Hamilton Grey Power March 2021

Mastermind behind
stunning Hamilton
Gardens retires
Dr Peter Sergel has been a driving force behind
the Hamilton Gardens since 1979 when he was
asked to develop a concept plan for the park.
He had just joined the
Hamilton City Council
and this was one
of the first jobs he was given.
The seeds of success were
well and truly sown for the
award-winning Gardens and Dr
Sergel went on to develop the
Gardens’ unique concept of telling
the story of gardens throughout
civilisation. Dr Sergel was
appointed Director of the Hamilton
Gardens in 1995, but he has
been at the forefront of the Gardens’
development and operations
for the last four decades,
meticulously designing the more
than 20 gardens at the site (the
only exception being the Te
Parapara Garden).
With Dr Sergel at the helm,
Hamilton Gardens has grown
to become a major visitor destination
loved by residents and
tourists alike and receiving international
recognition, including
the 2014 ‘International Garden
of the Year Award’. The Gardens
receives around one million visits
each year including more than
440,000 visitors to the enclosed
gardens. Lance Vervoort, Hamilton
City Council’s General Manager
Community and Deputy
Chief Executive, says Dr Sergel’s
outstanding vision and talent for
design are simply irreplaceable.
Back in the 1980s, when Dr
Sergel first started out, there was
no budget set aside to develop
the Gardens, so he worked tirelessly
with community groups to
raise the funds.
He has set up trusts to fundraise
and promote the Gardens
and enjoyed a long, productive
working relationship with the
Friends of the Hamilton Gardens.
Dr Sergel has also driven
other local projects such as the
1980’s Riverbank Development
Scheme and the redevelopment
of Woodlands.
He has instigated several
events, the best-known being
the Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival,
which he established in
1998 and ran for the first few
years before creating the Foundation
that now runs it.
Dr Sergel has worked closely
with the community to develop
Hamilton Gardens into the
world-class visitor destination it
is today. He leaves some very big
boots to fill when he retires as
Director at the end of 2020.
Dr Sergel will remain involved
in the development of the next
few gardens – Ancient Egyptian,
Medieval, Pacifica and Baroque
Gardens – in a part-time role.
Mr Vervoort says the Council
will be starting the search for a
new Director shortly, but it could
take some time to find the right
person.
“Given the uniqueness of
the role and the calibre of candidate
we are looking for, we
want to make sure we get the
recruitment right.
Leave your loved ones fond memories....
not your funeral costs
FUNERAL
SAVINGS ACCOUNT
For a brochure and application form please contact:
The Catholic Development Fund (CDF) Ph 0800 843 233
Email: cdf@cdh.org.nz or visit The Chanel Centre
51 Grey Street, Hamilton East
Important Notice: please read
Important Notice: please read
This application to deposit is issued with the Replacement Product
Disclosure Statement (PDS) dated 4 December 2020 for an offer of debt
securities This application issued by the to deposit Roman it Catholic issued with Bishop the of Replacement
the Diocese of
Hamilton, Product trading Disclosure as the Catholic Statement Development (PDS) Fund dated (CDF). 4 December The Replacement
PDS and the Trust Deed can be viewed at the following websites: NZ Companies
2020 for an offer of dept securities issued by the Roman
Office www.business.govt.nz/disclose; Catholic Diocese of Hamilton
www.cdf.cdh.nz Catholic Bishop or the of Diocesan the Diocese Office of at Hamilton, 51 Grey Street, trading Hamilton as East,
Hamilton 3216
the Catholic Development Dun (CDF). The Replacement
PDS and the Trust Deed can be viewed at the following
websites: NZ Companies Office www.business.govt.nz/
disclose; Catholic Diocese of Hamilton www.cdf.cdh.nz
or the Diocesan office at 51 Grey Street, Hamilton East,
Hamilton 3216
Hamilton greypower Magazine | March 2021 17