Taranaki’s ‘practical environmentalism’ to the fore

Educators, students, kaitiaki, grassroots volunteers, farmers, businesspeople, scientists and technical specialists are among the recipients of 14 Environmental Awards from the Taranaki Regional Council this evening (25 October 2018).

The winners are all tremendous examples of the Taranaki can-do attitude and highlight the practical environmentalism that’s a strong part of the regional culture, says the Council Chairman, David MacLeod.

“Their achievements are awe-inspiring and worthy of celebration. And of course, they’re just the tip of the iceberg,” he says. “We’re a region of people who walk the talk. We see what needs to be done, and we get stuck in and do it. This is the spirit that makes the region what it is.”

The 14 awards for 2018 were made in five categories. They take the total to 279 since the Council began the annual presentations in the 1990s. The 2018 winners are:

Environmental action in Education (sponsored by Contact)
• Highlands Intermediate Marine Studies Group for inspiring students through marine education and action.
• Coastal Taranaki School Native NZ Bird Inquiry for outdoor learning and action to restore and protect native biodiversity by removing predators.
• Francis Douglas Memorial College for removing predators and pest plants to restore native biodiversity at Paritutu Centennial Park.

Environmental leadership in land management – sponsored by Corteva AgriscienceTM Agriculture Division of DowDuPont
• Roger Pearce (Waitotara Valley) for environmental stewardship, sustainable land management and native habitat restoration.
• Hansen Family (Huiroa / Matau) for environmental stewardship, sustainable land management and native habitat restoration.
• Prof B Clarkson, Dr J Rapson, B Hammonds, L Honnor and J Hunt for supporting native ecosystems by producing a series of guides for restoration planting in Taranaki.

Te taiao me te pākihi – Environmental leadership in business - sponsored by Ngāruahine, Ngāti Ruanui, Te Ātiawa, Taranaki and Ngāti Mutunga
• MAIN Trust for providing resources, data management systems and support for environmental groups in Taranaki.
• GreenBridge Ltd for designing sustainable landscape and environmental solutions for land, homes and communities in Taranaki.

Environmental leadership in dairy farming – sponsored by Fonterra
• Robert and Diana Bridgeman (Coastal Taranaki) for environmental stewardship including riparian, wetland and native habitat enhancement.
• Stratford Demonstration Farm Society (Inc) for agricultural education and environmental stewardship including riparian, wetland and native habitat enhancement.

Environmental action in the community - sponsored by Methanex
• Marlene Benson (North Taranaki) for protecting and enhancing the natural environment as kaitiaki and a volunteer for numerous successful biodiversity and conservation projects.
• Tony Green for volunteering and advocating to restore and protect native biodiversity through numerous successful conservation projects across the region.
• Angela and Gary Walls-Renwick (New Plymouth) for actively championing urban backyard trapping to remove predators and restore native wildlife and plants.
• Cynthia Mooney (Opunake) for longstanding volunteer work to control predators to restore and protect native biodiversity at Sandy Bay Reserve.

© Scoop Media