2024 Environment Southland Community Awards
Environmental Action in Biodiversity and Biosecurity
Sponsored by ILT
Winner: Aparima River Restoration Project
The Aparima River Restoration Project aims to improve biodiversity and ecologically restore a corridor of the Aparima River, near Wrey’s Bush.
Headed up by Grant McGregor and Clement Lagrue, extensive trapping has allowed the establishment of breeding sites for bird species such as endangered black-billed gulls, black-fronted terns and banded dotterels.
Read more about our winner and finalists, here.
Hear from Grant McGregor in the Aparima River Restoration Project's finalists' video here.
Environmental Leadership and Innovation in Business
Sponsored by AON
Winner: Kiwi Skips
Waste management company Kiwi Skips has grown from humble and challenging beginnings into one of the most prominent businesses in its sector in the southern region.
Kiwi Skips’ waste management uses technology to divert large amounts of the waste it collects from landfill.
Environmental Leadership and Innovation in Business
Sponsored by AON
Highly Commended: Fonterra
Fonterra’s Evaporator Condensate Recovery Project was initiated to improve the sustainability of its Edendale site by increasing water recovery from its evaporator condensate.
The retrofitting of water efficient equipment on its milk powder driers has resulted in significant reduction in the plant's stormwater discharge and take from the local aquifer.
Environmental Action in the Community
Sponsored by WM Environmental
Winner: Otatara Landcare Group
The Otatara Landcare Group is a 200-strong community organisation that has worked on a wide range of environmentally focused projects.
Fostering strong relationships with Otatara residents and landowners is at the heart of the group's work to enhance natural areas and undertake weed and pest control.
Hear form the Otatara Landcare Group in their finalists' video.
Environmental Action in the Community
Sponsored by WM Environmental
Highly Commended: Makarewa Headwaters Catchment Group
The Makarewa Headwaters Catchment have pests in their sites are they aim to restore and enhance water quality and biodiversity in their region.
The catchment group are tackling the issue head on through the Makarewa Headwaters Revival Project, which addresses feral ungulates causing significant damage and preventing the regeneration of native plant species in surrounding bush, causing significant erosion issues impacting water quality as well as impacting farm production.
Hear from the Makarewa Catchment Group in their finalists' video here.
Environmental Action in Education
Sponsored by Fonterra
Winner: Heddon Bush School
Heddon Bush School students are kaitiaki of an area of remnant ancient floodplain forest known as ‘The Donut'.
Students have been restoring and looking after this QEII covenanted space located near their school for the past 10 years, with the school’s ultimate goal is to restore it back to its original condition.
Read more about our winner and finalists, here.
Hear from Heddon Bush School in their finalists' video here.
Environmental Leadership in Farming
Sponsored by Wynn Williams
Winner: Blair & Jody Drysdale
Blair & Jody Drysdale of Drylands Farming run a predominantly arable and livestock operation, focusing heavily on plant nutrient levels and inputs, making both productivity and environmental gains along the way.
Adding to the diversity of their business, the Drysdales have also had good success in establishing Hopefield Hemp which sells a range products made from hemp grown on the couple's farm.
Individual Environmental Leadership or Action
Sponsored by ANZ
Winner: Shona Sangster
Shona’s leadership and passion is driving strong environmental outcomes for one of Murihiku Southland’s spectacular destinations in Rakiura Steward Island.
Shona is the chair of the Stewart Island Rakiura Environmental Trust that has initiated many outstanding environmental projects to protect and enhance the island’s rare environment and ecosystems through pest and weed control and native planting.
Environmental Action in Water Quality Improvement
Sponsored by Fish & Game, Southland
Winner: Balfour Catchment Group
The Balfour Catchment Group are taking an impressive, united approach to addressing water quality in its catchment.
The group has buy-in from all 16 farms in its Targeted Solutions to Balfour's Environmental Challenges Project, indicating how much locals are getting behind the drive to maintain and improve water quality in their area.
Read more about our winner and finalists, here.
Hear from the Balfour Catchment Group in their finalists' video here.
Councillors’ Award
Winner: The Department of Conservation Pukunui Southern NZ Dotterel Recovery Team
The Department of Conservation Pukunui Southern NZ Dotterel Recovery Team is working to prevent the further decline of a unique wading bird at threat of extinction.
The team traverses Rakiura Stewart Island to contain threats from predators, with feral cats posing a huge threat to Pukunui and their breeding sites.
Kaitiaki Tohu Pou Award
Winner: Alan Watson
Invercargill and the wider Murihiku Southland community lost a passionate and driven environmental advocate following the passing of Alan Watson.
Driven a desire to leave a better environment for the next generation, Alan was involved in numerous community groups and projects, particularly in the area of water quality.
Read more about Alan's work here.
Hear from Alan's daughter Natalie Rosel in Alan's finalists' video here.
