This page highlights current and previous winners of Taranaki Regional Council Environmental Awards.
2011 winners
The Council Chairman, David MacLeod (front centre), with some of this year's Environmental Awards winners.
| Business/Local Authority | Agricultural | Individual/School/Community Group |
|---|---|---|
| South Taranaki District Council | Neil and Jackie Whitehead | Welbourn Primary School |
| Winstone Aggregates Wiremu Rd quarry | Robert and Verna Bourke | Oakura Primary School |
| Return 2 Earth | John and Elaine Sanderson | Hawera Intermediate School |
Business/Local Authority
South Taranaki District Council
– for enhanced stream habitat at the Kapuni Water Supply Intake
As part of a $3 million project to install a new intake structure and associated pipelines to supply water to Hawera, the Vector Gas Treatment Plant and surrounding rural areas, the South Taranaki District Council included:
- Construction of a side channel for the water intake, leaving the main channel clear for fish passage.
- Removal of an old weir and other structures that impeded fish passage, and remediation of the river banks.
- Purchase of adjoining land so that riparian planting and weed control could be undertaken.
The Council also ensured that there was minimal environmental impact during the construction phase of the project.
The Council’s Water Supply Manager, Peter Cook, welcomed the award, saying it vindicates the considerable environmental effort that went into the project, and the decision to buy the adjoining land and provide riparian protection. “There used to be quite a lot of stock getting to the river there.”
He says there was excellent collaboration between the Councils, Vector, consultants and contractors during the project. “Vector, who made a capital contribution to the project, is providing valuable ongoing assistance, and Taranaki Regional Council staff provided important advice and help with both design and installation during the project.
Winstone Aggregates Wiremu Road Quarry
– for sustainable management and sound environmental performance
Winstone Aggregates has adopted an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System at the Wiremu Road site.
The company works with the landowner to progressively rehabilitate extraction and overburden areas as they are completed. Refilled areas are returned to pasture and one extraction area will form a lake. There are plans for further riparian management and wetland restoration. The entrance to the site has been enhanced with native planting.
The ‘best practice’ operation and design of the site controls and mitigates any off-site effects of noise and dust. And a high standard of water quality is maintained through sediment and erosion control procedures.
The quarry is managed by Tony Dowd, with four staff – Sam Heemi, Gary Ratahi, Fred Ratahi and John James. They say the award is “awesome”, especially as the site is a small one. Winstone Aggregates General Manager Bernie Chote says the company is proud to be able supply its Taranaki customers in a sustainable manner, and to have this effort recognised.
Return 2 Earth
– for composting of organic waste
Return 2 Earth is based at the New Plymouth Colson Road landfill and each year processes large volumes of green waste, wood shavings and animal shed bedding into high-quality compost for a range of markets.
This operation provides a sustainable use for material that, in most cases, would otherwise have been landfilled. All of the green waste from the New Plymouth and Waitara transfer stations is processed by Return 2 earth.
Outdoor windrows are used with mechanical agitation to optimize the compost process, based on the temperature and moisture content of the windrows.
Use of the company’s products by farmers and gardeners benefits the environment as it is likely to be associated with reduced use of chemical fertilizers, reduced leaching of nutrients, improved soil structure and increased soil carbon sequestration.
Company founder Russell How says he and his wife Nerida are honoured to receive the award and hope it encourages others to put hard work and effort into sustainability. Describing himself as an entrepreneur, Mr How got the idea for Return 2 Earth at a sustainability field day at Ruakura in 2008. “I met Gerry Gillespie, of Zero Waste Australia, who talked about what had been achieved in Australia, and I could see an opportunity to make something happen here.”
Mr How says the Taranaki Regional Council, New Plymouth District Council and Envirowaste Ltd have provided valuable encouragement and assistance, and the company’s product is now used by farmers, local gardeners and the NPDC Parks Department.
Agricultural
Neil and Jackie Whitehead
– for biodiversity and native bush enhancement
The Whiteheads, whose 128 ha Tikorangi dairy farm’s bush blocks are recognised by the Taranaki Regional Council as a Key Native Ecosystem, plunged into an intensive environmental programme after two kiwi were sighted on the property in 2008.
