Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand - BGANZ - was registered as an Incorporated Association on 6 April 2004. The Constitution states that the Council will have a maximum of 14 members and shall be comprised of:

• one regional representative from each Australian State and Territory
• two representatives from New Zealand botanic gardens, and
• a maximum of two members elected or appointed by the Capital-city Gardens.

BGANZ Council

BGANZ

• represents the interests of botanic gardens in Australia and New Zealand;
• promotes the interests and activities of Australian and New Zealand botanic gardens and botanic gardens generally, and
• enhances the state of botanic gardens for the benefit of the community.

Any organizations and individuals that support these objects and who comply with the rules governing membership are eligible for membership of BGANZ.

The aims of BGANZ include:

• providing a forum for information exchange and coordinated planning;
• fostering best-practice standards amongst Australian and New Zealand botanic gardens and other botanic gardens internationally;
• being an advocate for the interests of Australian and New Zealand botanic gardens;
• providing policy and legislative advice affecting botanic gardens;
• advocating plant conservation and fostering the plant sciences and social and cultural heritage programs;
• building and maintaining links with relevant national and international bodies.

BGANZ holds regular bi-annual national conferences, providing an excellent opportunity for members to hear national and international leaders in the field and to network and participate with others sharing an interest in botanic gardens.

The Botanic Garden an electronic newsletter for the Botanic Gardens of Australia and New Zealand, is published three times a year, in March, July and November.

Issues of concern addressed by BGANZ vary as current issues come to light and are discussed and examined.  Issues such as plant conservation will continue to be ever-present sources of concern and action for botanic gardens.  Australian and New Zealand botanic gardens are playing important roles in both national and international conservation, and their holdings of living and preserved plants and seeds are an immense biological resource of information on plant biodiversity.  The information sharing facilities provided by BGANZ for such issues have the potential to be of great benefit.

The often quoted statistic (Australian Bureau of Statistics surveys 1993-1995) that people visit botanic gardens more than any other cultural venues apart from cinemas, demonstrates the need for a body dedicated to representing the interests of these precious resources. 

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