• About this site|
• Site index|
• Contact us

Working with you

• Consultation
• Green Ribbon Awards
• Conferences & events
• Environmental wellbeing and Local Government
• Funding sources
• What you can do

Past winners

In 1989, the Minister for the Environment, Hon Geoffrey Palmer, announced the establishment of the Green Ribbon Awards to recognise the efforts of people striving to protect the environment.

See winners from:

• 2009
• 2008
• 2007
• 2006
• 2005
• 2004
• 2003
• 2002
• 2001
• 2000
• The 90s

The 2009 Green Ribbon Awards winners

Category: Urban Sustainability

Winner: Travis Wetland Trust

Region: Canterbury

Awarded for the Trust’s outstanding efforts to preserve and develop a wetland as a nature park in an urban area.

Since 1983 a group of volunteers have worked to save Travis wetland – the last large freshwater wetland in Christchurch – from encroaching urban development, with the ultimate goal of setting it up as a nature heritage park for the education and enjoyment of both the local community and the city. The Trust’s volunteers and workers organised by the council, have worked to remove willows and weeds to ensure the wetland is protected. 

Planting has been carried out under a restoration plan and 57,000 plants have been planted over 10 years.  Planting native species is carried out by the council, schools, community groups and residential developers.  The park is used for recreation – walkers, joggers, amateur ornithologists and families share the track around the wetland.

The wetland has scientific benefit for the City’s universities and research institutions as a research site. Funding from the Community Trust has provided for an on-site education centre with lab and classroom facilities and a visitor information centre.

Highly commended: Ashburton District Council – Wastewater Treatment and Disposal System Upgrade

Region: Canterbury

Awarded for their sustainable approach to upgrading the wastewater system

The Ashburton District wastewater system upgrade signals the Council’s move to a more sustainable approach to dealing with wastewater.

The previous system was constructed in 1976 and was outdated and out of touch with environmental, economic, social and cultural requirements and expectations. To meet the needs of the community both now and for the future, the existing treatment site was upgraded in a three stage treatment process, with treated effluent, rich in nutrients, conveyed along a pipeline for re-use through irrigation onto Ocean Farm for grass production.

The upgrade has resulted in significant improvements in Ashburton River’s water quality. 

Category: Sustainable Land Use

Winner: Garth Eyles

Region: Hawke’s Bay

Awarded for his life long commitment to caring for our soils and encouraging others to adopt a more holistic approach to land management.

Garth’s life long commitment to caring for our soils places him at the forefront of land conservation and has made him one of New Zealand’s leading exponents on land use capability. 

His commitment to sustainable land use has been very holistic and his contribution to the natural environment of Hawke’s Bay has covered developing farm plans that match land capability to use; encouraging planting of unstable slopes and gullies to prevent erosion; encouraging tillage methods that avoid wind erosion; and identifying remnant wetlands while encouraging restoration and enhancement.

In 1979 Garth developed the Land Use Capability mapping system. He was a member of the Hawke’s Bay Conservation Board from 1993 to 1996 and in that time he was actively involved in the preparation of the Conservation Management Strategy for the then Hawke’s Bay Conservancy. He was also involved in the development of Management Plans for the Ruahine and Kaweka Forest Parks and the Te Angi Marine Reserve.

Now that he has retired from his role as Land Management Manager for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, a lot of his time is spent volunteering. 

Category: Making a Difference to Household Sustainability

Winner: Ashburton District Council: Albert Street/Geoff Geering Drive Eco-subdivision

Region: Canterbury

Awarded for outstanding efforts to create affordable household running costs whilst minimising the impact households have on the environment.

Ashburton District Council’s Eco-Subdivision takes a whole-house approach to achieve affordable, comfortable, healthy and energy efficient homes.  The two objectives for the Council were to create affordability in household running costs and to minimise the impact households have on the environment.

The Council purchased the land in 1985 and commenced the subdivision in 2003.  The houses are built to promote energy efficiency using concrete floors, double glazing on all exterior fenestration, increased insulation, solar powered or geothermal hot water and on-site stormwater catchment facility for the purposes of garden irrigation.  The impact of stormwater is minimised through a unique design of the subdivision’s curb and channeling which prevents it from going straight into the groundwater. 

The Eco-Subdivision provides an outstanding example of the efforts a local authority can take to reduce the impact that households have on the environment. 

Category: Community Action for the Environment – Young People

Recommended Winner: Tommy Long

Region: Auckland

Awarded for his outstanding commitment to improving our environment. 

Tommy is a year 11 student at Botany Downs Secondary College (BDSC) and is dedicated and committed to improving the environment.

He created and founded the first environmental awards at the college, which was originally based on his whanau house, Koru Whanau.

Tommy established the BDSC Environmental Council which is an association of all whanau environmental committees within the school.  The council is a whole-school based environmental council, assisting people to work together to address environmental issues, host events for the school and implement initiatives. The Council has an Environmental Cup, which Tommy implemented, for all levels at the school’s prize giving

Tommy is chair of the School’s Enviroschools group and in 2008 he represented Botany Downs Secondary College to receive the Bronze Enviroschools Award.

Category: Community Action for the Environment – Volunteers and Not-for-Profit Organisations

Winner: Rueben Porter on behalf of Nga Hapu o Ahipara

Region: Northland

Awarded for his outstanding commitment to reintroducing a sense of guardianship and care of the environment to people in the Kaitaia area.

Rueben has initiated a number of projects aimed at reintroducing a sense of guardianship and care of the environment to people in the Kaitaia region.