The Whiteheads and their helpers have:
- Laid more than 100 traps and bait stations, most of them sponsored by community groups, businesses and friends and family, and eliminated more than 1330 predators.
- Targeted pest plants and undertaken riparian and bush-enhancement planting.
- Formed tracks through two of the three larger bush blocks, including bridges and hundreds of steps.
- Started installing discreet interpretative signage at significant points in the bush.
- Extended the area under QEII covenant (the first covenants were made in 2005).
- Established a website (www.kererukeep.org.nz) to keep supporters up-to-date.
“It’s such a great release from farming’s day-to-day stresses and pressures, to be able to go up to one of the bush blocks to do some different sort of work, or to just soak up the atmosphere,” says Mrs Whitehead. “That’s a reward in itself. And you can see the native trees are now flowering and fruiting much more heavily, and the birds are fantastic.”
Robert and Verna Bourke
– for riparian management and sustainable farming
Robert and Verna Bourke have enjoyed a multitude of rewards from planting out their 75 ha Patea dairy farm, which has been in their family for more than 100 years. Starting off in the 1990s by planting pines in a rough gully at the back of the farm, they then turned their attention to the farm’s other riparian strips, which are now fully fenced and planted.
They have also planted poplars for shelter, and native trees. In total, more than 15 ha of farmland has been retired for planting.
Robert says it’s been a lot of work over the years, but worth it, and he and Verna are proud to receive the award. It’s been a family effort, with their children Vickilee, Andrew, Conna and Bruno and their future daughter-in-law Terri helping with the planting.
Robert says in the early days they drew a lot of inspiration from farm forestry field days, where they saw what others property owners were planting. “Fencing off the gullies keeps animals out and makes life easier. While the pines will bring us revenue, we’re also really enjoying the attractiveness of the riparian planting, and the birdlife it’s bringing.”
John and Elaine Sanderson
– for riparian management and sustainable farming
John and Elaine Sanderson have fenced the entire 7.5 kilometres of streambank on their 200-hectare dairy farm near Manaia and planted 10,000 native plants to protect the Kaupokonui and Otakeho Rivers and other waterways within the property. They began the work before joining the Taranaki Regional Council’s riparian management programme in 2001.
More recently, they have become part-owners of two hillcountry blocks at Huiroa, where they are working to implement farm plans with support from the Taranaki Regional Council.
They have already planted more than 150 hectares of forestry on erosion-prone areas for timber harvest and/or carbon credit. A further 20 hectares of forestry will be planted this year, with further planting planned for subsequent years. They have placed a QEII covenant on a 3.2 hectare wetland and 62 hectares of surrounding bush and scrub.
Mrs Sanderson says the couple believed from the start that riparian margins should be protected, and the planting has also provided shelter for stock, which is important near the coast. “It’s been a lot of work but once you get started, it snowballs.”
She says the couple’s more recent hillcountry projects have deepened their appreciation of the need to take a sustainable approach to hillcountry farming.
Individual/School/Community Group
Welbourn Primary School
– for environmental education and action
Environmental initiatives at Welbourn School since 2009 have included:
- Becoming a partner with Forest and Bird in a project to plant and enhance the Te Henui Walkway. Pupils are involved in planning as well as physical work, and also monitor water quality in the Te Henui Stream.
- Establishing a waste minimisation programme and running contests and other promotions to support it.
- Establishing a gardening club.
- Promoting walking school buses, “walk to school Wednesdays” and other alternatives to the use of cars to get to and from school
Oakura Primary School
– for environmental education and action
Oakura Primary School’s environmental activities include:
- An Oakura Beach clean-up, held annually since 1972 and involving the whole school.
- Growing native plants for planting within the school and reserve areas in the Oakura area. The school also assists New Plymouth District Council and Trees for Survival in coastal and reserve plantings several times a year.
- Involving senior students in making penguin boxes for the little blue penguins that live along the local beach.
- Running a well-established and sustainable waste minimisation programme.
- Using local natural resources – rock pools and the river – in regular study cycles.
