The gardens of Government House Auckland are a rare survivor from the era when many large New Zealand city estates had landscaped grounds.
Most such gardens have been subdivided, or completely redeveloped, or have become public parks. With an extent of 4.6 hectares (12 acres) the Government House Auckland garden is the largest example of a city estate remaining.
The garden is endorsed as a “Garden of National Significance” by the New Zealand Gardens Trust (www.gardens.org.nz). As well as its survival intact, it has many trees that are amongst the oldest of their kind in the country, and has retained examples of the lava outcrops and original native vegetation that were once a feature of the wider local area. The design and horticultural variety of the garden are also exceptional.
Anthony Wright, Director of Canterbury Museum and a member of the Government House Auckland garden committee has written a brief history of the house and garden including historic photos of the garden in the days of the Mappins, which you can download below.