21 October 2016

Te Aroha winner of outstanding contribution award

A Te Aroha-based catchment management officer at Waikato Regional Council has won an outstanding contribution award from the New Zealand Association of Resource Management (NZARM).

Rien van de Weteringh, who’s been with the council since 1994, was nominated by a number of current and former colleagues at the council. The award was made at NZARM’s recent conference in Napier.

Rien has had a broad range of experience in land and catchment management having worked in the Taranaki, Waikato and Hauraki areas over many years. He has been an active promoter of comprehensive catchment planning and has prepared a large number of farm plans that he has seen through to completion.

NZARM’s Norm Ngapo, presenting the award on behalf of the executive committee, said: “Rien has a reputation for making a difference on the ground, getting others on board, sharing knowledge and experience and promoting solutions that are soundly based on the best information and science available.”

The council’s land management advisory services team leader Alan Campbell, who accepted the award of Rien’s behalf, said it recognised his contribution to the field of sustainable resource management “and the esteem in which you are held by your peers”.

Rien says he’s always keen to ensure ratepayers are getting good value for money in the council services provided. “I look for win-win solutions where both the environment and landowners benefit.”

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