Environmental Awards

Welcome to the Hawke’s Bay Environmental Awards web pages. We love the Hawke’s Bay Environmental Awards as they celebrate people and organisations that care for our environment. If you want to enter, we are happy to talk to you about your entry and ensure this is a positive process for you. The annual awards are jointly supported by Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Napier City Council and Hastings District Council.

News!

Category change

There are some changes to categories in the Hawke's Bay Environmental Awards from 2010. Rural entries will be accepted from farmers for smaller or individual projects (ie enhancing a farm dam) and from lifestyle block owners for a property-wide initiative. Farm wide projects will be directed to the Ballance Farm Environment Awards which are being supported by Hawke's Bay Regional Council to further encourage sustainable land management in the region. This award programme is very thorough and has been taken up by other regional councils in New Zealand as it adds value to the farm business, The Council will be starting to develop the programme in late 2010 with the first awards in 2011.

The Regional Council is also sponsoring a category in the Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Awards from 2010. These awards have wide acceptance as a mark of achievement by the local business sector. Both the business and new service/product categories will not continue in the Environmental Awards, but businesses can still enter other categories where their product or service has a benefit, especially the community category for some projects.

How to apply for an Environmental Award, or nominate

The closing date every year for the Awards is 15 July. Applications and nominations must be lodged with Hawke's Bay Regional Council, or your local Council (marked attention Environmental Awards).

You can apply yourself, for your own organisation, service or product.
OR
You can nominate someone else you think deserves recognition for environmentally sustainable work. You need to discuss your nomination with them first!

The work might be big or small, completed or well underway, or a part of a larger work. Entering offers you a great way of documenting your progress, getting input and direction, and networking with other people working in environmental care.

Art Awards

The category winners are presented with an award art piece, a certificate and a small grant to encourage them to continue their valuable work. We present Highly Commended recipients with a framed certificate.

The ceremony is held in September/October each year. We have a guest speaker to inspire and encourage and often have young people performing or speaking as well.

Environmental Awards Application Form

Guidelines for applying for an Environmental Award

Categories

There are now four categories. You can only enter your project in one category, but we know that some projects will seem to fit more than one category. Please contact Councillors or staff listed below if you need direction. Judges may move projects into other categories, if they think there is a better fit.

Individuals or families – people who are a positive force for carrying out environmental work, organising projects and setting an example to the community.

Community - not for profit volunteers, neighbourhood groups, marae and service groups - who are involved in planting, restoration and conservation projects. Businesses which have taken action to improve the environment for their community (ie planting projects, wetland/stormwater improvements) may also apply.

Note: Any businesses with a more complete sustainable business approach or a new environmental product or service are encouraged to enter the HB Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

Rural - horticulture, viticulture, pastoral farming, lifestyle blocks, small farming properties that have incorporated projects that benefit the environment. This award is for specific project on a large farm (wetland enhancement, bush protection or pest control project) that is a superb example, or the sustainable operation of a small rural property.

Note: Any ‘whole farm’ candidates are encouraged to talk to their Regional Council land management advisor about the Ballance Farm Environment Awards starting in late 2010.

Ede Award - (pronounced eddie) for "education to the power of the environment". This award category encompasses all educational institutions in Hawke's Bay including early education, schools, kura kaupapa, polytechnics, special interest education, student groups. Environmental education programmes and teaching resources can be considered, as well as practical sustainable work that students or the whole school is doing, such as recycling, planting and energy saving. (Individuals or community groups doing environmental education work outside schools should apply in these respective categories).

Talk with us

We love the awards scheme and are more than happy to talk to anyone who wants to know more about the Awards, get advice on their entry or discuss a possible nomination. We want this to be a positive process for you, so we are happy to give you advice.

You can contact your local Regional Councillor, Napier City or Hastings District Councillor.

Or talk to staff at:

• Waste Minimisation Team, Hastings District Council ph 878 0546
• Waste Management Team, Napier City Council ph 835 7579
• Communications Coordinator, Hawke's Bay Regional Council, ph 06 835 9208
• Environmental Education Schools Adviser, Hawke's Bay Regional Council ph 06 833 8036

Or email eawards@hbrc.govt.nz