Hawkes Bay Environmental Awards 2009 Open For Entries

The 2009 Hawke’s Bay Environmental Awards are open for entries from people involved in projects to enhance the environment and protect natural resources in the region. The closing date is 15 July.

“The awards are a great, rewarding and enjoyable process and we look forward each year to see what fresh ideas and great work people are involved in,” says Awards joint working group chairman, Napier City Councillor Dave Pipe.

This is the eighth year of the Hawke’s Bay Environmental Awards scheme which is supported jointly by Hastings District Council, Napier City Council and Hawke's Bay Regional Council. Councillors from each council plan the awards and judge the entries.

There are six categories in the awards this year, as two business categories have been merged. People can enter in individual/family, community (includes not for profit, marae, neighbourhoods), rural/primary production (includes lifestyle properties), environmental product/service, business environmental efficiency, and the Ede award (for the education sector).

The awards are open to projects and people from all over Hawke’s Bay and last year there were 29 entries from as far north as Lake Waikaremoana and as far south as Waipukurau.

An Award winner from last year, Garth Eyles, has recently received a Green Ribbon Award from the Minister for the Environment for his lifetime work in sustainable land use.

Entry forms and guidelines for entering are available on Hawke's Bay Regional Council’s website on www.hbrc.govt.nz, or contact the awards co-ordinators at Hastings District Council, Napier City Council or Hawke's Bay Regional Council.

The award ceremony will be held on 30 October, 7.30pm at Hawke’s Bay Opera House in Hastings. It is a fun, free, community event to which everyone is welcome.