Murihiku Southland’s environmental champions have been celebrated tonight at the 26th Environment Southland (ES) Community Awards in Invercargill.

ES chairman Nicol Horrell said the calibre of nominees was yet again incredibly high, featuring diverse nominations from catchment groups and tourism operators through to farmers, food recovery organisations and school children.

“The judges were inspired by the passion and drive shown by the entrants, who are embedded in their communities, courageously going above and beyond to grow environmental awareness and achieve results.”

The awards are the longest running awards in the regional council sector, he said.

“It is great to come together and celebrate the positive work that’s going on in our community – to celebrate the people on the ground doing the mahi. They are our environmental innovators and leaders. These people are just getting on with things as Southlanders so often do, inspiring others and paving the way forward.”

The 2022 judges were councillors Lyndal Ludlow, Peter McDonald and David Stevens and former ES chief executive Rob Phillips, and ES integrated catchment management general manager Paul Hulse. 

The winners of each award category were: 

Councillors’ Special Award

Sponsored by Environment Southland Councillors

Winner – Mataura Valley Milk

Mataura Valley Milk’s ‘Project Recharge’ led by Scott Waddell is a New Zealand, and possibly a world, first where the business is tackling the ambitious goal of converting the plant to full

electrification.

Before deciding on the high-pressure electric boiler the plant is running with, there was a large amount of research done into alternative options, but for Mataura Valley Milk it was simple – it’s about the big picture and achieving their own goals. Summed up by Scott, “it’s better for the environment – it’s better for everyone.” The high-pressure electric boiler will replace the current coal-fired boiler, removing the plant’s reliance on lignite coal and reducing carbon emissions by approximately 22,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per annum.

Judges’ comments: Mataura Valley Milk is leading the way in the climate change space, with ‘Project Recharge’ being the most significant thing happening nationwide in that space at the moment. They have taken some big risks but are doing the right thing environmentally despite the costs, and are an example of industry stepping up and making a significant change.

Environmental Action in the Community

Sponsored by WM Environmental

Winner – Waiau Rivercare Group 

The Waiau Rivercare Group is facing a challenge like no other when it comes to trying to restore the hauora of the Waiau River. Formed in 2017 with strong community support and incorporated it in 2019, the group is working hard to restore the health of the Waiau River. Their goal is to get back the river the community once had.

The group has 425 members – the oldest member is 94 and still active and the youngest members are new entrants at the local primary schools. Working with these schools, the Children’s Kaitiaki Project was established, and the group has campaigned effectively to give the Waiau River a voice on not only a regional platform, but also a national platform. For the group, water quality and water quantity cannot be separated, with the vast majority of the Waiau River’s water being diverted through a large hydro scheme.

The group continues to advocate for the river through various means and working with many groups and organisations.

Judges’ comments: The group has a well thought out campaign with very clear objectives. It is impressive how they have approached their work - their partnerships are strong, and they are punching well above their weight to engage at a high level.

Individual Environmental Action or Leadership

Sponsored by ANZ

Winner – John Whitehead 

Passionate about native flora and fauna, for more than 30 years John Whitehead has been giving his time to improving our region’s environment. His love of the environment came from studying at Massey University and being a part of its Alpine Club.

He remains invested in the area, a member of Ngā Tamariki a Tane Society Inc, which owns a block of land in the Ruahines in the Manawatu.

A member of the Waiau Working Party since 1990 he was a part of consent negotiations around the Manapouri power scheme.

John has also been a trustee of the Waiau Fisheries and Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Trust since its inception in 1997 and chair of the Pomona Island Charitable Trust since its inception in 2005. Most recently, he has been a member of the Southland Conservation Board from 2011 until retirement this year, and in his spare time – he farmed in the Te Anau basin for 40 years.

John’s passion for biodiversity saw him put in place the first QEII covenant in the basin. Pomona Island, though, is what John describes as his biggest challenge, sometimes spending 20 hours per week completing trust work.

Judges’ comments: John is someone who gets in and gets the work done, and who has developed in the leadership space over time. John has made an outstanding individual contribution to Southland’s biodiversity over a long period of time.

Environmental Action in Education

Sponsored by Department of Conservation

Winner – Waiau Rivercare Group’s Children’s Kaitiaki Project

What started as a t-shirt design competition for the tamariki of the Waiau catchment to increase awareness about the unique regulatory circumstances impacting the Waiau River, quickly grew into something much more. 

Tamariki from the two local schools, Hauroko Valley Primary and Waiau Area School, as well as tamariki from the wider community have been supported by the Waiau Rivercare Group to share the story of their river, taking it as far as the Environment Select Committee in Wellington.

The project had the group present on behalf of the community’s petition to save the Waiau River and remove the hydro exemption from the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020.

For the tamariki involved in the project, it is simple – they want to be able to swim and fish in the river. “If we make a difference now, the next generation will come along and make a difference too.”

Judges comments: It is clear Te Mana o te Wai is at the core of the Waiau Rivercare Group’s Children’s Kaitiaki Project and the tamariki are taking ownership of the work they are doing to fight for their river. Right from the start it was very evident about the culture of the schools with the focus on learning and educating them about their river.

Environmental Leadership in Farming

Sponsored by Wynn Williams

Winner – Freedom Acres 

Dylan and Sheree Ditchfield have farmed in Murihiku Southland since 1997. The couple has progressed from sharemilking, to equity partnerships, to sole farm ownership and now regard themselves as being guardians of the whenua they are responsible for, which includes their 176ha farm they call ‘Freedom Acres’.