His community work includes: regular workshops on gardening, co-hosting weekly radio talk-back shows over topical environmental issues, as well as providing free mentoring and gardening advice to local whanau and space to grow food at the Ahuwhenua site in Ahipara. He has also organised a hugely successful Mana Whenua gardening challenge – a marae based gardening competition for young people.

In 2008, Rueben and his wife taught a Treaty of Waitangi Workshop at the Far North Environment Centre (where Reuben is a trustee), as a means of improving the way trustees approach their environmental work with Maori. 

Rueben regularly monitors activity in the Kaitaia area to ensure hapu are represented and the environment is protected. He hosts school groups and regularly speaks on guardianship issues.  He also works with the Far North Conservation Corps and with hapu on whale recovery.

Rueben accepts this award on behalf of Nga Hapu o Ahipara.

Category: Businesses Making a Difference

Winner: Ports of Auckland

Region: Auckland

Awarded for outstanding environmental management initiatives and leading by example.

Ports of Auckland is committed to operating sustainably and has demonstrated a great track record in environmental management.

In 2008, the Port became one of the first in Australasia to measure and audit its greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint. It was the first New Zealand port to undertake an annual inventory and audit of its carbon emissions.

In addition to this, the Port has introduced a real-time monitoring system to identify ongoing opportunities for improvement and waste reduction in electricity and fuel consumption.

A major lighting efficiency programme has been set up in the Port’s premises. This has seen 1350 floodlights replaced with 650 environmentally friendly, fully shielded lights – reducing electricity use by lighting at the Port by an estimated 15 per cent.

This is in addition to the introduction of 35 hybrid diesel-electric straddle carriers – making the fleet the most environmentally efficient in New Zealand.  The new machines generate 90 per cent fewer emissions, use 20 per cent less fuel and make less noise than diesel-only models.

A rail connection between the inland port at Wiri, South Auckland, and the Auckland sea port to bring further efficiency to the supply chain, and to reduce inner city truck trips (and therefore carbon emissions) has also been introduced by the Port.

Highly commended: Mainzeal Property and Construction Ltd

Region: Auckland

Awarded for their contribution to a sustainable construction industry in New Zealand

Led by Peter Gomm, Chief Operating Officer, who also sits on the board of the New Zealand Green Building Council, Mainzeal has recently taken on a leadership role as a contractor contributing to a sustainable construction industry in New Zealand.

By implementing the principles of its accredited Environmental Management System, Mainzeal are reducing the potential for environmental spills and incidents, reducing waste and emissions, and exceeding industry environmental benchmarks and regulations.  An environmental management plan is produced for every construction project undertaken.  This covers everything from waste management to environmental risk assessment using a weighting matrix.

In 2008, Mainzeal appointed a Sustainability Manager and had five staff graduate as Green Star Accredited Professionals in the same year.  This allows them to work alongside clients and architects on Green Star projects at an early stage in the design. 

Mainzeal is working to eliminate the concept of waste, and aims to maximise resource recovery at every step in the construction process. On several large projects they are regularly achieving greater than 90 per cent recycling by weight.  The company implemented a robust waste reporting system which ensures monthly targets and monitored and reported on.

In October 2008 Mainzeal collected the inaugural Cement and Concrete Association Sustainability Award for their work on Project Century with Holcim following the development of a concrete mix using recycled package glass.

Category: Environment in the Spotlight

Winner: Ngati Whatua o Orakei

Region: Auckland

Awarded for their commitment to significantly raising the profile and awareness of zero waste management.

Ngati Whatua o Orakei collaborated with the Auckland City Council to host a free public concert at Okahu Bay on Waitangi Day focussed on providing greater awareness of zero waste management to an audience of approximately 30,000 people. The concert’s zero-waste policy encouraged people to consider the environment and to adopt a “pack-in, pack-out” attitude on the day – disposing of their own waste at home. 

In addition to the Waitangi Day event, Ngati Whatua o Orakei’s environmental vision includes a tree nursery and a tree planting project which every year plants 18,000 native trees.

Ngati Whatua o Orakei have built on an old concept and developed it, merging cultural aspects and environmental action.

Category: Innovative Solutions for the Environment

Winner: Horizons Regional Council: WaterMatters Website

Region: Manawatu

Awarded for their efforts to improve water management in their region.

Horizons Regional Council’s WaterMatters website has transformed the way water information is captured, analysed and made available to the public. The website, which was launched in January 2007, enables abstractors, the council and key stakeholders to view how much water is being managed in catchments in near real time. 

The system is built to measure the amount of water being abstracted, and to then check how these volumes compare to the requirements of resource consent conditions. This information is essential to understanding what the flows would have been in the river had there been no abstraction. 

A key component of WaterMatters is to make it easier for consent holders to comply with their consents.  To enable this, a summary of all the relevant information about the consent is collated each day in a location that the consent holder can observe. This approach has resulted in improved management of water abstractions in the region.

The Ministry for the Environment is using WaterMatters as a case study for the implementation taskforce for the national environment standard on water metering.

In November 2008, WaterMatters was awarded Association of Local Government Information Management’s (ALGIM) Innovation Award.

Category: Community Action for World Environment Day

Winner: MAD4CO (Making a Difference for Central Otago)

Region: Otago

Awarded for outstanding efforts to inspire their community to participate in environmental activities to celebrate World Environment Day.

The Sustainable Living Reference group (Sustainability co-ordinator at Central Otago Rural Education Activities Programme, Waste Minimisations Officer at Central Otago District Council and Manager of Central Otago WasteBusters) developed ideas for a clean up of part of the Clutha River to celebrate World Environment Day 2008.

The group got other Central Otago organisations, including the Department of Conservation (DoC), Otago Regional Council, Central Excavating and Contact Energy on board, with each group taking responsibility for different aspects of the project and the MAD4CO project was born.  A bigger river clean up than originally planned evolved, as groups and businesses donated machinery and equipment, and more volunteers committed their time.

