Parks Week 2026: How Trees Help Cool Our Cities

NZ Parks Week runs from 2 to 9 March, landing at a time of year when many parts of the country are still warm and dry. It’s a good reminder that our parks aren’t just places to walk the dog or meet friends, they’re some of the most effective cooling systems we have in our towns and cities.

A recent global study led by the University of Cambridge reviewed 182 scientific papers to understand how well trees reduce urban temperatures. The findings were clear. Trees can lower pedestrian‑level air temperatures by up to 12°C, with the strongest cooling in hot, dry climates and steady benefits in temperate regions like much of New Zealand. In more than 80 percent of the cities studied, increased canopy cover brought the hottest month’s average temperature below 26°C, which makes a real difference for comfort, health and outdoor activity.

Fagus sylvatica – Queens Park

For New Zealand, this reinforces what many councils and community groups already see on the ground. Well‑designed parks with generous canopy cover help keep neighbourhoods cooler through late Summer. They make walking and cycling more appealing, support biodiversity and create spaces where people can spend time outside without the heat becoming a barrier. They also play a role in long‑term climate resilience, especially as our urban areas continue to grow.

Fagus sylvatica – Queens Park

Parks Week is a chance to celebrate the trees that already shade our shared spaces and to recognise the planning and planting that goes into creating them. It’s also a timely moment to think about the canopy we want future generations to inherit. Every mature tree in a park started as a decision someone made years earlier.

Zelkova serrata 1000L 18 year old (Heritage Collection) and Micah

Did you know we have instant park and specimen trees 15-30 years old? This Zelkova shown in 1000lt container (18 year old) from our Heritage Collection recently sold for a project, a brilliant example of an instant shade canopy. Zelkova – Japanese Elm is one of our teams favourites and it thrives in parks and gardens around New Zealand and in a wide range of conditions.

Prumnopitys ferruginea ‘Miro’ – Andersons Park

As communities across the country mark Parks Week, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate the quiet work these trees do. They cool our cities, support our wellbeing and help shape the kind of places people want to live.

Ulmus horizontalis in blossom – Queens Park

For further reading:

https://ccc.govt.nz/environment/trees-and-vegetation/urbanforest/benefits-of-trees

https://www.canopy.govt.nz/plan-forest/why-plant-trees/community
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