Christchurch landscapers have taken some of the biggest prizes at the 2026 Young Landscaper of the Year competition, with Connor Sullivan of Canterra winning the national title and Taylor Allsop of Readylawn Industries taking the Leadership Award.

Sullivan was named Registered Master Landscapers’ Young Landscaper of the Year after two days of competition in Christchurch, which tested finalists across written assessments, interviews, practical landscaping skills and public speaking.

He also won the Outstanding Achievement in Softscape Practice Award.

Allsop secured the Outstanding Achievement in Leadership Award, while Auckland landscaper Taumata Lowe of OTERA Landscapes won the Communication and Hardscape Practice awards.

Canterbury was strongly represented among the ten national finalists, with Sullivan and Allsop joined by Lachlan Bensemann of Forever Green and Benjamin Lamond of Greenscapes.

The final was held at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens on Saturday, where competitors worked through ten practical stations covering machinery, tools, planting, lawn installation, design, irrigation, plant identification, paving and hardscape construction.

Finalists also delivered speeches to judges and members of the public.

Registered Master Landscapers’ Rachel Louie said Sullivan’s performance reflected the range of skills the competition was designed to test.

“Connor’s result reflects the qualities this competition is designed to reveal: broad practical capability, sound judgement, confident communication and the ability to perform under pressure. He should be enormously proud, as should Canterra and the Canterbury landscaping community.”

Sullivan works across landscape design and construction at Canterra, with a focus on creating functional, sustainable and enduring outdoor spaces.

His overall win comes with a prize package worth more than $8,000, including use of a Geely Riddara RD6 electric ute during October, a STIHL battery chainsaw kit, a Site Safe scholarship, DEWALT equipment and landscaping supplies.

The awards were presented at a sold out celebration dinner at Chateau on the Park on Saturday night, bringing finalists, employers, judges, sponsors, members and supporters together after the public competition.

The evening also recognised two long serving figures in the landscaping industry.

Wayne Butson of Design & Garden Landscapes and Euan Milne of Kūmānu received the 2026 Landscape Legacy Awards for their contribution to the profession.

Butson was recognised for 35 years building his landscaping business and supporting professional standards, while Milne was honoured for 30 years of leadership, mentoring apprentices and developing future industry leaders.

Registered Master Landscapers chairperson Janet Clarke said both men had made a lasting contribution.

“Wayne and Euan have both invested decades in people, professional standards and work that endures. Their influence can be seen not only in landscapes, but in the teams, apprentices and industry leaders they have helped develop.”

The Landscape Legacy Awards are presented every two years alongside Young Landscaper of the Year, bringing emerging talent together with people who have helped shape the profession over decades.