Encore Awards – open for applications

Are you improving and restoring our region’s rivers, lakes, wetlands, dunes and coasts, and protecting and enhancing our history for future generations?

Maybe you are developing, maintaining and promoting outdoor recreation facilities, or you’re a business or resource consent holder going the extra mile to reduce the impact of your activities?

Applications are now open for the 2011 Encore Awards, which honour individuals, community groups, businesses, schools and landowners whose sustained commitment to environmental restoration, nature and conservation is making the region a better place to live.

The awards are a partnership between Greater Wellington Regional Council, the Department of Conservation’s (DOC) Wellington Hawke’s Bay Conservancy and the Wellington Hawke's Bay Conservation Board.

“Once again we are pleased to partner with the DOC and the conservation board to offer these awards, and for the support of Meridian Energy and the Historic Places Trust,” Greater Wellington Environment Wellbeing Committee chairperson Barbara Donaldson says.

“There are many people in our region going the extra mile to protect and improve the natural environment and the awards are our opportunity to show our appreciation for their efforts,” Cr Donaldson says.

“They also highlight what’s being done by so many in our community to ensure that the past is not forgotten, and entice people outdoors to appreciate nature,” says Wellington Hawke’s Bay Conservation Board chair Helen Algar.

“Leading by example, they encourage us all to look after our natural environment, to get from it the benefits we need for our health and well-being and our prosperity,”DOC’s Wellington Hawke’s Bay conservator Alan McKenzie adds.

This year there are three new award categories to honour groups or individuals developing, maintaining and promoting outdoor recreation facilities, landowners protecting and restoring biodiversity on their land, and businesses and individuals preventing pollution, and reducing their environmental impact.

Applications close on Friday 26 August. Click for more information, email encore@doc.govt.nz or phone 04 830 4270

The award categories

• Community Partnerships Award - honouring community groups and organisations on environmental restoration and conservation initiatives.
• Kaitiaki Award – honouring the sustained and significant work of individuals for the environment or in the conservation of native plants, animals or threatened ecosystems.
• Restoring the Mauri Award - honouring individuals and community groups working on public land who are making a significant contribution to the biodiversity of the region through conservation of native plants, animals or their ecosystems.
• Landowners’ Conservation Award - acknowledges the work of private landowners committed to protecting and restoring biodiversity on their land through efforts such as pest control, riparian planting and covenanting.
• Recreation Volunteers Award - acknowledging volunteer groups or individuals developing, maintaining and promoting outdoor recreation facilities to enhance people’s enjoyment and appreciation of the Wellington region’s natural environment
• Meridian School Sustainable Project Award – honouring projects led by school students that contribute to conservation, improving the health of their environment and promoting environmental education for sustainability in their school community. Sponsored by Meridian Energy
• Meridian School Environmental Leadership Award – acknowledging individuals within schools (students, teachers and others) leading a school project or initiative that improves, conserves or protects the local or regional environment. Sponsored by Meridian Energy
• Excellence in Compliance Award - recognising Greater Wellington consent holders exceeding their compliance requirements to reduce or avoid adverse effects on the environment.
• Environmental Protection Award – recognising businesses and individuals preventing pollution, reducing their environmental impact and making a contribution to environmental restoration and conservation.
• New Zealand Historic Places Trust Heritage Award - acknowledging groups and individuals protecting and enhancing the Wellington region’s historic heritage. There are two categories: non-profit and government/corporate. Sponsored by the Historic Places Trust