Freedom Acres is currently involved in a wintering trial around bale grazing, which is seeing a great reduction in nitrogen leaching, improved soil health and pasture regeneration. The process takes about five years and the paddocks effectively regenerate themselves, which is playing a part in their overall focus of lowering the farm’s environmental footprint. The farm team very much operate as a collective with son Blake, Tika Ram Rai and Jack and Megan Bennett all invested in the farm’s purpose and goals.

The Ditchfields also founded and run a farming to freedom course, which is a business, life and leadership course.

Judges’ comments: The Ditchfields are inspirational and real leaders in the farming sector, with their whole philosophy and approach of people being at the core of their operation. This approach is good for the cows, good for the soil, good for the water and good for the people.

Environmental Action in Biodiversity & Biosecurity

Sponsored by ILT 

Winner – Aparima Pestbusters

Aparima Pest Busters is a volunteer group that undertakes pest control in the Riverton area, particularly in Mores Scenic Reserve. The group’s mission is to maintain habitats of native and endemic flora and fauna in the Aparima area to protect them from introduced pests.

The group has been operating since 2008. Today, the core focus is on possum, rat and feral cat control with a network of 500 bait stations. This year, 430 bait stations have been replaced and the group has adopted the use of the TrapNZ app to manage the bait stations. Aparima Pestbusters has 20 active volunteers involved in managing bait stations.

Last year, they developed and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Southland District Council, which sets out the respective responsibilities of the parties.

Judges’ comments: What the group has achieved and the leadership the group is showing is impressive. They have had a collaborative approach right from the start and the group’s focus has been to bring people on board first, then tackle the work they want to complete.

Environmental Action in Water Quality Improvement

Sponsored by Fish & Game Southland

Winner – Between the Domes Catchment Group

Established in 2017, the Between the Domes Catchment Group covers Mossburn, Five Rivers, Lumsden, Lintley, Castlerock and everywhere in between.

Uniquely, the group operates with three chairs – Jim Andrew, Laurie Selbie and Daniel Jones. Jim is a dairy farmer in the catchment, Laurie a sheep and beef farmer and Daniel owns the nursery in Lumsden. The group has been leading four major projects in the catchment, supported by Thriving Southland – a bale wrap recovery scheme, a catchment-wide survey on farm data, a mental wellness focus through various events, and lastly the construction of three major wetlands in the catchment.

The survey has shown that some impressive actions to improve water quality are being undertaken in the environment to better protect the environment. For example, 67% of respondents planted natives between the value of $1,000 and $200,000 in the last three years, and 62% of respondents were planning additional planting in the next five years.

Judges’ comments: It was one of the few projects the judges had seen with a long-term focus. It is clear to the group, even though they are at the top of the catchment, they have an important role to play in improving water quality.

Environmental Leadership and Innovation in Business

Sponsored by AON

Winner – Welcome Rock

Tom O’Brien thinks big picture and this thinking has seen his family’s once traditional high country station become the Welcome Rock experience.

Named after the prominent rock that sits on the skyline above the homestead, Tom and a team of volunteers built the entire 27km walking and mountain biking loop track by hand, and in

December 2014 the trail was officially opened. It took a total of two years and 5,500 hours to build the track by pick and shovel, with Tom and his army of volunteers building between five and 150 metres per day.

The business has now further expanded with Welcome Rock also hosting The Revenant – New Zealand’s most gruelling ultra adventure run, where the majority of competitors do not cross the finish line.

Welcome Rock also has an organic garden and is offering unique experiences to groups and schools.

Judges’ comments: Tom’s ability to build on ideas that align with his values and the vision he has is impressive. Everything is really well considered and it is quite clear they are very good at what they do, which has a really light touch on the environment but has been a lot of really hard work.

Highly Commended – Hopefield Hemp

Full list of Environment Southland Community Awards 2022 Categories, Nominees and Winners

Environmental Action in the Community 

Nominees:

Southern Farmers Market

Geoff Young

Kiwiharvet

Omaui Tracks Trust

Waikaka Walkway

Waiau Rivercare Group 

Winner: Waiau Rivercare Group 

Individual Environmental Action or Leadership 

Nominees:

Georgie Galloway

John Whitehead

Winner: John Whitehead

Environmental Action in Education

Nominees:

Southland Girls High School Leo Club

Waiau Rivercare Group’s Children’s Kaitiaki Group

Winner: Waiau Rivercare Group’s Children’s Kaitiaki Group

Environmental Leadership in Farming

Nominees:

Mangapiri Downs Organic Stud Farm

Freedom Acres

Winner: Freedom Acres

Environmental Action in Biodiversity & Biosecurity

Nominees:

NZ Conservation Services

Aparima Pestbusters

Mt Chocolate

Winner: Aparima Pestbusters

Environmental Action in Water Quality Improvement

Nominees:

Between the Domes Catchment Group

Dot and Geoff Stevens

Winner: Between the Domes Catchment Group

Environmental Leadership and Innovation in Business

Nominees:

Fork & Spade

Welcome Rock

Mataura Valley Milk

Hopefield Hemp

Davaar & Co

Winner: Welcome Rock

Highly Commended: Hopefield Hemp

Councillors' Special Award

Mataura Valley Milk