Masterton residents Camlo Carter, Cruz Karaitiana and Donna Falloon talk about Masterton's place in the New Zealand's Most Beautiful City awards.

Masterton is in the running for an award as New Zealand's most beautiful city.

But as some in the Wairarapa town have been quick to point out, it is not a city, and is not widely famed for its beauty.

However, it has reached the finals of the Beautiful Awards in the Most Beautiful City category, alongside Tauranga and Napier.

GEOFF WALKER Henley Lake in Masterton. The town has reached the final of Keep NZ Beautiful's most beautiful city award.

The awards are run by Keep New Zealand Beautiful and seek to reward "positive actions taken by communities".

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Masterton was nominated largely on the strength of its community projects, including Henley Lake and the development project around First St.

Mayor Lyn Patterson pronounced "really, really pleased". "A lot of credit goes towards community organisations, because the awards are about acknowledging what communities do to enhance [the area]."

Facebook comments on the achievement have been rather more mixed.

"What do I think? I think you have to be bloody joking," Sue Haworth posted on the Wairarapa News Facebook page.

JACK BARLOW/STUFF Masterton's Queen Elizabeth Park in late autumn.

"Have all the other cities in NZ been blown up and Masterton is the only one left?" Julia Peters asked.

Many noted Masterton was seldom praised for its beauty. Few also call it a city, despite a population of just over 21,000.

Others praised its parks and surrounding countryside, if not Masterton itself.

PIERS FULLER/STUFF Queen St, which is Masterton's central hub.

"It's a great place to live, but most beautiful, sad to say, no," Graeme Burnard said.

Judging criteria for the awards include categories such as community beautification, environmental action and heritage conservation. Masterton District Council's awards submission included a video, produced by Wairarapa TV.

Previous winners in the towns and cities category include Feilding, Hastings and Waikanae.



Elsewhere in Wairarapa, Greytown has been named as a finalist in the Most Beautiful Small Town category.

The winner will be announced on October 13.