Last updated November 2026
Some 5000 roses grow on Russell Road in Marewa, Napier, on ground that was once part of the Ahuriri Lagoon, and they flower for more than half the year. Kennedy Park Rose Gardens opened in 1951 and are looked after by Napier City Council, which counts 500 named varieties across bush, standard, weeping, climbing and prostrate roses.
A 90-metre run of climbing roses stands out among them. Blooms can be seen from October through to April, and the council says the display usually peaks around mid-November. The garden is named after Charles Dugal Kennedy, a civil engineer whose home stood on the site.
Practical Information
- Location
- Russell Road, Marewa, Napier
- Managed by
- Napier City Council
- Parking
- Along the Russell Road frontage
- Flowering season
- October to April, usually peaking around mid-November
- The collection
- About 5000 roses of 500 named varieties
- Status
- Napier City Council: Botanical Gardens and other Napier gardens page
About Kennedy Park Rose Gardens
Before the 1931 earthquake, the council says, this spot was a raised strip of land within the Ahuriri Lagoon, and it was where Charles Dugal Kennedy made his home.
Trained as a civil engineer, Kennedy planned a section of the Old Coach Road to Taupō, which opened in 1874. He went on to practise as a barrister and solicitor and joined the syndicate behind the Napier South reclamation. Large eucalypts are the only trees left from those that once surrounded his homestead.
The rose gardens opened in 1951, and many more roses have gone in since. The council now counts 5000 individual roses in 500 named varieties, while the New Zealand Rose Society, which lists the garden among the country’s rose gardens, gives more than 5000 plants and over 500 varieties. The forms range from bush roses and standards to weeping roses, climbers and prostrate roses.
The climbing roses are the centrepiece. Both the council and the Rose Society single out the 90-metre display of climbers, and Hawke’s Bay Tourism adds a small fountain in the centre of the garden.
When to Visit
Roses are a seasonal show, so timing matters. The council says blooms can be enjoyed from October through to April, with the display usually at its best around mid-November.
Parking is along the Russell Road frontage.
Where to Learn More
Napier City Council: Botanical Gardens and other Napier gardens: the rose garden’s history, collection, flowering season and parking.
New Zealand Rose Society: Kennedy Park Rose Garden, Napier: the garden’s opening, size and climbing rose display.
Hawke’s Bay Tourism: Kennedy Park Rose Garden: rose types, the flowering season and parking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the Kennedy Park Rose Gardens?
On Russell Road in Marewa, Napier. Parking is along the Russell Road frontage.
When are the roses in flower?
From October through to April. The council says the display usually peaks around mid-November.
How many roses are there?
The council counts 5000 roses of 500 named varieties.
What kinds of roses grow there?
Bush, standard, weeping, climbing and prostrate roses, with a 90-metre display of climbing roses as the main feature.
How old is the garden?
It opened in 1951.
Who is the garden named after?
Charles Dugal Kennedy, a civil engineer who planned part of the Old Coach Road to Taupō and later became a lawyer. His home stood on the site.
Who looks after the garden?
Napier City Council, which lists it among Napier’s public gardens.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.