Nature Play Guideline
- Adam Stride
- Apr 14
- 2 min read
Introducing the New Operational Nature Play Guidelines – A Proud Collaboration
Playsafe is incredibly proud to announce the release of the new Operational Nature Play Guidelines, developed in close collaboration with Gisborne District Council (GDC). This landmark document marks a major step forward in supporting councils, landscape professionals, and community stakeholders across Aotearoa in delivering safe, creative, and inclusive nature play environments.
Nature Play, which blends natural materials such as logs, rocks, water, and vegetation into playspaces, fosters deeper sensory engagement, imaginative exploration, and stronger connections to our natural world. Yet, the successful integration of these spaces has often been constrained by unclear processes, inconsistent risk assessments, and the absence of operational guidance—until now.
The purpose of this guidance document is to provide a tiered framework for implementing and maintaining nature play elements across parks and reserves, ranging from low-risk social play features through to complex, adventurous playspaces that push the boundaries of design and compliance.
Each tier outlines clear requirements for:
Safety and risk management
Ongoing maintenance
Design triggers for engineering input
NZS5828:2015 safety standard alignment
Risk-benefit assessment protocols where appropriate
Playsafe was honoured to contribute compliance, standards alignment, and risk-benefit expertise to the working group. Our director, Adam Stride, provided independent review and practical application of NZS5828, helping shape the document’s safety framework while ensuring that innovation in play did not come at the cost of user safety.
The collaborative process included GDC Planning Team Leader Tyler Kirk, Asset Planner Angela Newman, and Play Advocate Katie Kennedy, each bringing their own knowledge and passion to the table. Together, we have created a living guidance document designed not just for compliance—but for creativity, community ownership, and the long-term success of nature play outcomes.
This document is not static. It’s intended to evolve based on project learnings, stakeholder feedback, and ongoing innovation. We hope it will inspire other councils and asset managers across the motu to confidently pursue nature play with a balanced lens of excitement and responsibility.
Play is not just equipment—it's the environment, the story, and the experience. And through thoughtful design and shared leadership, we can ensure that tamariki of all ages and abilities feel welcomed, challenged, and safe in every nature-based play opportunity.
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