Environment Award Winners Inspire

Southland’s environmental champions were honoured at the fifteenth Southland Environment Awards held in Invercargill tonight (Wednesday 21 July).

A record audience of over 300 people turned out to celebrate the achievements of a diverse range of nominees from all over the region. 

The awards are organised by Environment Southland to recognise the good work being done – often behind the scenes and voluntarily – by a multitude of people who are committed to conserving and enhancing the region’s natural resources.

The winners were:

School (sponsored by WasteNet and Milligan Nurseries): Otama School – for monitoring and enhancing water quality, and spreading their knowledge to other schools. Highly commended – Myross Bush School.

Community Group (sponsored by NZAS): Toi Tois Lions Club – for restoring the Waipohatu Waterfall Track. Highly commended – Bluff Hill / Motupohue Environment Trust.

Farming (sponsored by AWS Legal): Lynmore Farm – for integrating environmental values into a high production farm.

Environmental Innovator (sponsored by the Invercargill Licensing Trust): Milford Development Agency – for building a hydro electric power scheme to replace diesel generators at Knobs Flat. Highly Commended – Clean, Green Effluent Co.

Commercial (sponsored by Landcorp Farming Ltd): Biofiltro Farm – for their innovative worm-based effluent treatment system. Highly Commended – the Anchorage Motel and the Ascot Park Hotel.

Special Award (sponsored by Environment Southland Councillors): Wayne Webb – for his exemplary farm management and dedication to the environment.

Environmental Achiever (sponsored by Real Journeys): Johan Groters and Joyce Kolk of Wairaurahiri Jet, for their work trapping stoats to protect native birds and their positive influence on others. Highly commended – Allan McPherson and John Tait.

Environment Southland Staff Award (sponsored by Lindsay McKenzie): Gary Morgan, for his positive influence in the rural community.

Individual Award (sponsored by Forsyth Barr): Fred Inder – for a lifetime of commitment to the environment and his efforts to improve water quality. Highly commended – James Pirie.