Hawera Intermediate School
– for environmental education and action
Pupils from Hawera Intermediate have taken part in planting at Nowells Lakes near Hawera and in 2010 ran a swan plant propagation programme to grow thousands of seedlings for the Nowells Lakes Walkway. In conjunction with this programme, herb patches, mini worm farms and vegetable gardens have been developed, with produce sold to raise funds for the school.
An “enviro garden group” has proved popular at the school, with more than 80 pupils applying to join this year.
The school also has a well-established waste minimisation and recycling programme.
The school’s Education Outside the Classroom programme includes a study of the Kaupokonui River.
2010 winners
|
Business/Local Authority |
Agricultural |
Individual/School/Community Group |
| South Taranaki District Council | Lepper Trust | Frankleigh Park Kindergarten |
| Shell Exploration NZ Ltd | Lee-Anne Fox | Ahititi Primary School |
| Osflo Fertiliser Ltd |
Rohin and Donna Helms | St John Bosco Primary School |
| Egmont Refuse and Recycling | The Lovell family |
|
| Stratford Transfer Station |
Business/Local Authority
South Taranaki District Council - for Inaha water demand management and efficient use
The South Taranaki District Council made a commitment to reducing the demand for water in the Inaha Water Supply Scheme and therefore the amount of water taken from the Waingongoro catchment.
The Inaha Water Demand Project has had significant benefits for the environment, the 204 farmers connected to the scheme and the Council.
Over the past 18 months metering equipment has been replaced and improved to manage water demand on the reticulation system. Water metering has been introduced at seven pressure control stations and new water meters that can be read remotely have been installed at individual farm connections. All water entering and leaving the zones can be balanced to account for every drop of water abstracted and to identify any losses.
Flows to individual farms can be analysed to identify any major flows during the night and potential wastage or leaks. Identifying and fixing a problem can mean a significant saving for the farmer.
Shell Exploration New Zealand Ltd - for sustainable development and technical innovation.
The Pohokura gas field is New Zealand's largest oil and gas resource, producing around 40% of New Zealand's gas. Pohokura began production in 2006. It is operated by Shell Exploration NZ Limited and is owned by the Pohokura Joint Venture: Shell 48%, OMV NZ 26% and Todd Pohokura 26%.
The design, development and operation of Pohokura has involved consultation with the local community and a commitment throughout the project to reducing the impact on the environment. During development, horizontal directional drilling was used to insert the pipeline under the foreshore and avoid excavation in this sensitive coastal environment.
Stormwater systems and bunded areas are designed to manage and reduce discharges from the site. And stormwater from the production station is collected and treated by a system of ponds and a constructed wetland removes any residual hydrocarbons.
Extensive riparian planting has been done at the production station to protect and enhance water quality.
The production station and offshore platform are both unmanned and remotely operated, which reduces the impact on the environment. The use of energy saving variable-speed electric motors also reduces emissions from the site.
Osflo Fertiliser Ltd - for beneficial use of biowaste.
Each year Osflo Spreading Industries Limited uses around 25,000 tonnes of chicken litter from Tegel's poultry operations in Taranaki to produce agricultural fertiliser.
The fertiliser is either 100% chicken litter or blended with other ingredients. By using chicken litter as fertiliser it is diverted from the waste stream and reduces the pressure of disposal to landfill.
The application of the fertiliser to dairy farms, organic farms or cropping is beneficial to the land. And the use of these products is likely to reduce the amount of chemical fertilisers farmers and gardeners use, reduce the leaching of nutrients, improve soil structure and increase the accumulation of organic matter in soils.
Egmont Refuse and Recycling - for consistent and innovative waste recovery.
Raymond Buckland owns and operates Egmont Refuse and Recycling in Hawera. Raymond has an extensive knowledge of the recycling business and is very enterprising. He often goes the extra mile to find markets for materials that aren't handled by other recyclers in the region.
As well as commercial contracts throughout South Taranaki, Raymond offers a free 24-hour, seven day a week drop-off facility for household recycling. Each year, he handles around 900 tonnes of material, covering the whole region for some materials.
Material is collected, sorted to provide a quality product, and packaged to the required standard. Then buyers are found, and transport organised. Most material is reprocessed to other products within New Zealand; for example, one buyer produces plastic bags from plastic bottles.
