Best in the world

MARK DWYER

Gabe Lauderdale-Smith, 13, jumps for joy after New Plymouth is named one of the best places in the world to live.

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Mayor Peter Tennent with LivCom chief executive Alan Smith.

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Take a bow New Plymouth - you've just been named one of the world's best places to live.

The city has beaten off challenges from a total of 50 entries from 17 countries to take out three major awards in the International Awards for Liveable Communities, held at the weekend in China.

LivCom is a UK-based body, endorsed by the United Nations, that recognises best practice regarding management of the local environment. In a world first, it has handed three such awards to one community - New Plymouth.We've been named the world's most liveable city in its 20,001-75,000 population category.

Our iconic coastal walkway has been named as the world's best environmentally sustainable project for 2008.

And New Plymouth has won a special award for its community sustainability - in other words, how residents are involved in planning for the future.

"This community had one of the strongest submissions we have seen this year - with particular strengths in the way it is planning for its future and ensuring it remains one of the world's most liveable communities," said judge Steve Palframan, of the United Kingdom.

And fellow judge Claudette Savaria, of Canada, equally praised New Plymouth.

"This is a vibrant, thriving community with high levels of volunteerism, a highly engaged and consulted community, and highly innovative social solutions," she said. "It is a measure of a community's determination to empower its citizens when it can make huge gains in employment levels and development of the economy, while still remaining highly liveable."

New Plymouth Mayor Peter Tennent, who led a delegation to China for the event, is delighted with the success.

"We're told this is the first time any city has ever won three top awards," he said from the city of Dongguan.

"We're over the moon about it. It shows that we have something really special in New Plymouth - and it's the commitment of the people who live here that is making the difference."

The awards are in their 11th year.

Mr Tennent, New Plymouth District Council chief executive Barbara McKerrow and general manager of community assets Anthony Wilson touch down at New Plymouth airport at 2.55pm today - and they'll have with them three large crystal vases that were handed to them at the awards presentation. "That's if we can talk Air New Zealand into letting us bring them.

"These vases are so big they probably weigh 30kg each. But we hope we can bring them with us, and have them proudly on display at the council first thing Thursday morning," Mr Tennent said.

LivCom used six criteria during the judging for both the whole city and project awards - enhancement of the landscape, heritage management, environmentally sensitive practices, community sustainability, healthy lifestyles and planning for the future.

New Plymouth won the whole city award ahead of the Czech Republic cities of Chrudim and Kladno, while other finalists were Montreux in Switzerland, Zhujiajiao in China, Newark on Trent in England, and Egar in Hungary.

A total of 12 entries were considered for the best environmentally sustainable project, and our coastal walkway was voted tops, ahead of the makeover of a park in Johannesburg, South Africa.  World famous city: Page 2

- © Fairfax NZ News