020 Green Pavlova conference, which, incorporating the World Urban Parks Asia-Pacific Congress, it says will be “the biggest parks and open spaces conference that the southern hemisphere has ever seen”.

Taking place from 4th to 7th May 2020 at Rotorua on New Zealand’s North Island, the conference will bring together the Asia-Pacific’s parks and open spaces industry to learn new things, discuss best practice and network with colleagues.

Karl Nesbitt, Parks and Open Spaces Programme Manager for Recreation Aotearoa, explains “delegates will have the opportunity to visit award-winning parks, meet a huge selection of trade exhibitors and help shape the future of our industry.

“The 2020 conference will be bigger and better than ever as the World Urban Parks Asia-Pacific Congress is incorporated into Green Pavlova.”

Despite its culinary implication, Green Pavlova is the premier parks, reserves and open space conference in New Zealand, for organisations and individuals engaged in parks, sports fields, playspaces, reserves and open spaces, presenting the opportunity for commercial and corporate partners to engage with the sector and to be party to its future direction.

The conference will cover many industry areas, such as parks and open spaces, play, amenity, turf, facilities, contracting and sport hubs. The themes of the 2020 conference reflect the current issues facing the industry:

• Sustainability, resilience and climate change
• The benefits of connecting with nature - the value of parks
• Applying the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Community empowerment
• Te Mara Hupara

Rotorua, the host city for Green Pavlova, is remarkable where delegates will gain from working with indigenous cultures, taking away learning that can be replicated across the world.

Rotorua will also enable the exploration of the wellbeing of places and spaces and how important they are to human health by seeing it in action. Delegates will experience New Zealand culture, nature, flora and fauna and learn how our green spaces work.

With some of New Zealand’s most beautiful beaches, underground caves and Hobbiton Movie Set within a short drive, there will be a booking portal available for delegates to purchase excursions and experiences at reduced prices.

Green Pavlova 2020 incorporates the World Urban Parks Asia-Pacific Congress 2020.

Click here for Green Pavlova event details in the Australasian Leisure Management industry calendar.

Images: Highlights of Rotorua including the Redwoods Treewalk (top), Rotorua Tutea Falls (middle, courtesy of Chris McLennan) and the Whakarewarewa Forest (below, courtesy of Vaughan Brookfield).