Raymond's aim is to maximize the diversion of materials from landfill and he is always looking for new options to use or recycle waste materials.
Stratford Transfer Station - for commitment to effective reuse and recycling of resources.
Visitors to the Stratford Transfer Station can't help but notice the clean, tidy park-like environment that Collette Holgate has created. Collette is employed by Waste Management, a division of Transpacific Industries Group (NZ) Ltd, and has sole charge of the transfer station.
Collette has used flowers, shrubs and sculptures from the waste that's dropped off, to beautify the site.
Collette's passion for her work and the wider environmental issues involved is obvious. She estimates that each week she diverts from the waste stream, about one third or 100 cubic metres of the material brought in.
Collette makes a huge effort to redirect items such as furniture, kitchen items and timber to those who can make good use of them. Other material like old whiteware and metal is recycled.
The Stratford Transfer Station is a model 'resource recovery centre', and demonstrates what can be done by one person being committed to doing much more than just their job.
Agricultural
Lepper Trust - for environmentally beneficial resource recovery.
Recent innovations at Lepper's Piggery have reduced waste odour and greenhouse gas emissions, produce electricity for the piggery and have improved effluent management.
The large-scale commercial piggery near Lepperton has been operated by the Lepper family for 40 years. But as neighbouring land was subdivided and developed, problems with odour increased.
So in 2009, Steve Lepper began consultation with NIWA and the New Zealand Pork Industry Board to develop a cost-effective solution. A 7200 cubic metre covered pond was constructed to treat the piggery waste. Each day around 200 cubic metres of biogas is collected from the pond and a cogeneration plant now produces about half of the piggery's electricity.
Solid waste is screened from the piggery effluent before it enters the covered pond. It is then composted and sold as soil conditioner.
After primary treatment in the covered anaerobic pond the waste is piped to the original oxidation pond system and stored for spray irrigation. There has been a significant reduction in odour from effluent irrigation since the upgrade.
Lee-Anne Fox - for outstanding commitment to pest plant control.
Lee-Anne has made a huge effort to successfully control pest plants on the Uruti property she has farmed for the last three years.
Sheep, calves and milking goats are grazed on the property and stock and pasture management has improved dramatically since Lee-Anne has brought pest plants under control.
In the past, gorse and ragwort had been a major problem on the farm. And rather than aiming to only meet the requirement to control these weeds within 25 metres of the boundary, Lee-Anne uses herbicides and biological control agents to control pest plants right across the property.
Lee-Anne has mainly used helicopter application of a herbicide and fertiliser mixture to control pest plants. But gorse mite, cinnabar caterpillars and goats have also had a big impact, particularly in the early years, and are still being used.
Rohin and Donna Helms - for riparian management and sustainable farming.
Rohin and Donna Helms demonstrate how riparian management can be achieved through sound planning and commitment to progressively carrying out the work.
They have almost completely fenced and planted the 10.7 kilometres of streambank on their 137-hectare dairy farm at Rahotu. In 1997 they prepared a riparian plan for their original 81-hectare property, and by June 2005 all of the riparian planting was established and now only 360 metres of fencing is still to be completed.
They purchased an additional 56 hectares in June 2006, prepared another riparian plan, and got straight on with fencing and planting streams and tributaries on the new area. The second plan is now 75% complete with only 500 metres of planting remaining.
Riparian management is an integral part of their farm management programme and since 1997 there has only been one season that they haven't done any riparian planting on their property. This winter they'll plant another 1000 riparian plants.
Both properties had very little natural riparian vegetation when they purchased them. But through their efforts, the sections of the Rautini and Waitaha Streams on their property are now protected by riparian buffers.
They aim to complete both riparian plans by 2012, well ahead of the Taranaki Regional Action plan target of 90% completion by 2015.
The Lovell family - for riparian management and sustainable farming.
Bruce and Maxine Lovell have always been aware that the estuaries and streambanks of the Tongaporutu River, the Hutiwai Stream and their tributaries are important whitebait habitat and spawning areas.
The Lovells prepared a riparian plan in 1999. And for the last 12 years they have been progressively fencing and planting the riparian margins on their dairy farm, to protect and restore the habitat, and to encourage whitebait to continue to spawn there.
