Taihape’s Ngata Garden earns four-star status from NZ Gardens Trust

Rob and Amanda Collier's Ngata Garden has been recognised by the New Zealand Gardens Trust as a garden of significance. Photo / Alanah Brown

A Taihape family-legacy garden has made the New Zealand Gardens Trust’s four-star garden of significance list.

The 3-acre property, designed by Whanganui architect Robert Gordon Talboys and Christchurch landscaper Alfred Buxton, has been in Amanda Collier’s family since 1936.

Originally owned by Amanda’s great-uncle Bill Duncan, the property was then passed to her parents.

“My parents lived here, I was brought up here,” she said.

Ngata Garden at Amanda Collier's childhood home has been placed on NZ Garden Trust's four-star list. Photo / Alanah Brown

When her parents decided to retire, the garden and house were passed on to Amanda which allowed her to further her life-long love of gardening.

“It’s an amazing opportunity,” she said.

“I just loved flowers, plants, trees, and now I’ve just cultivated my interest.”

One of her favourite aspects of the property was the trees, many of them planted in 1936, including ancient oaks, elms, lindens and Persian ironwood.

Ngata Garden has multiple trees planted in 1936 including oaks, lindens and elms. Photo / Alanah Brown

As well as protecting its heritage features, the Colliers have made numerous changes to the Ngata Garden since it has been under their care.

They include replacing sunken flower beds with green liriope and removing plants obstructing the property’s views of the Hiwera Valley to the Ruahine Ranges.

The garden has been included in the Rangitīkei Up the Garden Path tour, and has been the venue for four weddings.

The New Zealand Gardens Trust has four star categories: three stars – notable gardens, four stars – gardens of significance, five stars – gardens of national significance and six stars – gardens of international significance.

Whanganui’s Bason Botanic Gardens, with four stars, and Paloma Gardens (five stars) are also on the list alongside 98 other New Zealand sites.

Amanda hoped that when the trust reviewed the rankings in three years, Ngata Garden could move to the five-star list.

Amanda and Rob Collier's home and garden has been recognised by NZ Gardens Trust as a garden of significance. Photo / Alanah Brown

“They’ve given me pointers, stuff to work on,” she said.

“It’s just something I do. I just can’t stop gardening.

“We just love living here, we’re really spoiled.”

Ngata Garden is available to visit via appointment. To find out more, go to gardens.org.nz/visit

Olivia Reid is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.