The big clean up took place on 4 June – the Contact Energy Team picked up 18 dumped car bodies from one side of the Clutha Mata-au River, while the team from Central Excavating did the same in the area behind The Pines plantation on the opposite side of the river.  On 5 and 6 June, volunteers moved in to collect the remaining dumped materials. 

Another group of volunteers went to a site on Boundary Road where 500 trees were planted in a buffer zone between residences and light industry.  These volunteers, led by DoC and Central Otago District Council, included many school classes and individuals.

The 2008 Green Ribbon Awards winners

Category: Lifetime Commitment to the Environment

Winner: Dean Schneider

Region: Nelson

To celebrate New Zealand’s primary involvement in World Environment Day 2008, a lifetime achievement award will go to an outstanding individual to recognise their long term commitment to protecting and enhancing New Zealand’s unique environment.

Dean Schneider, over a long period of time, has dedicated himself to helping young people achieve their potential and encouraging them to develop their environmental knowledge and skills.

Dean has been involved in a wide variety of environmental education projects including teaching, selecting young environmental leaders for awards, youth environment forums, leading international delegations, photography and music and video production. Through his work Dean's enthusiasm has inspired many New Zealander’s. Dean’s extreme amount of enthusiasm and selflessness has benefited both the environment and those who work with him.

Dean moved to New Zealand in 1981 from North America. In 1985 he became a full time natural history photographer and writer. He donated many photos of the hoiho (yellow eyed penguin) to both the Forest and Bird Society and The World Wide Fund for Nature. As a result both NGO’s started campaigns to save the penguin.

Because of Dean’s drive and energy, the United Nations Environment Programme awarded Dunedin the right to hold the International Children’s Conference on the Environment in 1998. He convinced the late Sir Edmund Hillary, the late Sir Peter Blake and Dame Catherine Tizard to be patrons of the conference and raised over $300,000. He used his savings to support himself for approximately 18 months while he worked on the conference. Due to unforeseen circumstances the conference was cancelled and all the funds were returned to sponsors.

Dean has written, produced and directed a number of conservation and environmental publications targeted particularly at a young audience. He has also co-authored a number of magazine articles in New Zealand and overseas.

Dean is also a qualified practising primary school teacher who actively incorporates environmental education in to his teaching curriculum.

These are a few examples of Mr Schneider’s commitment to the environment. It is clear from Mr Schneider’s letters of support that he works to improve the environment on a local, national and international level.

Category: Urban Sustainability

Waitakere City Council has made an outstanding contribution to urban sustainability through its series of urban projects intended to enhance sustainability. Their efforts have culminated in the Waitakere Central development in the town centre of Henderson, Waitakere City. 700 staff moved into the building in mid-2006.

As a symbol and beacon for its intention to encourage people to avoid travelling long distances to work by private vehicle, the council re-sited its headquarters in the Henderson town centre, alongside the railway station. The bus interchange was relocated nearby to form a public transport hub.

The site for Waitakere Central was deliberately chosen for its potential to reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions from private transport. Its close proximity to buses, trains and the council’s developing network of cycle and walkways encourages staff to leave their cars at home.

The Waitakere Central building was designed on sustainability principles, using the council’s own Better Building Code as a basis for the brief. Waitakere Central has a six storey administration wing and civic wing. The civic wing has a ‘green roof’ with drought-tolerant plants that filter and slow the flow of rain. The administration wing uses passive solar design and admits daylight into the interior. Low-energy ventilation and energy efficient lighting is also used in the building. It has solar water heating and a micro wind turbine, a worm farm and a recycling system for all wastes.

The council has an active workplace travel plan, with rewards for people who use public transport, walk and cycle. People who car-pool get priority car-parking on site.

Waitakere Central won an Excellence Award in the 2007 New Zealand Property Council Awards, in both the Urban Design category and the Special Purpose Building category.

The development of Waitakere Central has enhanced and upgraded public transport facilities with assistance from several transport bodies. The development has delivered new customers for the neighbouring town centre, made it easier for visitors to access, and is a catalyst for further economic development on and near the site.

This development and the council’s previous projects – libraries and community centres, each enhancing their location – demonstrate to private developers and other councils how good design enhances a city’s fabric and people’s quality of life.

Waitakere Central is toured by groups including architects, design students, diplomats and other consultants allowing others to learn about the value of well thought-out sustainable urban development.

Category: Sustainable Land Use

The Starborough Flaxbourne Soil Conservation Group was formed in 2004 to access expertise and ideas on how farmers could affordably and effectively manage their way through drought. The farmers realised that soil damage by successive years of drier than average rainfall to north facing slopes was so bad, that their future on the land was threatened. The area has always been summer-dry, but the repeated failure of critical spring and autumn rains forced drastic de-stocking which in turn reduced incomes causing community decline.

In 2005, a three-year soil conservation project was established, and jointly funded by the Sustainable Farming Fund, the NZ Landcare Trust, Marlborough District Council and Marlborough Research Centre. The primary question being addressed in this project is: "what viable options are there to arrest this erosion and restore these areas to sustainable production systems or alternative land uses?"

The group project undertook research and developed an understanding in six key areas, namely: farming systems, soils, dryland plants, human dimension, landscape options, and climate.

Integration and technology transfer are the main themes for the final year of the project (2008) that will culminate in a national field day. The group focus is to highlight sustainable farming options for farmers in dryland areas. Although based at Bonavaree, the project’s outputs will be relevant to all dryland areas in New Zealand.

