Hawkes Bay Environmental Awards Judging Underway

The Hawke’s Bay Environmental Awards 2009 judging has begun and judges will look at the 13 entries received from people and environmental projects around the region.

Entries this year include home-based environmental education, bush enhancement, school projects, and building developments, and there are entries in all 6 categories – individual/family, business, product/service, rural, community and environmental education.

“It’s always a positive experience to see the work that people are doing in and for our environment, and it’s great that they are proud to stand up and be considered for their achievements. We look forward to meeting the people involved and find out how they are making a difference to our environment,” said Napier City Councillor, Dave Pipe who chairs the combined councils awards working group.

The judges are Hastings Councillors Rod Heaps and Robert Burnside, Hawke’s Bay Regional Councillors Liz Remmerswaal and Ewan McGregor, and Napier City Councillors Keith Price and Dave Pipe. These Councillors are on the combined councils working group for the awards which manages the award scheme each year.

The winners will be announced at the Hawke’s Bay Environmental Awards ceremony which is a free, community event at 7.30pm, Friday 30 October at the HB Opera House in Hastings. The winners will receive a sandstone and glass trophy created by artist Julia Godfree of Havelock North and a cash award to extend their project.

Susan Krumdieck will be the motivating guest presenter of the awards this year. She is a leading speaker on climate change and environmental action and a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Canterbury. Dr Krumdieck will also be speaking and taking workshops with business and education groups while she is in Hawke’s Bay.