Find out more about work of Amber Cayley and Arabella Barber - the joint winners of the Youth Environmental Leader award for 2023.
Joint winners
Amber Cayley - For leadership, support of others and willingness to share ideas in making a significant contribution to Taranaki's environment.
Amber helped to transform parts of Sacred Heart Girls’ College in creating a native garden and is working to restore a waterway at the New Plymouth school.
“When you have a passion, anything is possible and I think the environmental sector is such a place and a field that needs that passion because it is something that we need to change today,” says Amber.
Arabella Barber - For leadership, support of others and willingness to share ideas in making a significant contribution to Taranaki's environment.
Arabella secured funding for composting bins to divert food waste at Stratford High School from going to landfill. She also won funding from the Taranaki Regional Council and Wild for Taranaki to plant 350 native trees along the Pātea River.
“To win this award is amazing. Getting recognised for all the hard work myself, other students and parents have done,” says Arabella.
Highly commended
Piper Flashman
As CEO of the Green School’s Young Enterprise Scheme team Waka Kaitiaki, Piper has been instrumental in leading and promoting planting, seed to table and zero waste practices. Piper’s leadership and commendable efforts in waste reduction have set a noteworthy example for others.
Holly Dixon and Drew Hoskin
Holly and Drew are the Environment Co-Leaders at New Plymouth Girls' High School and have spearheaded a variety of impactful environmental projects this year, both within the school and in the community. They have been commended for their passion, leadership and ability to unite others.