As My Landscapes, your Rotorua-based specialists in fencing, retaining walls, decks and full landscaping, we are excited to share the latest trends shaping outdoor spaces across Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty.
Why Fences Matter in Today’s Designs
In 2025, fences are far more than practical boundaries; they’re integral design elements. At My Landscapes, we believe fences set the stage: thoughtfully selected timber, composite, or living hedge fencing enhances privacy, frames views, and complements native planting schemes.
Our clients are choosing fences that merge function with aesthetics, whether a stained timber boundary fence or a lush living screen of natives, they now define garden character from the outset.
What’s Trending in Landscaping
Landscaping in Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty has come a long way from neatly trimmed lawns and basic planter boxes. Homeowners today are looking for outdoor spaces that reflect their lifestyle, connect with the environment, and add long-term value to their property. From sustainable gardens to spaces built for entertaining, the latest landscaping trends are all about working with nature, not against it.
At My Landscapes, we keep a close eye on what’s emerging in the industry, while staying grounded in what works best for our local climate and terrain. Here’s a look at the key trends shaping gardens in our region this year.
Sustainable and Native Planting
Sustainable, low-maintenance gardens are dominating local landscapes. Property owners increasingly favour native species suited to Rotorua’s climate, such as pōhutukawa, koromiko, and low-growing coprosma, for drought resistance and ecological support. These gardens require less water and maintain biodiversity while reflecting the region’s identity.
Outdoor Living and Entertaining Zones
Designs now incorporate multi-functional outdoor rooms, patios, decks, firepit areas, integrated seating, and kitchen zones, that blend with planting schemes. These living spaces extend the home and offer year‑round usability, especially when paired with natural paving and ambient lighting.
Water Features and Eco‑Friendly Design
At My Landscapes, we love bringing water into gardens in ways that feel both beautiful and purposeful. It’s about weaving sustainable design into every drop.
Our rain gardens are designed as gentle, shallow basins dug below the surrounding grade. They catch roof and surface rainwater, pausing it before it rushes into storm drains. As the water pools, native plants with deep roots, grasses, ferns, and rushes absorb and filter it, gradually releasing it into the soil and helping recharge groundwater. This process not only cleans the water of pollutants, but it also reduces flood risk and cuts down the need for extra irrigation across your garden.
We also install bioswales, which are essentially gently sloped, vegetated channels. On properties with sloping terrain (like ours in Rotorua), bioswales guide runoff naturally while slowing it and allowing soil and plant layers to filter out sediment and contaminants. This helps to mimic natural drainage patterns, even in gardens with hard surfaces like driveways or patios.
For paths, patios, or driveways, we often recommend permeable paving systems, such as honeycomb-pattern pavers or open-cell concrete that water can flow through. These systems reduce runoff, improve water quality, and recharge the ground underneath, while still creating a durable, attractive surface. They’re especially suited to New Zealand’s climate and local council requirements around stormwater management.
Sometimes a water garden or natural pond makes sense, a small, self-regulating ecosystem with native aquatic plants and occasionally solar-powered fountains or waterfalls. These features bring tranquillity, attract birdlife and beneficial insects, and offer visual appeal in harmony with sustainable design principles.
Our approach always starts with careful site assessment. In rain garden or bioswale design, we measure soil drainage and engineer the right soil mix, often a blend of sand and compost in the area, to ensure good infiltration without surface flooding. Overflow channels or outlets are included to handle heavy rainfall events. We choose plant species that hold soil, absorb water, and thrive in Rotorua’s volcanic-influenced soils and unique climate.
Once installed, these features become vibrant, living systems that manage water, support local biodiversity, and remain low maintenance, especially when planted with hardy natives like rushes and wetland edge species. Over time, they become refuges for wildlife and add a lush, beneficial layer to the garden experience.
Cultural and Natural Material Integration
More homeowners across Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty are looking to reflect a deeper sense of place in their gardens. That’s why we’re seeing a rise in designs that incorporate Māori-inspired elements and locally sourced materials.
