Hamilton City (New Zealand) has less than 20 hectares of high-quality, indigenous species dominated ecosystems, and only 1.6% of the original indigenous vegetation remains within the ecological district. A gradual recognition of the magnitude of landscape transformation has gathered momentum to the stage that there is now a concerted public and private effort to retrofit the City by restoring and reconstructing indigenous ecosystems. The initial focus was on rehabilitating existing key sites, but has shifted to restoring parts of the distinctive gully landform that occupies some 750 ha or 8% of the City. A new initiative at Waiwhakareke (Horseshoe Lake) will involve reconstruction from scratch of a range of ecosystems characteristic of the ecological district over an area of 60 ha. This address will examine a vision for ecological restoration in Hamilton City within the context of policy, education, and community dimensions that have triggered a shift from traditional parks and gardens management to ecosystem management.