The Starborough Flaxbourne Soil Conservation group focus farm at Bonaveree is an example of how to adapt to lower rainfall and also improved farm profit. The group now wishes to share their success story with other farmers in dryland New Zealand and is committed to making this possible by hosting a national field day. This is a farmer led initiative to resolve a very real issue for farming in New Zealand.

The group has identified ‘soil loss and erosion’ as an issue for dryland farmers facing a drier future through climate change and have been pro-active in finding a solution that is transferable for others with similar land and climate type.

Category: Making a Difference to Household Sustainability

In 2007 the first commercial scale disposable nappy composting service was trialled by Karen and Karl Upston in Rangiora, North Canterbury using HotRot technology developed by Christchurch based company R5 Solutions. Based on the completed trial, the demand for this service exceeded all expectations and identified a need for a composting facility.

The trial showed that disposable nappies and incontinence products in the waste stream could be commercially composted thereby reducing pressure on landfills. The results of the five month trial from March to July 2007 have been used to develop the Huggies Envirocomp Solution which will open at the end of 2008.

Karen and Karl Upston own a business selling both disposable and cloth nappies and are very aware of the environmental impacts of both nappy streams. They decided to trial composting disposable nappies on a commercial scale and contacted R5 Solutions who manufacture the HotRot range of in-vessel composting systems. R5 Solutions were able to provide advice and guidance as well as a prototype composting unit that the Upston’s were offered for use in their trial.

R5 Solutions have designed a custom built composting facility. This is a modular in-vessel system which can compost up to ten tonnes per day. With the addition of bulking agent (wood chip/ kitchen waste/ construction and demolition waste), disposable nappies and incontinence products will be composted through R5 Solutions commercial plant.

After a specialised screening process to remove plastic contaminants, the final product will be sold to commercial gardening/ landscaping businesses, and also made available to community based projects for fundraising.

The five month trial involved over 200 families; six pre-schools the local maternity hospital, elderly residents and a Christchurch branch of the IHC. Over the five months approximately 450,000 nappies were composted, which equated to 56 tonnes of household waste.

By introducing the Envirocomp Solution in Canterbury it will divert up to 3000 tonnes of disposable nappies from landfills each year. Nappies will be collected from childcare facilities in ‘wheelie bins’ and households will be offered a weekly domestic collection using a bio-degradable bag at a subscription fee

Category: Community Action for the Environment – Young People

Te Piataata was formed in 2001 to provide for at risk youth in Waitakere City. Fundamental to Te Piataata’s approach in dealing with young people is the belief that if their mana is nurtured, young people will thrive when faced with a challenge. They have created an environment for encouraging growth and transformation of young people by the strong presence of Tikanga Maori (Maori cultural beliefs and practices) throughout the organisation.

Since 2005 young people from Te Piataata Trust have been actively involved in Project Twin Streams to restore the stream banks of the Swanson Stream. Over the last three years they have volunteered and continue to volunteer four hours on a weekly basis for stream restoration and planting. They have adopted significant areas of the stream banks which they have transformed from being weed infested, over grown and strewn with rubbish to being planted with eco-sourced native plants and well cared for. Young people have been involved in all aspects of the restoration from site preparation, crown lifting, planting, weeding and on-going maintenance. In 2007 the group planted a total of 3100 plants.

Te Piataata also participate in other Twin Streams activities –including supporting community planting days, talking to overseas and national visitors about the project and showing them the extent of the project from their perspective. As a result of their weekly involvement with the programme Te Piataata have become involved with water monitoring through WaiCare (a community monitoring program) and have initiated trips to the Waitakere Ranges to visit the source of the stream they are working on and to hear stories of the local iwi relating to whakapapa of the streams.

The project targets a sector of the community that benefits those who would not necessarily have environmental interests as a priority. The young people involved in the project now pass on the message at home and with peers about the elimination of noxious weeds, respect for plants and insects, disposal of rubbish and recycling, and the relationship between the drains and streams.

Category: Community Action for the Environment – Volunteers and Not-for-Profit Organisations

eDay is a community initiative designed to raise the public’s awareness of the hazardous nature of e-waste, while offering an easy way for households to dispose of old computers and mobile phones in an environmentally sustainable manner.

eDay raises community awareness of the risks that e-waste poses for our environment and encourages safe disposal practices by:

• Increasing community awareness of the hazardous nature of electronic equipment and disposal in landfills.
• Providing a mechanism and convenient collection points for consumers (households, schools, small businesses and community organisations) to drop off computer equipment and mobile phones that are no longer being used.
• Disposing of end of life computer and communications equipment in an environmentally sustainable manner.

All equipment collected as part of eDay is sorted and loaded onto pallets for transport to regional consolidation centres, where materials that can be recycled locally are extracted and the remainder transported to overseas recycling plants. With mechanised extraction facilities over 95 per cent of computer equipment can be re-used in some way.

Currently in New Zealand, there is no other nationwide event for the collection of e-waste. While there are small regional e-waste processors in New Zealand, these are user-pays centres and are not widely publicised. eDay is nationwide and free for everyone.

eDay 2007 was held in Wellington, Invercargill, Wanaka, Alexandra, Queenstown, Wanganui, Rotorua, Whakatane, Tauranga and Hamilton on Saturday 29 September and on Auckland’s North Shore and Manukau City on Sunday 30 September.

About 6,900 cars visited the 12 eDay sites around New Zealand, with more than 26,000 computer items including monitors, CPUs and printers being diverted from New Zealand’s landfills, preventing the release of the potentially toxic chemicals into the environment. The total weight of e-waste collected over the two day event was 415 tonnes.

