Eight Southland businesses and groups, and one individual were honoured at the 28th Environment Southland Community Awards, held this evening (17 Oct) in Invercargill.

The awards provide a platform for environmental leaders throughout Murihiku Southland to be celebrated and for their stories to be told.

Environment Southland chairman Nicol Horrell said he and his fellow councillors are proud to acknowledge and celebrate outstanding environmental achievements and the people driving them.

“This is my seventeenth awards and I can’t help but reflect on the power of positive action."

"Each year a new group of environmental leaders uplift, empower and encourage so many others to do more."

"Their stories are amazing and inspiring, and their mahi benefits not only us, but those who come after us, too,” he said.

Winners of the 2024 Environment Southland Community Awards

Environmental Action in Biodiversity and Biosecurity

Sponsored by Invercargill Licensing Trust

Winner: Aparima River Restoration Project

Environmental Leadership and Innovation in Business

Sponsored by Aon New Zealand

Winner: Kiwi Skips

Highly commended: Fonterra Edendale

Environmental Action in the Community

Sponsored by WM Environmental

Winner: Otatara Landcare Group

Highly commended: Makarewa Headwaters Catchment Group

Environmental Action in Education

Sponsored by Fonterra

Winner: Heddon Bush School

Environmental Leadership in Farming

Sponsored by Wynn Williams

Winner: Blair & Jody Drysdale

Individual Environmental Leadership or Action

Sponsored by ANZ

Winner: Shona Sangster

Environmental Action in Water Quality Improvement

Sponsored by Southland Fish & Game

Winner: Balfour Catchment Group

Councillors’ Award

The Department of Conservation Pukunui Southern NZ Dotterel Recovery Team

Kaitiaki Tohu Pai Award

Winner: Alan Watson (posthumous)

Celebrated with, and presented to, his daughter Natalie Rosel for Alan’s tireless work with Sunrise Rotary to raise public awareness about what goes down stormwater drains ends up in our streams, rivers and estuaries.