From saving kiwi to wool filters
Restoring the Waiwhakaiho River, zero waste gigs, wool water filters and stopping the decline in kiwi numbers are among the achievements of this year’s Taranaki Regional Council Environmental Award winners.
In a ceremony held in New Plymouth last night, 19 groups, companies and individuals were congratulated for leading by example with their efforts to be more sustainable and protect natural resources.
Among the winners was Taranaki Kōhanga Kiwi at Rotokare (TKKR) for outstanding advocacy and efforts to protect and restore western brown kiwi populations.
TKKR – a partnership between the Taranaki Kiwi Trust and the Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust, was set up to help stop the decline in North Island western brown kiwi numbers.
The organisation established a kiwi nursery at the predator-proof fenced Rotokare Scenic Reserve in 2012 with the goal of building a sustainable population to populate other sites helping restore viable, genetically diverse populations of kiwi in Taranaki.
There are now more than 200 kiwi at the nursery and kiwi have been released to the Totara Block in Mangamingi, as well as Taranaki Maunga, the Kaitake Range and a kiwi nursery in the Waikato.
Waitara High School head student Nicola Stanton received an award for finding real-world solutions to environmental problems.
Stanton turned wool into water filters to stop fat and oil from clogging up the school’s wastewater systems, and is working with her sister Jessica to apply for funding to expand the project so more people can use the wool filters.
She also volunteers for the Taranaki Kiwi Trust and a project by Nicola tracking pests and counting native birds has helped improve the areas she has investigated.
The awards are pivotal in recognising those who are groundbreaking in their efforts to build sustainable communities, reduce carbon emissions, improve native biodiversity and protect wetlands and other native habitat, TRC chairperson Charlotte Littlewood said.
‘‘There are thousands of people all over Taranaki doing incredible mahi to protect and enhance our environment. While none of them do it for the recognition, they all deserve our thanks,’’ Littlewood said.
‘‘It was an absolute privilege to hear the stories of this year’s winners. I hope they inspire others to think about how they too can live and work more sustainably.’’
The awards were broken down into five categories.
Environmental action in education awards were given to Matapu Preschool, Spotswood College, Green School, Waitoriki School and Stanton.
Robin and Jacqueline Blackwell, Mat and Vanessa Vujcich, Mark and Rob Hooper and the Airport Farm Trust received environmental leadership in land management awards.
Todd Energy and Webster Energy Services received environmental leadership in business awards.
Environmental leadership in dairy farming awards went to Tony and Lorraine Lash, Brent and Deborah Rawlinson, and Damian, Jane and Jack Roper.
Sustainable Taranaki, Jacob Waterman, TKKR, Ka whakaaraara te tangata, ka whakaora te wai, ka whakahoki te taonga, and Brian Gasson received awards for environmental action in the community.