In 2008, CANZ plans to expand eDay to more centres throughout New Zealand and provide further resources that are readily available to the public at all times, through their website eday.org.nz (such as lists of regional providers that can take care of their e-waste at any time).

Category: Businesses Making a Difference

The five-star hotel situated in Auckland is committed to being an environmentally sustainable hotel. Since the development of the hotel’s environmental framework in August 2007 the hotel has achieved Green Globe Benchmarked status as of September 2007. As a result of the management direction taken by the international chairman, the Langham Auckland management team and the commitment of the staff at the hotel, the hotel has achieved Green Globe certification (silver) in recognition of the Hotel’s environmental initiatives.

The Langham’s view of environmental sustainability is that it is a long term journey with every new initiative leading to several more. They are committed to growing and developing their sustainability initiatives.

The environmental policy that the hotel has in place focuses on:

Reducing, reusing and recycling waste and packaging

Improving the efficiency of energy usage

Investigating and using environmentally friendly products

Being a global leader in corporate sustainability

Core practices in place include:

• Sustainable purchasing policy
  The policy is openly communicated to suppliers. A green suppliers questionnaire has been developed in order to gauge the environmental integrity of potential suppliers.
• Greenhouse gas emissions
  The hotel is developing a carbon offsetting programme for guests with assistance from Deloitte. The hotel is continuing to convert the refrigeration plant in the hotel and kitchens to low ozone depleting refrigerant gas.
• Energy efficiency
  The hotel has installed a Building Management System which controls air units, swimming pool, sauna heating, spa pool, central lights and peak electrical demand load shedding. As part of this initiative the hotel has installed light sensors, eco lights in areas requiring 24 hour lighting, time controls on kitchen fans, and plans are in place to install solar panels to preheat incoming water.
• Solid waste management
  The hotel has a comprehensive recycling campaign in place to recycle packaging, cardboard, paper, containers, and office products. The hotel follows the waste management hierarchy policy of reduce, reuse, recycle and recover.
• Management of freshwater resources
  Educational signage has been installed for staff. A new water efficient commercial dishwashing system has been installed. The hotel uses 100 per cent biodegradable ECOLAB chemicals.
• Other environmental initiatives
  100 per cent recyclable coat hangers have been implemented throughout the Hotel. Environmentally friendly corn starch cups for use with water dispensers are installed in the executive office, housekeeping, front office and health club. Recycled office paper is used throughout the Hotel and printer cartridges are recycled. Recycled toilet paper is also used in all areas of the Hotel.

The Auckland Zoo first set goals to reduce its environmental footprint in 2001. The establishment of an environmental interest group at the Zoo in 2005 (the ‘Green Team’) has enabled the zoo to research green options, identify priority issues to address, conduct audits and implement their environmental policy.

Two of the most recent significant achievements at the zoo include gaining ISO14001 certification in December 2007 and the zoo’s partnership with Enviro-fert in Tuakau to deal with the zoo’s vegetation and organic waste. The accreditation was achieved two years ahead of the zoo’s 2009 target.

The partnership with Enviro-fert has enabled Auckland Zoo to responsibly dispose of a significant amount of organic waste not already being processed in the zoo’s industrial worm farm. This includes ‘problem’ waste, such as flax and bamboo that cannot be processed by standard composting centres. Significant amounts of recycled shredded paper (around one tonne per month) used as Orang-utan bedding was originally being sent to landfills because of the pathogens in the paper. Standard composting techniques do not reach temperatures high enough or for long enough to effectively kill pathogens that can be passed to humans. The Enviro-fert process however allows the paper to be safely composted.

The partnership with Enviro-fert, the industrial worm farm, and increased public recycling has resulted in monthly waste to landfill tonnage below the 1992 levels. This is despite an increase in animal waste collection, staff numbers and visitor numbers (around 360,000 in 1992 versus approximately 700,000 in 2007). Auckland Zoo is now sending an average three tonnes less to landfill each month.

The zoo also strives to empower its visitors to make the necessary changes to protect the environment. The zoo runs classes through their education department and keeper encounters. Educational signage about the zoo’s sustainability initiatives are also exhibited around the zoo. The zoo also communicates sustainable options to the business community via their sustainability tours.

The zoo has also installed solar and wind energy production devises to help power the new Discovery and Learning Terrace. Rainwater collection tanks have also been installed to supply water to zoo buildings and the exotic bird section of the zoo.

Category: Environment in the Spotlight

The Green Rig is a renewable energy vehicle with on-board interactive exhibits and displays focussing on the themes of water, land and habitats. It is staffed by two environmental educators who facilitate environmental learning opportunities for a wide range of people from young children to adults. The Green Rig travels around the region providing programmes designed to assist people in their understanding of the natural environment.

The Rig was launched in May 2007 with a target of 20,000 people visiting the Rig and engaging in environmental activities in the first year of operation. It is expected that the target will be reached by the end of April. This is ten per cent of the regional population. Horizons have received positive feedback from school children, schools, the public, community leaders and politicians.

The environmental educators have influenced people in their understanding of the actions they can take to make positive changes in their lifestyles that will benefit the environment. For example preserving native habitats and biodiversity, preventing degradation of river and stream water, land owners using sustainable land management and farming practices to prevent soil erosion. The Green Rig educators encourage people to become responsible for caring for the natural environment.

The Green Rig team and the vehicle are role models in the area of environmental education. The Green Rig is fitted with energy efficient LED lighting and appliances. Energy use is monitored and managed on board. All carbon the Rig produces is offset through the planting of native trees using the Climate Conscious System. Solar energy from eight roof top panels provides 25-50 per cent of the Rig’s power needs.

