The 2024 NZILA President's cocktail evening was held at The Intercontinental Hotel in Wellington on May 15th.

The cocktail evening is an event designed to thank all volunteers, to recognise new Fellows and Life members and to present the 2024 President's Awards. The evening is proudly sponsored by MHL and WE-EF.

One new Tuia Pito Ora New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects’ Life Member, John Hudson, was announced, along with one new NZILA Fellow, Dan Males. You can read more about John here and Dan here.

The President’s awards were also handed out during the evening. The awards represent an opportunity for the Institute to celebrate contributors to the numerous facets of the profession. The awards can be given to NZILA members and non-members, individuals and groups/organisations.

Recipients are those who have gone above and beyond and who have engaged with a wide range of issues or who have worked diligently to provide benefits to and for the greater good of the profession.

This year’s president’s awards went to;

• Rebecca Ryder for leadership in governance change within our profession 
• Martha Dravitzki for contributions to Registration Panel   
• Meg Back for contributions to Climate Change Working Group & Awards Program
• Di Menzies for leadership in the Awards Programme and her dedication to promoting Te Ao Māori principles
• Alayna Rā  for exemplary leadership rooted in Te Ao Māori, enriching our profession with cultural insights and perspectives
• Rangitahi Kawe for Emerging Leader
• Henry Crothers for contributions in past Presidency and leadership of the profession  
• Len Hetet for Community & Collaboration: This is new award is given to colleagues operating outside the landscape architecture profession who have made significant contributions to their communities

New Registrants to NZILA were also celebrated on the evening with formal presentation of registration certificates by Martha Dravitzki, the Registration Panel Chair. The newly registered NZILA Landscape Architects are:

Abby Liang, Alex Prujean, Antonia Guthrey, Billy Pearce, Christopher Campbell, Emma Golightly, Emma Välimäke-Petersen, Fiona Grieg, Georgina Langridge, Hilary Riordan, Holly Stitt, Izack Franklin, Julie Greenslade, Maddie Palmer, Nick Regal, Sarah Crawford, Sofia Fourman, Thomas Steck, Thomas Watt and Tim Richardson. 

Photographs from the evening are available to download here.