Special interest areas

Yardstick

Yardstick is an international benchmarking initiative established in 2001 in New Zealand by local authority parks and recreation managers. The project involves agencies ( generally local authorities) subscribing to the project and participating in the annual survey. The information collected covers:

• levels of service
  
• financial information
• best practice
• asset management
• policy and planning

Over half the councils in New Zealand are members of yardstick and the membership also includes the Department of Conservation.  The project is governed by the NZ Recreation Association, and was established with financial assistance from NAMS and SPARC.  Yardstick is currently available for Parks and Pools.  A sister project, ParkCheck is also now available.  Where Yardstick Parks measures the quantitative aspects of an operation, ParkCheck measures the qualitative elements of the business through its visitor intercept survey methodology

For more information on these industry projects, visit the yardstick website www.yardstickglobal.org

New Zealand Parks and Recreation Asset Condition Grading Standards-

This comprehensive document provides a standardised condition grading process for parks and recreation assets. It includes tables for most assets found in park locations- Download pdf copy here.