Category: Innovative Solutions for the Environment

The Resene PaintWise programme is a world first paint and paint packaging recovery programme. The programme now has 40 Resene Colurshops all over New Zealand that are designated PaintWise Collection Centres. Residents and painters in these centres can visit the ColourShops in these areas to return unused paint and paint packaging.

A custom built PaintWise mobile truck service visits the stores, processing the materials received before returning to its depot. Good quality Resene paint is reused and provided to community groups free of charge. Waterborne paint is reused for covering graffiti and solventborne paint goes through a solvent recovery programme and the packaging is recycled.

Several community groups have received and utilised the unwanted paint. Community groups can apply for donations of paint from the Resene PaintWise program online at www.resene.co.nz/paintwise.htm or complete and return the Community Paint registration Form from Resene ColourShops.

Resene PaintWise is one of a limited number of product stewardship programmes operating in New Zealand. The innovative service concept of a mobilising processing unit is a world first. Most paint stewardship programmes developed overseas involve paint being returned to a store then transported to a processing site for decanting by hand. The PaintWise truck has an onboard crusher that pierces the can base before crushing it flat, reducing the time taken to remove the paint from the can while also providing the cans in a less bulky form to the recycler.

The PaintWise truck also services some council depots and work has begun on rolling out the paint recovery service in selected Mitre 10 stores, with Hastings and Napier Mitre 10 MEGA stores accepting paint returns from late 2007.

In the 14 months to the end of February 2008, over 160,000 packs were collected from Resene ColourShops and a further 52,000kg from 11 council depots. Of this, over 56,000kg of steel was recycled. Over 47,000 litres of solventborne paint was sent to solvent recovery so the solvents could be reused and over 40,000 litres of waterborne paint was donated to community groups. Additional waterborne paint is being used as raw material for concrete, reducing the additives and improving the properties of concrete.

Gretchen and Monica have spent six years compiling a comprehensive toolkit which enables New Zealanders to get involved in caring for their local estuaries.

The project began in 2001 when a small community at Karitane, Otago wanted to learn more about their estuary. Gretchen realised there was a lack of resources and materials available to communities to understand the importance of estuarine health. She recognised the huge importance of estuaries to New Zealand’s lifestyles, livelihoods and living systems.

Most New Zealand cities and towns surround estuaries (including Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and Napier). She also recognised that without an affinity for their local estuaries the people of New Zealand would not be able to ‘Turn the Tide’ (the title of the toolkit) on historical damage to these RAMSAR protected ecosystems.

Gretchen began voluntarily designing a set of estuarine indicators and monitoring protocol that could be used by community members at no cost. Monica joined the project and began trialling the monitoring protocol with the Karitane community, who provided feedback on the tools.

It became clear to Gretchen and Monica that scientific monitoring can leave more questions unanswered than answered within the highly dynamic and complex estuarine setting. Although useful information is gained through scientific monitoring some important factors such as peoples experience and values are missed out. Gretchen and Monica embarked on the task to design a toolkit applicable to all New Zealand estuaries that harnesses local knowledge as a baseline for future decision making and provides tools for people to get involved in a way that interests them personally.

The kit has now been completed and is available through New Zealand Landcare Trust at $25 each (which covers the printing costs only). The resource is also available online for free. Since the release of the kit (in mid 2007) over 140 community groups and educators have purchased copies around the country. This demand recognises the demand for user-friendly tools for communities to get involved in caring for their environment. Gretchen and Monica have not profited from this resource in any way other than the satisfaction its demand must bring.

2007 Green Ribbon Award winners

Rural sustainability

Awarded for outstanding efforts to sustainably manage land or maintain healthy waterways and lakes, especially by those working in the agriculture, horticulture, and forestry sectors, and by community care groups. 

The Hayes family, whose dairy farm near Hamilton surrounds Lake Kaituna and part of Lake Komakorau, farm with the environment in mind. When the family realised the impacts their farming practices had on water quality in the two peat lakes bordering their property, they decided to change how things were done.

They have significantly reduced their nitrogen application from an average of 165 tonnes of nitrogen per hectare per year, to less than 30 tonnes per hectare per year. The Hayes created a buffer of wetland vegetation around the two lakes and retired land close to the lake margins.

The Hayes family has also been instrumental in the restoration of the peat lakes. Restoration work began in 1999 when the family noticed that Lake Kaituna, owned by Department of Conservation (DOC), was disappearing under a canopy of invasive willow trees. The Hayes spent considerable time and effort removing the willow trees. In 2000, with the support of Environment Waikato, DOC, a local neighbour and several duck shooters, the Hayes family formed the Lake Kaituna Care Group.

Since then, the group has removed approximately 30 truckloads of household rubbish dumped around the lake edge, undertaken plant and animal pest control to assist native plant regeneration, and installed sediment traps to reduce sediment input from local drains. Rare native mudfish have been released into the lake and DOC is considering it as a site for brown teal release.

Urban sustainability

Awarded for outstanding contributions to urban sustainability, particularly practical action to improve the environment in our towns and cities.

Eleven years ago, the Karori Reservoir valley was a 250 hectare area containing a mixture of re-growth native forest and plantation pine trees. The area was populated by introduced pests and offered little protection or shelter to the remaining original wildlife.

Today, thanks to the outstanding efforts of its staff and volunteers, the Sanctuary is flourishing. The Sanctuary’s valley is now protected by an 8.6 kilometre predator-proof fence. Pests have been eradicated and more than 30,000 native trees have been planted. Fifteen species of native wildlife including saddleback, hihi, little spotted kiwi, giant weta, Maud Island frogs and tuatara have been re-introduced. The Sanctuary has also established successful breeding populations of many endangered birds, including kaka, saddleback, hihi, little spotted kiwi, whitehead and bellbirds.

