Environment Southland Community Awards Winners

Southlanders caring for our unique species and taking action in their businesses and on farms, with the environment at heart, were among those acknowledged at this evening’s 28th Environment Southland Community Awards.

The awards provide a vital platform for environmental leaders throughout Southland to be celebrated and for their stories to be told.

Environment Southland chairman Nicol Horrell said he and his fellow councillors are proud to acknowledge and celebrate outstanding environmental achievements and the people driving them.

“This is my seventeenth awards and I can’t help but reflect on the power of positive action. Each year a new group of environmental leaders uplift, empower, and encourage so many others to do more. Their stories are amazing and inspiring, and their mahi benefits not only us, but those who come after us, too.”

There are seven award categories, providing a wide range of environmental achievements to be recognised and celebrated. Winners receive sponsored cash prizes and trophies.

Winners of the 2024 Environment Southland Community Awards:

Environmental Action in Biodiversity and Biosecurity
Sponsored by Invercargill Licensing Trust
Winner: Aparima River Restoration Project

Environmental Leadership and Innovation in Business
Sponsored by Aon New Zealand
Winner: Kiwi Skips
Highly Commended: Fonterra Edendale

Environmental Action in the Community
Sponsored by WM Environmental
Winner: Otatara Landcare Group
Highly Commended: Makarewa Headwaters Catchment Group

Environmental Action in Education
Sponsored by Fonterra
Winner: Heddon Bush School

Environmental Leadership in Farming
Sponsored by Wynn Williams
Winner: Blair & Jody Drysdale

Individual Environmental Leadership or Action
Sponsored by ANZ
Winner: Shona Sangster

Environmental Action in Water Quality Improvement
Sponsored by Southland Fish & Game
Winner: Balfour Catchment Group

Councillors’ Award
Winner: The Department of Conservation Pukunui Southern NZ Dotterel Recovery Team

Kaitiaki Tohu Pai Award
Winner: Alan Watson (posthumous)
Celebrated with, and presented to, his daughter Natalie Rosel for Alan’s tireless work with Sunrise Rotary to raise public awareness about what goes down stormwater drains ends up in our streams, rivers, and estuaries.