In recent years Bruce and Maxine have worked with neighbours and the local community to extend protection through the Hutiwai Whitebait Habitat Protection Project.
The impact of the work is apparent as round 70% of the riparian work is now complete, with almost five kilometres of streambank protected and enhanced with fencing and appropriate planting.
Sustainable land management and animal welfare have also been a priority for them. 6.5 hectares of forestry have been planted on steeper land and other areas have been retired to revert to native bush. Shade and shelter plantings have also been established.
The whole family has been involved in this work, which is a legacy for future generations.
Individual/School/Community Group
Frankleigh Park Kindergarten - for involving students in caring for the environment.
Over the past two years staff and students at Frankleigh Park Kindergarten have reduced the amount of rubbish they disposed of by 75%, from 480 litres or more per week to between 80 and 120 litres.
Head teacher Jan Forsyth says that the success of the project is due to a team effort from all staff and students at all stages.
In March 2008 a waste audit revealed that 75% of the kindergarten's rubbish was paper that could be recycled plus a lot of food waste. So they developed a recycling plan and in June 2008 made a sustainability pledge, and began to recycle and compost their waste.
Their achievements include:
- Recycling two 240-litre bins of material each week.
- Producing compost to grow fruit and vegetables.
- Switching off all unnecessary electrical equipment, lights, heating etc. Electricity use has reduced by 10%.
- Changing the lunchbox policy to reduce the amount of cling film in their waste.
Ahititi Primary School - for environmental education and action.
Ahititi School has worked with the Enviroschools programme to learn about and take action for the environment.
Over the past three years the school and community have studied and worked on projects with environmental themes in the school grounds and surrounding landscapes. They have studied climate change, built a glasshouse, planted shelterbelts, vegetable and fruit gardens, and riparian planting.
A classroom extension was designed to harvest sun and light. Zero Waste is a goal for the school and rubbish tins have been removed to reduce the amount of rubbish and evapo-transpiration beds built for the septic tank system.
St John Bosco Primary School - for environmental education and action.
In 2008 St John Bosco School adopted the Peringa Park Wetland and has integrated the wetland into the school's environmental education programme to encourage students to learning about and taking action for the environment.
The school has helped the New Plymouth District Council to develop and maintain the area.
In 2009 the school helped clear the area for development and was involved in two planting days and the building of a walkway. This year, with the support of the Council's education officer, all classes have toured and studied the wetland, and had a classroom lesson and follow-up work.
Peringa Park Wetland is a major focus for St John Bosco School's environmental education programme. They are committed to developing the programme further with pond studies, pest plant and animal management, biodiversity and tree identification.
2009 winners
Business/Local Authority
The Links development
New Plymouth District Council
Okurukuru winery/restaurant
La Nuova Apparelmaster
Fonterra Kapuni
Downer EDI Works
Agricultural
Nigel Megaw
Selwyn O'Neill (posthumous award)
David and Karen Peat
Bruce Leckie
Individual/School/Community Group
Marfell Community Gardens
Coastal Taranaki School
Omata School
Waitoriki School
Marco School
Matapu School
Opunake High School
Kaimata School
2008 winners
Business/Local Authority
Furlong Motor Inn
Pukekura Park Tearooms
Ugly Duck Restuaurant
Bella Vita Restaurant
Vector Kapuni
Agricultural
John and Barbara Sextus
Cam and Sarah Collier
Howe Family Trust
Morrison Family Farm
Murray and Zoe Barrett
Individual/School/Community Group
Taranaki Arts Festival Trust and volunteers
Lynda Sutherland
Taranaki Environmental Education Trust
Gavin Shoebridge
Enviropower Inglewood High School
Midhirst School
St Josephs Primary School, Hawera
2007 winners
Business/Local Authority
Environmental Products NZ Ltd
EcoInnovation
Firth Industries Hawera
Agricultural
Mark and Leigh Caskey
Stephen and Helen Newton
George and Bobbie Oliver
Individual/School/Community Group
East Taranaki Environment Trust
The joint Herekawe Stream Walkway Project
Vogeltown School