A High Court judge has dismissed an appeal against a plan to build a Chinese garden in Frank Kitts Park on Wellington's waterfront.
A picture of the proposed Wellington waterfront Chinese garden design. Photo: Image courtesy Wellington Chinese Garden Society, photo RNZ / Lynda Chanwai-Earle
The lobby group Waterfront Watch had argued the garden would take away green space, block harbour views and make the park less safe.
The Environment Court threw out its appeal in April, and the High Court has now upheld that decision.
Justice Cull said she can find no errors of law in the ruling made by the Environment Court, which properly considered the project's positive and negative aspects.
The Garden of Beneficence will take up about one sixth of the area of Frank Kitts Park on Wellington's waterfront, and will be funded by Chinese interests.
It is part of a $5.5 million wider redesign for the area, including scrapping the amphitheatre, creating a bigger lawn and children's playground, and taking the park closer to busy Jervois Quay.
An artist's impression of the planned garden. Photo: RNZ / Lynda Chanwai-Earle