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ABOUT US


Get Outside is a small, dynamic team of landscape architects who design quality outdoor spaces uniquely tailored to fit our clients needs and inspired by the natural environment. We specialise in creating exciting, nature-rich play and learning environments for all ages and abilities. Along with local councils and private clients, we have worked with over 400 schools and early childhood centres across New Zealand. With over 30 years of landscape design experience under our belts, we pride ourselves in offering a professional and personal service to achieve spaces that are both wonder-filled and functional.

Since being established in 2004, Get Outside has received recognition and awards for several design projects for children including the “Zero Waste Future” Experience Trail at the Waitakere Transfer Station, the Rangitoto College Tranquil Garden, the Mt Eden Kindergarten Play Space, and the Potter Children’s Garden at the Auckland Botanic Gardens. You can read more about these projects, here.


MEET THE TEAM:









Jill Rice
Principal Landscape Architect, Founder & Director

Jill Rice is an experienced landscape architect and passionate play advocate who has been developing creative, nature-rich environments to support outdoor learning throughout Aotearoa for nearly 30 years. These projects include large scale parks and reserves, residential gardens, kindergarten play environments, primary and high school outdoor learning spaces and many others. Jill is a people person who thrives on stakeholder engagement and collaboration in her designs, as well as coordination with multidisciplinary project implementation teams.

Jill understands that children need play spaces and opportunities that are child-scale and age/ability-appropriate, and that like all of us, children respond to beauty and good design. A firm believer in the Reggio Emilia concept that “the environment is the third teacher”, Jill is inspired to create children’s spaces that are less about entertainment and more about engagement with nature, with people and with place.

Jill is co-chair of the Garden Design Society NZ Accreditation Board and former chair of Play Aotearoa, the New Zealand branch of IPA World, serving as the establishment Executive Officer from 2020-2022. For 10 years Jill was a landscape design lecturer and tutor at Unitec and is a long-term member of both the NZ Institute of Landscape Architects and Recreation Aotearoa.

Jill can be contacted by email jill@getoutside.co.nz, or phone Jill on +64 211825002


MEMBERSHIP:





Play Aotearoa (IPA NZ) – member since 2013, former chair and Executive Officer, founding member of National Committee, conference presenter, advocating for the fundamental rights of children everywhere to play in quality environments 
Website - https://Play Aotearoaplayaotearoa.org.nz/

Member since 2013, promoting the child's right to play
Website - https://ipaworld.org/



NZILA – graduate member since 1998, former member of Auckland Branch committee, promoting the role of landscape architecture in the thoughtful and professional design of the outdoor spaces in which we live, previous member of Auckland branch committee. 
Website - nzila.co.nz



GDSNZ -  Accredited member, co-chair of Accreditation Board, long-serving National Committee member and chairperson 2015-2017, promoting quality and professional service in the field of garden design.  Click here for profile.






Early Childhood Outdoor Environment Reference Group, MIT – long-serving member advocating for optimal outdoor play environments for children through numerous presentations, contributions to publications and administration of active Facebook group. Facebook page here.




UNITEC – part-time lecturer 2000-2010 in Landscape Design Diploma, regular presenter in Short course re Children’s Environments, recipient of scholarship to pursue study in Masters of Landscape Architecture programme, current student of Te Reo in Kura Po. Website - www.unitec.ac.nz






NZRA - member since 2017, conference presenter, championing high quality active recreation in New Zealand





NZ School Trustees Association – previous elected member of establishment Board of Trustees for Kohia Terrace School, previous elected member of Mairangi Bay School Board of Trustees, responsible for school property portfolio, conference speaker and recipient of Lockwood Crombie award for further study related to School Outdoor Environments in 2000. Website - www.nzsta.org.nz