Nominations are now open for the annual Taranaki Regional Council Environmental Awards, which celebrate the secret superheroes in our midst.
The awards recognise initiatives to protect and enhance the environment, at both a neighbourhood and regional scale.
The awards are in their 29th year and in this time have seen more than 329 winners.
People can nominate themselves or their organisation, or others working in the environmental space anywhere across the Taranaki region. Nominations are open until 31 August, with winners announced at a special local event in November.
The 2021 awards recognised those who were ground-breaking in their efforts to build sustainable communities, reduce carbon emissions, improve native biodiversity and protect wetlands and other native habitat – among others.
Council chairman David MacLeod says year-on-year there is a high calibre of entries from a diverse range of entrants.
"We are pleased to be able to have a platform where initiatives from school students to major corporates, from farmers to iwi and hapū, from community to grassroots conservation groups, are shared and celebrated. This is a prime example of the ongoing commitment to the preservation of the Taranaki.
“The awards are pivotal in celebrating the wonderful work happening in the community and recognising Taranaki environmental heroes. We are excited to celebrate these heroes at a more formal event this year, following the disruption and uncertainty caused by Covid-19 in previous years.”
The awards have five categories: Environmental Leadership in Business, sponsored by Taranaki Daily News; Environmental Leadership in Dairy Farming, sponsored by Fonterra; Environmental Leadership in Land Management, sponsored by Corteva; Environmental Action in the Community, sponsored by Methanex; and Environmental Action in Education, sponsored by Contact Energy.
An online nomination form is available on the Council website, https://www.trc.govt.nz/enter-awards-2021/(external link)