Nominations are now open for the biennial Love Your Place Awards, which celebrate volunteers, local community and conservation groups and schools making a difference for the environment in the Waitākere Ranges Local Board area.
“This is the fourth time we’ve held these very special awards and we’re always heartened by the stories of local environmental champions working to help preserve this very special part of Tāmaki Makaurau,” says Waitākere Ranges Local Board Chair Saffron Toms.
People can nominate themselves or others working in the environmental space anywhere across the Waitākere Ranges Local Board area, which stretches from Whatipu, Glen Eden and Titirangi in the south to Waitākere, Swanson and Te Henga in the north. Nominations are open from 1 to 30 June, with winners announced at a special local event on Tuesday 2 August.
Great way to celebrate
EcoMatters CEO Carla Gee, says the awards, which are funded by the local board, are a great way to celebrate the strong collaborative nature of environmental action in the west.
“What makes these awards so special is that they truly celebrate the people behind the grassroots initiatives helping protect our precious heritage, especially in and around the Waitākere Ranges. Preserving this unique place has never been more important, with the climate crisis continuing to threaten biodiversity,” says Carla.
The previous awards, in 2020, recognised trailblazers and previously unsung heroes working in predator and weed control, food growing and waste minimisation initiatives.
“I encourage everyone to nominate someone they know who is going above and beyond to show love for our local environment, so we can celebrate their efforts,” says board chair Saffron Toms.
The five award categories are:
- Denise Yates Award: for youth (under 16) showing emerging leadership around local environmental issues.
- Karaka Award: for a school or school group taking action on a local environmental issue.
- Nīkau Award: for a business or social enterprise making a contribution to improve the environment.
- Rātā Award: for an outstanding volunteer group or organisation taking action on a local environmental issue.
- Kahikatea Award: for an outstanding individual volunteer taking action on a local environmental issue.
Nominations are open until 30 June 2022 at ecomatters.org.nz/loveyourplace
The Love Your Place Awards 2022 are funded by the Waitākere Ranges Local Board and organised and hosted by EcoMatters Environment Trust.
