Encore awards honour region's environmental champions
Greater Wellington Regional Council, the Wellington Hawke’s Bay Conservation Board and the Department of Conservation are joining forces to recognise and reward the groups, businesses and individuals going the extra mile for environmental restoration and conservation in the Wellington region
They are offering a combined environmental awards programme, Encore - recognising and rewarding commitment to the environment, conservation and restoration in the Wellington region. The awards are open to any group, individual or business in the Wellington region demonstrating a sustained commitment to a project with a positive environmental or conservation outcome.
“Greater Wellington is committed to working closely with DOC and the Wellington Hawke’s Bay Conservation Board to enhance environmental restoration and conservation in our region,” says Greater Wellington Regional Chair Fran Wilde.
“Many of the individuals and organisations we work with also work with DOC and it seems only fitting that we join forces to recognise their achievements.”
DOC’s Wellington Hawke’s Bay Conservator Alan McKenzie says the Encore Awards “will help encourage the growth of a larger community with a common interest in conservation”.
“This is a great opportunity to strengthen our close working relationship with Greater Wellington, and honour the work being done by the wider community to protect and enhance our natural environment and historic heritage.”
There are eight award categories:
- Community Partnerships Award – honouring the work of community groups and organisations on environmental restoration and conservation initiatives
- Community Leadership Award – honouring the leadership and vision of an individual working on environmental restoration and conservation initiatives
- Business Leadership Award – honouring those businesses reducing the impact of their own activities and making a positive contribution to environmental restoration and conservation
- Emerging Environmental Business Award – awarded to businesses who have recently begun work to reduce their environmental impact and make a contribution to environmental restoration and conservation
- Meridian School Sustainable Project Award – honouring projects led by school students that contribute to conservation, to improving the health of their environment and to promoting environmental education for sustainability in their school community
- Meridian School Environmental Leadership Award – awarded to individuals within schools (students, teachers and others) leading a school project or initiative that improves, conserves or protects the local or regional environment.
- Excellence in Compliance Award - acknowledges Greater Wellington* consent holders exceeding their compliance requirements to reduce or avoid adverse effects on the environment.
- Historic Heritage Award acknowledges groups and individuals engaged in the restoration or preservation of historic and cultural sites and features
Applications open today and close on Friday 20 August. For application forms, and information about each award category go to www.gw.govt.nz/encoreawards/
Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at Parliament in mid-November.
* The Excellence in Compliance Award is open only to individuals and organisations holding a resource consent with Greater Wellington.