At My Landscapes, we often use natural materials like stone, timber, and boulders, not just for their durability, but because they connect the garden to the surrounding land. Timber features, especially in fences or pergolas, offer a warm, grounded feel, while volcanic stone and boulders bring texture and a natural sense of strength to retaining walls or pathways.
Some clients also choose to include subtle references to Māori patterns or motifs through carved timber posts or layout design, a meaningful way to honour local culture and landscape. These touches don’t just look great; they help create outdoor spaces that feel authentic, balanced, and truly connected to Rotorua’s heritage.
Fence as Functional Design Asset
Fences at the outset define garden zones and influence material and plant choices. Stained timber, composite panels or living screens are now aesthetic anchors, selected to complement native planting or hardscape features.
Living Fences and Hedges
More clients are choosing living fences, dense native hedges like coprosma or muehlenbeckia, for green privacy that supports wildlife and blends into planting borders. These soften boundary lines and reduce the need for artificial material fencing.
Tiered and Feature Fences for Slopes
Hilly properties benefit from tiered fences, stepped timber or composite treatments that follow terrain, providing structural interest and zoning on sloped sites. This also allows for planting terraces between sections.
Timber and Composite Choices
Timber remains popular for its warmth and ease of customisation, staining enhances lifespan against Rotorua’s humid geothermal climate, while responsibly sourced composite options offer longevity with less maintenance.
Council Compliance & Neighbour Rules
We assist clients in navigating the Fencing Act 1978 and local council rules. Most residential boundary fences under 2 m don’t require consent, and shared fences should follow fair notice processes. At My Landscapes, we handle planning, materials selection, neighbour agreements, and build compliance to ensure a seamless experience.
Retaining Walls & Terrain-Based Design
Rotoroa’s variable terrain calls for creative retaining wall solutions. At My Landscapes, we design walls that are both functional and beautiful:
- Use of natural stone, timber sleepers, concrete block or gabion systems suited to slope, drainage and aesthetics.
- Walls not only manage soil and levels, they also create raised garden beds, seating edges or planting terraces.
- Material selection and scale are carefully matched to your garden’s size, slope, and character.
- Lighting, planting and paving integration turn a wall into a landscape feature, not just a utility element.
We advise when council consent is needed, depending on wall height and drainage impact.
Summary of Key Trends
- Sustainable native gardens: adaptive and biodiverse planting.
- Living fences: green hedges that enhance privacy and habitat.
- Hardscape as feature: stone, timber and composite decking/paving.
- Outdoor living zones: decks, firepits, and outdoor kitchens styled with plants.
- Retaining walls: functional structure plus seating, terraces and planting.
- Cultural integration: Māori motifs, natural materials, local identity.
Why Choose My Landscapes?
When you choose My Landscapes, you’re partnering with a team that truly understands Rotorua, from its unique soils and slopes to local council requirements. With over two decades of experience in landscape design and construction across Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty, our crew knows this terrain inside and out.
We offer a fully integrated service: we begin with a thoughtful consultation and custom design, then manage the entire build, from permits to planting, decks to lawns and irrigation. Whether you need retaining walls or a gorgeous new fence, we deliver every stage with care and precision.
What sets us apart is our balance of creativity and practicality. We blend earthy textures, natural materials and sustainable plants to craft landscapes that look stunning and stand the test of time, all designed to be easy to maintain for busy lifestyles.
And when it comes to fencing, we’re specialists you can trust. From living hedges to stained timber or composite panels, we design fences that not only look beautiful but also meet legal requirements and local climate demands. We guide you through consents, neighbour notices, and material choices so your fence performs flawlessly for future years.
Let’s Talk About Your Garden
Whether you’re looking to create a peaceful native retreat, multi‑use outdoor living space, or sloped site transformation, My Landscapes is ready to help bring your vision to life. Contact us via our website or call directly to arrange a consultation Ph: 0800 395 695
Let’s craft a space in Rotorua or the Bay of Plenty that’s beautiful, sustainable, locally resonant and built for your lifestyle.