Mother Earth Reward Finalists Announced

Media Release 9 September 2013

Mother Earth Reward Finalists Announced

Nine inspiring schools and Early Childhood Education Centres have today been announced as the finalists in this year’s Mother Earth Reward competition and online voting is now open for the People’s Choice Award.

Finalists were handpicked by Mother Earth and The Enviroschools Foundation from a large selection of projects promoting wholesome food and healthy eating to their families and community.

The finalists’ entries are currently under review by the expert panel of judges led by head judge and editor of Healthy Food Guide magazine, Niki Bezzant. Niki is joined by two new judges: Foodlovers.co.nz’s Helen Jackson and landscape designer Tony Murrell, co-hosts of Radio Live’s Home & Garden Show.

The judges will choose three overall winners, each receiving $2,500 cash, and for the very first time, a school will receive a prize for the Most Promising Entry Award. This is a new award for a school showing great promise but needing a little help to take their project to the next level. The winner will receive $1,500 along with a special visit from both Helen Jackson and Tony Murrell who will work with the school to develop the project to produce winning results.

The New Zealand public is encouraged to vote online at www.motherearth.co.nz/reward/peoples-choice/ for their favourite finalist to win the 2013 People’s Choice Award. The entrant with the most votes will receive a $500 cash prize.
Finalist entries include Katikati Kindergarten’s mission to create an edible walkway in a local park, Wairaraki Primary School’s aquaponics project in a decommissioned school swimming pool and a variety of thriving and sustainable school gardens helping to feed local communities.

Mother Earth Marketing Project Manager, Caroline Potter, is excited to see the standard and variety of entries received into this year’s competition.

“Each finalist has a clear vision of promoting healthy eating, and is passionate about creating a sustainable resource for communities to benefit from for years to come,” she says. “To see these schools’ visions becoming a reality is fantastic and we’re so pleased we will be able to help some continue with their projects.”

2013 Finalists
• Frankleigh Park Kindergarten ( New Plymouth)
• Hukanui Primary School (Hamilton)
• Katikati Kindergarten (Katikati)
• Lees Street Kindergarten (Invercargill)
• Naenae Primary School (Lower Hutt)
• Nelson South Kindergarten (Nelson)
• Te Puna Kindergarten (Tauranga)
• Wairakei Primary School (Taupo)
• Westport North School (Westport)

The five prize winning schools, including the winners of People’s Choice and Most Promising Entry Award will be announced on 23 September.

For more information visit www.motherearthreward.co.nz

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