Hon Amy Adams
Minister for the Environment

05 July, 2012

Media statement

Government gives $1.5 million for environmental initiatives

Environment Minister Amy Adams has announced that the Government is providing $1.5 million to 16 community groups to help them improve the environment, under the latest round of the Community Environment Fund.

The fund helps New Zealanders who are passionate about the environment take action to address local issues.

The $1.5 million will help improve fish stocks, restore wetlands, implement pest control operations, reduce sediment and nutrient going into waterways, create a habitat sanctuary and establish community vegetable gardens and composting facilities.

"The range of work that will be undertaken to enhance our environment is impressive, and I am pleased the Government is able to reward passion and initiative through this fund," Ms Adams says.

Recipients include the Conscious Consumers programme run by the 42collective The group will use $70,000 to encourage cafes, restaurants, bars and their suppliers to use environmentally-sustainable business practices, such as composting and recycling.

The Piha wetland restoration project receives $50,000 to restore a wetland area and create an outdoor classroom for Auckland's school students.

Students will help the restoration by planting flax and native plants, while learning to identify and study the plants in the wetland.

The Bay of Islands Maritime Park Incorporated Society will use $80,000 to reduce sediment and nutrient input to Bay of Islands waterways to restore functional freshwater, marine ecosystems and natural biodiversity. It will also educate, encourage and support landowner and community initiatives and advocate for integrated catchment management within the Bay.

The Habitat Restoration at Tawharanui Open Sanctuary project will restore coastal forest and swamp forest wetland vegetation at Tawharanui Regional Park. The project will establish 6.5 hectares of coastal pohutukawa and coastal broadleaf and swamp forest to increase the habitat for re-introduced species and strengthen the links between existing native forest and wetland areas. It will also improve the quality of wetland environments and protect water quality by removing stock access to coastal and valley environments and provide opportunities for community involvement and education in the sanctuary.

Ms Adams has also announced that the next funding round for the Community Environment Fund has now opened.

“This is a fantastic fund and the Government is keen to support smart initiatives that encourage local communities to think about their impact on the environment and help make a positive difference. I encourage groups with great ideas to talk to the Environment Ministry about whether their project is eligible for funding.”

For more information about applying to the Community Environment Fund visit http://www.mfe.govt.nz/withyou/funding/community-environment-fund/

Media contact: Nathan Beaumont 021 243 8412

Community Environment Fund recipients are:

Applicant: University of Otago
Region: Otago
Funding: $159,520

The New Zealand Marine Studies Centre, University of Otago will develop tools and resources to allow communities to effectively monitor the marine environment and raise awareness of the importance of marine biodiversity. The New Zealand Marine Studies Centre is the public face of marine science in Dunedin and interacts with all levels of the community through its hands-on educational programmes. Long term, the project aims to improve collaboration which will lead to improved coastal management in the Otago region and nationally.

Applicant: Wesley Wellington Mission
Region: Porirua
Funding: $75,000

The Porirua community pantry project will work with those who access the existing Porirua-based food bank and other members of the local community who have been struggling with food availability and food costs. The project aims to make people more self-reliant and aware of environmental issues relating to food production through the establishment of community and neighbourhood gardens, composting, healthy food-purchasing options and smarter cooking options. Long term, this project will reduce reliance on food banks and make affordable food more readily available to the Porirua community.

Applicant: Central Otago Rural Education Activities Programme
Region: Central Otago
Funding: $55,000

The Central Otago Rural Education Activities Programme, a community education charity, will identify and connect people wishing to learn about or take action to protect the environment. The activities will take place to coincide with other local, national or global actions such as Earth Hour or World Environment Day to educate other members of the community and improve environmental awareness and behaviours at a local level. The planning group’s success at addressing local challenges with local action, involving local people and recognising shared local skills, knowledge, experience and resources, is a concept that could be replicated in any community in New Zealand.

Applicant: The Urban Ecoliving Charitable Trust
Region: Auckland
Funding: $100,000

The Tread Lightly Caravan will engage with Auckland children, their families, schools and community groups to inspire them to live more sustainably and understand the consequences of their everyday urban lives. The project aims to raise awareness and provide education on New Zealand’s non-sustainable lifestyles and how we can all make small changes to create a positive difference. The Auckland Tread Lightly Caravan is a local educational resource which has the potential to be implemented nationally in the future.

Applicant: Bay of Islands Maritime Park Incorporated Society
Region: Bay of Islands, Northland
Funding: $80,471

The Living Waters, Bay of Islands Wai Ora project will work to reduce sediment and nutrient input to the Bay of Islands waterways to restore functional freshwater, marine ecosystems and natural biodiversity. It will also educate, encourage and support landowner and community initiatives and advocate for integrated catchment management within the Bay. The Living Waters project aspires to contribute to national understanding of waterways management and increase environmental care.

