The Queenstown Lakes District Council's director of parks and open space Paul Wilson has recently returned from a high powered international parks and recreation congress in Hamamatsu, Japan, where Mr Wilson represented New Zealand.

Mr Wilson is the New Zealand commissioner for the International Federation of Parks and Recreation.

"This was a fantastic opportunity to interact with colleagues and peers representing 28 other countries,"he said.

In total the congress attracted 700 delegates, to which Mr Wilson presented a paper on establishing a national benchmarking system for park management in New Zealand.

The highlight of the congress was the signing of the Hamamatsu Resolution, which established international commonality in the pursuit of measures to create a harmonious environment.

"The congress found that it was the duty of those present to develop a new system to evaluate and recognise the value of parks and green spaces. We also discussed the green renaissance and the evolving urban environment and agreed on how we could influence the creation of liveable and sustainable communities in the 21st Century," Mr Wilson said.

While in Japan Mr Wilson took the opportunity to visit an international garden show and walk a two-day trail.

"I picked up a lot of ideas for the district at the garden show, which covered 75 hectares and featured 5 million plants," Mr Wilson said.

The trail, between Tsumago and Magome, featured superb facilities and had been developed to become a key part of the area's economy.

"I picked up a number of concepts that I am looking forward to discussing with the Wakatipu Trails Trust," Mr Wilson said.

One of the key things to come out of the congress for New Zealand would be the proposed establishment of international partnerships in order to develop new, sustainable and adoptable technology.

"I'm looking forward to taking part in that process, which can only have positive benefits for both the Queenstown Lakes District and the entire country," Mr Wilson said.

Mr Wilson's trip to Japan and attendance at the congress was made possible through sponsorship from parks consultancy company Prophet Infrastructure Asset Management Limited.

By: Kiri