Located only minutes from the centre of Wellington city, in the past year this urban conservation delight was visited by more than 60,000 visitors, including 4000 school children.  The Sanctuary is an extremely valuable educational tool about New Zealand’s natural history.

Wellington residents can also verify the contribution the Sanctuary has made towards increasing native bird life in their back gardens!

The Karori Sanctuary is a testament to what can be achieved with determination and enthusiasm. It is an inspiration and pioneer to some community groups around New Zealand who are now planning similar projects.

Originally destined to become a motorway, the closed New River Estuary Landfill was instead turned into a picturesque natural park, right on Invercargill’s doorstep. The Invercargill City Council, with community help, has set about restoring and enhancing the estuary’s natural state.

The construction of a circular walking track, including a board walk and bridge, provides Southlanders with an accessible recreational opportunity. Information panels inform visitors on the importance of protecting and enhancing the local environment. Extensive planting has taken place over the past two years.

The Estuary is teeming with wildlife. Flounder, shoals of smelt, and sea run trout have been spotted. Other fish breed in it waters and 54 species of birdlife have been identified around the lagoon.

Bird watching hides on the lagoon, walking shelters and additional information panels are being planned.

Caring for our water

Awarded for efficient water use, actions to improve water quality, and projects that protect and conserve water. Activities could include reusing water, increased water conservation, reducing discharges to fresh and seawater or planting along water bodies.

Three years ago a group of Katikati residents decided to recapture the natural environment of their local estuary. With support from the Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Environment Bay of Plenty, they began extensive pest control work along the southern shore. The Uretara Estuary Managers of Katikati group, formed in 2005, has been busy ever since. 

The group has undertaken erosion control by planting along the stream banks and the estuary shoreline, begun a plant propagation scheme, continued to seasonally bait for pests, educated surrounding landowners about weed control, and are trialling methods of clearing the invasive mangroves.

Restoring the estuary is also being used an education tool. Students from Katikati College are involved with monitoring the water quality of the catchments, and pest monitoring and control in an area of native bush on the north side of the estuary. Research topics are provided to Bay of Plenty Polytechnic students who in turn provide valuable information about the estuary and the group’s projects.

The Uretara Estuary Managers work required an outstanding ability to join residents, landowners, local authorities and students. Its success has encouraged other groups to become active in caring for their estuaries in the northern Tauranga harbour.

Sustainable business and households

Awarded for outstanding efforts in reducing business and household impacts on the environment, such as reducing emissions, waste and energy use, implementing environmental management systems, environmental reporting, and encouraging other businesses to adopt good practices.

The television series WA$TED! was made up of 10 episodes which screened at the primetime slot of 8pm on TV3. Produced by Fumes TV and funded by New Zealand on Air, WA$TED! was the first show of its type for New Zealand. The focus of the show was clear: to get New Zealand families to reduce their overall resource use and lower their impact on the planet. Each week the WA$TED! team visited a different household and looked at four key areas to transform – rubbish, power, water and fuel.

Approximately 2.6 million New Zealanders viewed WA$TED, many who previously may not have thought about environmental sustainability. The official website received more than 70,000 hits a week and more than 1000 people worked out their household’s footprint. Education packs for teaches, with downloadable free activities, were developed in conjunction with Enviroschools. The series DVD and book of eco tips will continue the use of the information collated for the series in homes and educational environments.

Fumes TV also walked the talk while producing the informative environmental series. The crew car pooled in a hybrid vehicle and used travel mugs instead of take-away coffee cups. DVD and CD disks were recycled and unavoidable carbon emissions were offset. Waste from the mountains of rubbish featured in the show was either composted or recycled. Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA) and Landcare Research worked closely with the producers to ensure the accuracy of the information provided.

Young people making a difference

Awarded to young people who show personal commitment to improving our environment. This could, for example, be through practical action at school or in the community, or through efforts they have made to increase the awareness of others, such as setting up an environment group.

Ashley (12), Courtney (9), and Brooke (6) Varney all demonstrate an exceptional commitment to taking action for the environment. The sisters are regular volunteers at the Motutapu Restoration Trust. Work on Motutapu Island in the Hauraki Gulf includes tree planting, weed control and supporting the rest of the crew on volunteer days. During the summer, the sisters are involved in nursery work for winter planting.

Each of the girls belongs to the Enviro Group at The Gardens School. They have worked with Wai Care to learn about healthy waterways, undertaken tree planting at Totara Park on Arbor Day, and participated in planting to protect the water quality of the Puhinui Stream. Ashley has chaired the Enviro Group for the last two years. 

Ever keen to learn more about their environment, the sisters are members of the Kiwi Conservation Club. They attended a trip to Duders Beach to learn about wetlands. Ashley and Courtney joined in the Auckland Regional Councils ‘Big Clean Up’ and have attended a composting course at the Botanical Gardens in Manurewa.

Ashley, Courtney and Brooke are champions for the environment at home, school and in the community. 

Community action for the environment

Awarded to an individual or group who have shown commitment in empowering the community to improve the environment.

Starting with the young in Dunedin Hospital’s Early Childhood Centre, Fiona Gibson’s passion for environmental education engaged 25 teachers and nearly 100 families, all in the space of one year.

Fiona’s commitment to environmental action is evident throughout the centre. She set up a children’s garden, with a compost heap and re-used waste paper for paper making. She introduced children to the concept of threatened and endangered animals. The children were also introduced to the idea of energy conservation. They learnt to turn off lights and bathroom taps to save power and water.

Taking action for the environment was a lesson for staff at the centre too. Fiona introduced compost and recycling bins in the staffroom and kitchen, and influenced staff to stop using plastic cutlery and plates. 