Applicant: New Zealand Landcare Trust
Region: Northland
Funding: $112,500

The Waitangi River catchment: farming for the future project will undertake a community-wide catchment management initiative to improve water quality in the Waitangi river and the Bay of Islands, enhance farm and catchment scale resilience to climate change and optimise farm production and profitability. Benefits of the project include the ability to manage water use and quality, flooding, land use, biodiversity and biosecurity of the area and could be replicated in other catchments throughout New Zealand.

Applicant: Whakatane Kiwi Trust Inc
Region: Bay of Plenty
Funding: $100,000

The Whakatane Kiwi Trust community biodiversity project will promote education about Whakatane kiwi and provide resources for conservation, education and science. The project aims to recruit and retain active volunteers who will assist with pest management, species management and community awareness activities and to support collaboration between groups to come up with community solutions. Long term it is envisaged that volunteers will eventually lead the project so it becomes a self-sustaining community initiative.

Applicant: Tauranga Rotary Centennial Trust for the Kopurererua Valley Reserve Development
Region: Bay of Plenty
Funding: $60,000

The Kopurererua Valley reserve development project will clear weeds and plant up to 30,000 native trees and shrubs through public planting days, providing access to the previously isolated valley. This will create environmental, social, economic and wider cultural benefits through a collaborative approach that will involve community, Council and corporate partners. The project will also undertake regular maintenance work to ensure the on-going survival of the new vegetation and to ensure the initiative is effective long term.

Applicant: Bream Head Conservation Trust
Region: Northland
Funding: $170,000

The Bream Head Scenic Reserve restoration project will enhance the environmental outcomes for the reserve through proven mainland island predator control methods, managing invasive plants, preventing new pest species and revegetating the reserve with native plants. The project is working with local authorities, communities, Iwi, neighbouring farmers and local business, to ensure the initiative is sustainable and facilitates long term environmental, educational and recreational benefits for the community.

Applicant: New Zealand Landcare Trust
Region: Auckland City
Funding: $240,000

The Volcano to sea: community catchment restoration project will develop a new, innovative catchment-scale initiative in Auckland to link communities, remnant natural features and the sea. 'Volcano to Sea' will engage with schools and community members, stimulating their imagination and harnessing their enthusiasm to make positive changes in their local environment. The project will encourage community stewardship, enhance biodiversity, strengthen collaboration and provide educational material for schools, communities, project partners and iwi.

Applicant: Piha Education Trust
Region: Waitakere
Funding: $60,000

The Piha Wetland Restoration project will restore a wetland to provide an outdoor classroom for students in Auckland. The classroom will provide an experiential learning facility and provide educational resources for the wide range of ecological issues demonstrated in the wetland. The funding will enable the Piha Education Trust to restore the existing school house as an education information centre, build access ways to the land and remove exotic weeds. A system of boardwalks, paths and observation platforms will provide access and ecologically themed study points.

Applicant: Tawharanui Open Sanctuary Society Inc
Region: Auckland
Funding: $54,000

The Habitat Restoration at Tawharanui Open Sanctuary project will restore coastal forest and swamp forest wetland vegetation at Tawharanui Regional Park, to provide habitat for native fauna and link existing areas of significant habitat. The project will establish 6.5 hectares of coastal pohutukawa, coastal broadleaf and swamp forest to increase the habitat for re-introduced species and strengthen the links between existing native forest and wetland areas, improve the quality of wetland environments and protect water quality by removing stock access to coastal and valley environments and provide opportunities for community involvement and education in the sanctuary.

Applicant: 42collective Incorporated
Region: Nationwide
Funding: $70,000

42collective will roll out its Conscious Consumers cafe programme to restaurants, bars and caterers nationwide. The award winning project provides an effective and affordable business accreditation scheme for the New Zealand hospitality industry, encouraging businesses to employ sustainable business practices such as composting and recycling. The project promotes sustainable hospitality businesses to consumers and to promote suppliers of sustainable goods and services to restaurants. This project provides an effective incentive for sustainable business practice in New Zealand’s hospitality sector.

Applicant: Tui 2000 Incorporated
Region: Waikato Region
Funding: $171,000

The Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park project will recreate the original ecosystem diversity of the Hamilton Basin and generate a self-sustaining habitat sanctuary in the Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park. The land will be planted by the community, including school children and migrants, to coincide with Arbor Day.

Applicant: Kaikoūra Coastal Marine Guardians Inc
Region: The Kaikoura Coastal Area
Funding: $54,722

The project will complete the Kaikōura Marine Strategy, which will provide guidance on best practices to manage fish, land and water and preserve local treasures through a community led consultation process.

Applicant: Community Energy Network Incorporated
Region: Nationwide
Funding: $15,740

The Community Energy Network will assess the viability of developing a training and accreditation programme for community-based home sustainability advisors to help people improve the energy efficiency of their homes. This project will enable the Community Energy Network to improve the social, health and environmental performance of New Zealand homes, reducing costs and minimising the environmental impacts of energy use by New Zealand households in the future.

ends

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