Winners of Taranaki Regional Council Environmental Awards announced

A food rescue charity that reduces CO2 emissions, vital mahi to improve fish passages, tireless voluntary work controlling pest animals and plants, and long-term efforts by farmers to restore waterways have all been recognised at this year's Taranaki Regional Council Environmental Awards.

In an awards ceremony held in New Plymouth on Wednesday, the eight winners and five highly commended recipients were acknowledged for their inspirational work in safeguarding biodiversity, protecting the environment and promoting sustainability.

Taranaki Regional Council chairperson Charlotte Littlewood said the awards were an excellent way of thanking the unsung heroes who were leading by example and giving so much back to their communities and the region through their work.

"It's always one of the highlights of the year to see who has won an award and to find out about their mahi and how that is making a difference to Taranaki," said Littlewood.

"And this fantastic work is being done across the generations and by people from all walks of life. Their efforts to keep our place special are truly inspirational and we're delighted to be able to recognise what they've been doing with an environmental award.

"Our mission is to care for Taranaki and it's pleasing to see many others share our passion for preserving our environment and ensuring we're all working together to make the region a better place to live and work."

Environmental action in education: Uruti School. For empowering tamariki to take action to protect and restore the environment.

The school has been instrumental in providing environmental learning opportunities for its tamariki including predator trapping, planting trees, caring for the Uruti awa, investigating freshwater quality and implementing sustainable practices in the day to day operations of the school. The kura works alongside Ngāti Mutunga in a Curious Minds project looking at koura in the local river and is a Silver Enviroschool.

Environmental action in the community: East Taranaki Environment Collective and Pukerangiora Hapū. For working collaboratively to protect and enhance the environment at Everett Park Scenic Reserve and increasing understanding of environmental issues.

The East Taranaki Environment Collective, in partnership with Pukerangiora Hapū, are working together to improve the biodiversity within the Everett Park Scenic Reserve near Inglewood. Collaborating with the Department of Conservation since 2022, a major pest eradication programme has included installing 300 traps with monitoring showing a dramatic reduction in possum and rat numbers.

Environmental leadership in climate action: On The House Charitable Trust. For taking climate change action by redistributing surplus food, preventing emissions and conserving water while taking a holistic approach to sustainability.

The Trust is a community food rescue organisation which redistributes surplus food to those who need it. In just one year, more than 200,000kg of surplus food was rescued from supermarkets, growers, cafes and caterers, preventing 630,000kg of CO2 emissions and saving 133.5 million litres of water. Food is redistributed through pop-up stores and community organisations including food banks, schools and kindergartens.

Environmental action in water quality improvement: Otaraua Hapū Taiao team. For taking action to protect and enhance water quality and biodiversity values within Taranaki water bodies.

Otaraua Hapū Taiao team's dedication and commitment to improving fish passages in Taranaki streams is helping to identify and address issues affecting these vital ecological corridors. The group's Mauri Wai team has been working with NIWA over the past two years to assess more than 2000 fish passages along state highways and waterways in Waitara.

Youth environmental leader: Addison Moore. For leadership, support of others and willingness to share ideas in making a significant contribution to Taranaki's environment.

Addison is the driving force behind Stratford Primary School's Tuis environmental team, developing ways to promote environmental learning and sustainability for tamariki. She's working for the Green-Gold Enviroschool to go Zero Waste and every Friday delivers an environmental message to the school assembly.

Environmental leadership in farming: Malcolm and Lorraine Campbell of Araheke Farm. For leadership and excellence in environmental stewardship, sustainable farming and land use practices.

The Campbells have been at the forefront of stream restoration and creating habitat for biodiversity for the past 18 years. That work has achieved outstanding results and includes stock exclusion and planting of waterways and wetlands, fencing and restoring a remnant forest, pest control, the use of sustainable farm practices and taking a catchment approach to farming and biodiversity.

Environmental action in biodiversity: Restore PG Nops Reserve Care Group. For commitment to supporting pest management and protecting biodiversity in Taranaki.

The PG Nops Reserve in Inglewood is being restored thanks to the mahi of the volunteers, who maintain the Key Native Ecosystem, control predators and are working to turn the tide of invasive pest plants. The Care Group collaborates with Taranaki Regional and New Plymouth District councils to preserve the remnant forest and its efforts are helping to protect copper skink, tūī, kererū, ruru, koura and tuna.

Highly commended

Environmental action in education: Stratford Primary School, with special mention to Marlene Lewis. For empowering tamariki to take action to protect and restore the environment.

Environmental action in education: Tree Machine. For empowering rangatahi to take action to protect and restore the environment.

Youth environmental leaders: Scarlett Bines and Amélie Staunstrup Moore of The Aqua Quack. For leadership, support of others and willingness to share ideas in making a significant contribution to Taranaki's environment.

Environmental leadership in farming: Nigel and Raewyn Chapman of NRGE Farms. For excellence in environmental stewardship, sustainable farming and land use practices.

Environmental leadership in farming: Kieren and Ngaire Faull - For excellence in environmental stewardship, sustainable farming and land use practices.