New awards recognise community’s environmental work

Northlanders are being invited to enter new local authority awards recognising the people and organisations working hard to protect and enhance the region’s environment.

Deputy Chairman David Sinclair says nominations for the Northland Regional Council’s inaugural ‘Environmental Awards 2019’ opened Thursday, 28 February and run until 5pm Sunday 31 March.

“It’s a chance to highlight the ‘can-do’ attitudes and remarkable contributions Northlanders are making to help our environment thrive – and which we think deserves to be celebrated. Essentially, the awards are about recognising and celebrating kaitiakitanga in action.”

Deputy Chairman David Sinclair…new regional council awards ‘chance to highlight Northlanders’ remarkable environmental contributions’.

Councillor Sinclair says caring for Northland’s many communities and unique environment is a massive job and one the council simply can’t do by itself.

“Fortunately, all over Taitokerau we’ve got vast numbers of committed individuals, groups, schools, tangata whenua and businesses collectively aiming to make a real difference.”

Examples include efforts to get rid of pests and help native life flourish, others planting waterways and wetlands and those implementing soil conservation practices to improve the way land is managed.”

Councillor Sinclair says the awards will feature eight categories to cover a broad range of environmental enhancement projects and activities, with a ninth ‘Supreme Award’ presented to the most outstanding entry.

The award categories cover environmental action in:

- the community
- pest management
- education
- water quality improvement
- industry
- leadership
- innovation
- kaitiakitanga

Entrants can include individuals, community groups, schools, tangata whenua, businesses and leaders and projects/activities/contributions must be located within Northland and demonstrate significant benefit to the region’s environment.

Councillor Sinclair says the council has tried to make the on-line entry and nomination process as simple and easy as possible via: www.nrc.govt.nz/environmentalwards

Further information is also available from the council’s Marketing and Engagement Team [email protected] or freephone (0800) 002 004.

“It’s free to enter and you can submit yourself, or put forward a nomination for someone else with their approval. Judging will take place from 01-12 April and finalists will be announced on Monday 29 April.”

Finalists will receive a certificate and tickets to an official awards ceremony function in Whangarei on Thursday 23 May, and inclusion in the awards and associated communications.

“Award winners in each category will receive a $1000 cash prize and trophy and the Supreme Award winner will receive an additional trophy they can hold for one year.”

A public field day will also be held later this year for winners to share their knowledge and experience and showcase their work with the rest of the community.