Fiona took the time to update parents on the importance of the environment. A parents’ evening was held to inform families about what the children had learnt about the environment and why. Resources about recycling and sustainability were distributed to families.

Fiona’s drive left a lasting legacy, not only in the Early Childhood Centre, but throughout the community. 

Remarkable results have been achieved on Maungatautari, near Cambridge, thanks to David and Juliette Wallace’s energy, enthusiasm, determination and vision.

It began with the construction of a16 hectare innovative predator proof fence at their property – creating the first completely pest-free environment on mainland New Zealand. David and Juliette contributed significantly to the costs of the early research and design of the fence, and freely shared these results. Pest control fences are now being used internationally for conservation projects.

In 2002, David and Juliette extended their vision to the full protection for Maungatautari. They established the Maungatautari Ecological Trust, which David continues to chair. After raising $14.5 million in five years, the Trust invested in the construction of 47 km of pest proof fencing around the Maungatautari bushline. About 3,400 hectare of high quality indigenous forest is now enclosed. Work is underway to remove all introduced mammals from the mountain and, 15 kiwi and two takahe have been reintroduced to the forest and kokopu native fish returned to the mountain’s streams.

David and Juliette have been instrumental in bringing on board and enthusing the more than 200 volunteers who have donated over 6000 hours of work.  They have also spent many hours educating visitors, young and old, about conservation.  

For more information on the Green Ribbon Awards please email green.ribbon@mfe.govt.nz.

2006 Green Ribbon Award winners

• MW Lissette Ltd
• Tonkin & Taylor Ltd
• Paul Shanks
• The Mussel Inn – Jane and Andrew Dixon
• Tom Logan
• Opoho Primary School
• Xtreme Waste and the Whaingaroa Community

2005

• Ann Graeme of Tauranga
• Waikaraka Estuary Managers Inc of Te Puna, Tauranga
• Landcare Research & Connell Mott MacDonald, Auckland
• Scrap Metal Recyclers Ltd of Onehunga, Auckland
• Darryl & Bridget Soljan of Ascension Vineyard, Matakana, North Auckland
• John Paterson, deer farmer of Rotorua
• David and Ngaire Bryant of Kereru, Hastings
• Otahuhu Intermediate School, Auckland
• Kimbolton School, Northern Manawatu
• Hawke’s Bay Youth Environment Council
• Guardians of Fiordland Fisheries and Marine Environment Inc

2004

• Dr Alwyn Seeley
• Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust
• Hugh Willis (joint winner)
• Te Rangatahi o te Whenua Trust (joint winner)
• Nelson City Council & Tasman District Council - Ecofest
• Dave Kellian
• Lincoln High School (joint winner)
• Eilidh Bocker (joint winner)
• Waitohu Stream Care Group (joint winner)
• Rakiura Resource Recovery Centre & Stewart Island Community (joint winner)
• John Scott (joint winner)
• Transit New Zealand/Fulton Hogan/Opus International Consultants (joint winner)

2003

• Mabel Pollock (Polly)
• Pohutukawa Trust New Zealand
• John and Janet Somerville
• Windy Hill Rosalie Bay Catchment Trust
• Chinese Conservation Education Trust
• Kaipatiki Ecological Restoration Project
• Fulton Hogan Ltd
• Project Manukau (Highly Commended)
• Rotorua District Council
• Creeksyde Holiday Park (Highly Commended)
• Waitakere Hospital (Highly Commended)
• Vauxhall Primary School
• BOC Ltd
• Taieri Trust

2002

• Whaingaroa Harbour Care
• Milnthorpe Park Society
• Innovative Waste Kaikoura
• Friends of the Whau Geoff Wightman
• Trees for Canterbury (Highly Commended)
• Beverly Kingston (Highly Commended)
• Ecostore founder Malcolm Rands
• Weyerhaeuser New Zealand Ltd
• Environment Bay of Plenty
• Hastings Central School
• Year 13 Geography Class, Kamo High School (Highly Commended)

2001

• Seresin Estate, Renwick, Marlborough
• The New Zealand Ecological Restoration Network, Christchurch
• Orion New Zealand Limited, Christchurch
• Russell Langdon, Ashburton
• Dean Williams (Green Dean), Auckland
• Paparore School, Awanui, Far North
• Environment Waikato, Hamilton
• Palmerston North City Council, Palmerston North

2000

• Di and Graham McBride, Waikato
• Amberley Residents Association
• Guides New Zealand, Save it Project
• Liz Burge, Wairarapa
• Pukekohe Vegetable Growers Association

1999

• David Craig, Waiuku
• Organic Garden Trust, Christchurch
• Palmer & Son Ltd Quarries, Dunedin

1998

• Jim and Katherine Simcox, Kapiti
• Guardians of Pauatahanui Inlet Inc
• Southland Regional Council

1997

• Barry Law, Christchurch
• Upper Hutt College
• Sheraton Hotel, Auckland
• Te Hao o Ngati Whatua

1996

• Te Runanga o Ngatihine
• Lincoln University EnviroSchool
• Val and Arthur Dunn, Puhoi

1995

• Hawkes Bay Federated Farmers
• Sheryl Stivens, Ashburton

1994

• Tony Nooyen, Putaruru
• Seacare NZ Ltd, Kaikoura
• Graeme Robertson, Auckland

1993

• Slag Reduction Company
• Molly Melhuish, Wellington
• Corporate Consumables

1991

• Jim Ackerley, Ashburton

1990

• Lindsey Roke, Fisher & Paykel
• ACI Glass
• Jack Haimona, Bay of Plenty

Last updated: 27 January 2009