The New Zealand Urban Design Awards© is a biennial programme that promotes excellence in the design and creation of urban environments by giving recognition to exemplary work in two categories: Built Projects, that is, urban design projects that have been realised, and Envisaging Projects, that is, urban design projects that provide the plans or frameworks for future development.

Reflecting the collaborative nature of urban design projects, the Awards are a partnership between five organisations representing professions and sectors active in urban design projects throughout New Zealand:

• The New Zealand Institute of Architects
• The New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects
• The Property Council New Zealand
• The New Zealand Planning Institute
• The New Zealand Urban Design Forum

Each organisation appoints a member of the Awards jury. In the New Zealand Urban Design Awards© 2012 the jury comprised:

• Peter Mould (convenor), formerly New South Wales Government Architect (appointed by the New Zealand Institute of Architects)
• David Mead, a director of the planning and policy consultancy Hill Young Copper (appointed by the New Zealand Urban Design Forum)
• Lee Beattie, Deputy Head of the School of Architecture and Planning, University of Auckland (appointed by the New Zealand Planning Institute)
• Sally Peake, director of the landscape architecture practice Peake Design (appointed by the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects)
• Patrick Fontein, formerly Managing Director of the property developer Kensington Group (appointed by the Property Council of New Zealand)

The New Zealand Urban Design Awards© 2012 were announced on 8 November 2012.