Nominations galore for new awards

More than 90 nominations have been lodged for the Northland Regional Council’s inaugural Environmental Awards 2019, designed to recognise people and organisations working hard to protect and enhance the region’s environment.

Thirty-nine of the 93 nominees have been named as finalists in eight categories.

The winners will be named at a ceremony in Whanga¯rei on May 23.

Council deputy chairman David Sinclair said the award categories covered a broad range of environmental enhancement projects and activities, while a supreme award would also be presented.

“The finalists represent a real crosssection from right across the region, including individuals, groups and community group leaders, iwi, farmers, forestry and schools,” he said, adding that a lot of work had been done by a fourstrong panel of internal staff and external experts to review all 93 nominations, which had included a raft of supporting information, photos and videos.

The council had hoped for several dozen entries, and to receive just a few short of 100 in the awards’ first year was a remarkable achievement, and a credit to all those involved, nominees and organisers alike.

“Essentially the awards are about recognising and celebrating kaitiakitanga in action, and a chance to highlight the ‘can-do’ attitudes and remarkable contributions large numbers of Northlanders from all walks of life are making to help our environment thrive,” Cr Sinclair said.

He hoped the awards would be an annual event, and was looking forward to seeing the number of entries showcasing all that was happening in Northland increase even further in the years to come.