5 June 2003 Media Statement

New Zealand Goes Green In Record Numbers

New Zealander’s commitment to the environment has been highlighted by a record number of entries for this year’s Green Ribbon Awards.

"We've received more than 200 nominations for the awards this year and this reflects the hard work the community is putting in for the environment," Environment Minister Marian Hobbs said.

"People like the Green Ribbon winners are critical in changing community attitudes and behaviours to the environment. The government has a role such as through the Water Programme of Action and through partnerships as in the Clean Streams Accord. But it's people like these who make the difference on the ground day after day.

"The work these people do is often hard, time-consuming and unrewarded. Yet it is vital to improving the quality of our environment.

"All the winners and nominees for these awards are doing their bit and are providing leadership in their communities, inspiring others to follow," Marian Hobbs said.

The 2003 Green Ribbon Award winners are:

Caring for the rural environment (joint winners)
- The Pohutukawa Trust for rehabilitation of the flora and fauna of Kawau Island and John and Janet Somerville of Ohuka, near Wairoa in the Hawkes Bay for conservation and native restoration since the 1960s.

Caring for the urban environment
- Mabel Pollock for transforming seven and a half acres of an illegal dump on Navy-owned land into a native forest, the Mary Barrett Glade, in Devonport, Auckland.

Caring for our biodiversity
- The Windy Hill Rosalie Bay Catchment Trust, Great Barrier Island, for creating a sanctuary on the island, including removal of pest species without poisons, job creation and the reintroduction of species.

Raising awareness of environmental issues (joint winners)
- The Chinese Conservation Education Trust for bringing an environmental message to a community new to New Zealand, including organising tree planting, beach clean-ups, a web site and newsletter. And the Kaipatiki Ecological Restoration Project, Glenfield, Auckland for success in coordinating community involvement in the restoration of Kaipatiki Steam and its native forest margin.

Business caring for the Environment
- Fulton Hogan Ltd for environmental improvements and rehabilitation of the Renwick Quarry, near Blenheim. Project Manukau at Mangere, Auckland, is Highly Commended for its new waste-water treatment plant and restoration of former treatment ponds, while the Creeksyde Holiday Park, Queenstown, is highly commended for its ongoing commitment to run an environmentally friendly business.

State of the environment reporting
- The Rotorua District Council for having a strong environmental indicator focus including the use of nationally recognised environmental performance indicators as well as ones developed to suit local circumstances and issues.

Kids who care
- Vauxhall Primary School, Devonport, Auckland, for the Travelwise to School programme started in Feb 2002 and was the first of its kind in New Zealand. The programme aims to address congestion at the school gate and encourage alternative transport systems.

Special Award: International Year of Freshwater (joint winners)
- BOC Limited for the Where There’s Water Community Environmental Grants, funding the community to understand, maintain, protect and improve their water environment. Taieri Trust for its unique and highly effective approach to catchment management in New Zealand, and for bringing its community together to work on water quality. Waitakere Hospital is highly commended for its stormwater project.

In the past 13 years, 46 individuals, businesses, voluntary organisations, schools and councils from all over New Zealand have been honoured with Green Ribbon Awards. This year’s winners bring the number to 59.

ENDS

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